Back in February, Honda showcased to the world its third generation HR-V subcompact crossover SUV in both European and Japanese (Vezel) flavors. According to the rumor mill, the U.S.-spec HR-V will follow the Accord way of life and get a specific flavor for the North American market, and it isn't the one you see here.
Instead, Honda loves to showcase as many times as possible its latest, minimalist styling philosophy because we get to see the European-specification version one more time. It’s not a déjà vu, though; initially it looked like the Japanese automaker was giving us more information on the model that’s slated to hit EU dealerships later this year (with as-yet-unspecified pricing).
As such, we skimmed past the coupe-inspired styling (these days the coupe-SUV look is all the rage) to reach the parts where the company presents us with exact figures. And we came out partially disappointed. For example, they said the new HR-V comes with an additional 10 mm (0.39 in) of ground clearance than the outgoing model, has a 20-mm (0.78 in) lower roof than before, and now rides on standard 18-inch rims.
But even though we can extrapolate the height based on the predecessor’s dimensions (it’s probably 1,585 mm/62.4 in now), Honda still hasn’t given us the length and width. Honda goes for the same approach with the cockpit equipped with a 7-inch “TFT e:HEV meter,” and a 9-inch LCD touchscreen infotainment system. We now know the driving position has gained 10 mm (0.39 in) in height, while the rear leg room has been increased by 35 mm (1.37 in), but where are the total values?
And it gets even worse because we have no cargo rating (at least Honda confirms the return of the Magic Seat rear arrangement), while the e:HEV hybrid technology is only partially detailed. The 1.5-liter i-VTEC gasoline engine finally has a rating of 96 kW (131 PS/129 hp) and maximum torque of 253 Nm (186 lb-ft), but what about the “two compact, powerful electric motors?”
Are we supposed to take their word for granted that Honda’s e:HEV system really “delivers a smooth and enjoyable driving experience, with responsive performance and impressive fuel efficiency?” Well, we have no choice but to wait for a more comprehensive press release.
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News