Photo: Honda
Honda decided to keep the HR-V away from prying eyes until today, taking the metaphorical veils off its new model at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show. Being available in Japan since last year, the car is now finally going to go on sale in the US as well, as a 2016 model.
Being made on the same platform as the Fit, the new HR-V is being sold in Japan under the ‘Vezel’ name but the manufacturer somehow figured out that the rest of the world prefers alphanumeric designations. To each his own.
From the outside, the HR-V looks like its smaller mate from certain angles but only if you squint really hard. On the other hand, more design cues seem to be borrowed from the CR-V and that was an expected move.
The front grille and the roof shape seem to be similar even though the size differs. On the sides, the character lines go from the rear pillar to the front bumper while the door handles for the rear doors are hidden in the C-Pillar. It’s not a bad looking car until you check out the rear and really notice the Asian influence.
Speaking of configurations, you should also know that the CUV will be available in LX, EX and EX-L trims and will come with standard features such as power windows, electronic parking brake, Hill Start Assist, Bluetooth and a rearview camera on all versions.
Going for the higher level models you’ll also get a 7-inch touch screen included in the price tag as well as keyless go, HD radio and heated front seats along with a navigation system for really top end models.
"The new HR-V crossover is a true segment-busting vehicle, unlike anything else on the market today," said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and general manager of the Honda Division.
"It's got all the essential elements of our Honda DNA, our packaging innovation, fuel-efficient powertrain technology, leading safety technology and, above all, Honda quality, to make this an incredibly compelling, sporty and value-packed new member of the Honda family," he added.
That means the HR-V can take up to 58.8 cubic feet of rear storage with the seats folded and 24.3 cubic feet with them in the upright position. That’s right between the Fit’s 52.7 and the CR-V’s 70.9.
The new CUV will be manufactured in Celaya, Mexico, alongside the Honda Fit and sales begin in early 2015. Prices haven’t been announced yet.
From the outside, the HR-V looks like its smaller mate from certain angles but only if you squint really hard. On the other hand, more design cues seem to be borrowed from the CR-V and that was an expected move.
The front grille and the roof shape seem to be similar even though the size differs. On the sides, the character lines go from the rear pillar to the front bumper while the door handles for the rear doors are hidden in the C-Pillar. It’s not a bad looking car until you check out the rear and really notice the Asian influence.
Only one engine choice available
For the HR-V Honda decided to go with a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder offering in the States but sticking to just one powerplant doesn’t seem like a very smart move. The mill makes 138 HP and 127 lb-ft (172 Nm) of torque and can be had either with a front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive format. There are also two gearbox choices: a manual 6-speed and a CVT auto but the manual enthusiasts should know that the can only have it with FWD.Speaking of configurations, you should also know that the CUV will be available in LX, EX and EX-L trims and will come with standard features such as power windows, electronic parking brake, Hill Start Assist, Bluetooth and a rearview camera on all versions.
Going for the higher level models you’ll also get a 7-inch touch screen included in the price tag as well as keyless go, HD radio and heated front seats along with a navigation system for really top end models.
"The new HR-V crossover is a true segment-busting vehicle, unlike anything else on the market today," said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and general manager of the Honda Division.
"It's got all the essential elements of our Honda DNA, our packaging innovation, fuel-efficient powertrain technology, leading safety technology and, above all, Honda quality, to make this an incredibly compelling, sporty and value-packed new member of the Honda family," he added.
Reconfigurable second-row Magic Seat tech is included
Speaking of family, we should also point out that the HR-V is just 0.3 inches shorter in wheelbase than its CR-V brother (102.8 inches) but it is 10 inches shorter overall at 169.1 in. Even so, the engineers decided to include the so-called ‘Magic Seat’ technology on this smaller package as well.That means the HR-V can take up to 58.8 cubic feet of rear storage with the seats folded and 24.3 cubic feet with them in the upright position. That’s right between the Fit’s 52.7 and the CR-V’s 70.9.
The new CUV will be manufactured in Celaya, Mexico, alongside the Honda Fit and sales begin in early 2015. Prices haven’t been announced yet.
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