Is the new Honda HR-V coming here anytime soon?

The Honda HR-V turned out to be quite a best-seller in the Philippines. It arrived just in time to ride the subcompact crossover SUV wave, and Honda Philippines was able to capitalize on that.

Despite the relative failure of the first-generation '90s model, the local market seemed to be more than welcome to accept the current model.

While the current-model Honda HR-V is still a great buy for anyone in the market for a subcompact crossover, one can’t deny the fact that it is growing a little long in the tooth being sold in the market for almost six years now.

A newer model is on the horizon and promises an even more evolved style and tech, and we’ve just been given a complete look at what it can offer.

The upcoming Honda HR-V’s has a new engine up its sleeve — a hybrid electric engine with an advanced two-motor hybrid powertrain. The engine will be featured in Honda’s new lineup of e:HEV or hybrid electric vehicle models. The upcoming compact crossover SUV offers more than just a smart economical driving experience but aims to revolutionize the segment.

Exterior

Honda seems to be shifting towards a new design language as the upcoming Honda HR-V looks similar to the future 11th-generation Honda Civic. Improving on the previous model’s sleek design silhouette, the HR-V features 10mm more ground clearance and 20mm shorter height. This, paired with the 18-inch wheels and reduced front overhang, give it a more rugged and macho-looking appeal.

More notably, up front you’ll find the body-matched front grill and blacked-out lower grill, giving the upcoming HR-V a more distinctive look. It’s flanked by LED headlamps that further add to its sporty yet futuristic appeal. Like the current HR-V, the rear door handles are hidden and together with the more robust shoulder lines that run all the way through the sides towards the A-pillar and protruding front end, you get a coupé-like exterior without the compromise to space.

Interior

Very much like the exterior, amenities inside the upcoming Honda HR-V will feature an improved design without compromising versatility and convenience. True to Honda’s M/M or "Man Maximum, Machine Minimum" philosophy, each point of the interior was designed with comfort and intuitiveness in mind. Similar to the Honda City Hatchback, the HR-V features “Magic Seats'' or ULTR seats enabling you to adjust seating positions depending on need. You can even fit up to two mountain bikes with the front wheels removed at the back for those weekend trekking trips. 

Rear leg space has also been increased by 35mm, and the front seats are mounted higher up by 10mm to give you a more commanding view of the road. You get a much-improved nine-inch infotainment system with faster response time and more intuitive app control functions wireless Apple CarPlay. Android Auto would still require a cable, though. 

Engine and performance

Propelling the upcoming Honda HR-V is Honda's proven e:HEV hybrid engine which is a 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine working in tandem with two powerful electric motors. Together, they make a total of 131hp and 253Nm of torque. Peeling off from a standstill might catch you off guard as you wouldn’t be hearing any engine noise at all with the electric motors at work, the combustion engine seamlessly starts up as soon as you get going and the HR-V needs more torque.

Various driving modes are available from Sport, Normal to Econ that can match your driving needs and get the best possible fuel economy. The hybrid motors get an additional charge with regenerative braking, much like an F1 car. Setting the shift lever to B for this setting would increase the upcoming HR-V’s regenerative braking, charging the batteries more and further improving fuel economy. Actual figures have not been tested yet but you can rest assured that we will be testing this as soon as we get our hands on the HR-V.

Safety and technology

The upcoming Honda HR-V will also be getting Honda SENSING, which is a suite of active and safety features to assist the driver and ensure a safe, secure drive. For the all-new HR-V, Honda SENSING gets an update, with a new larger, higher-definition monocular front camera and high-speed image processing chips that outperform the previous camera and radar sensor combination. It also includes a better Pedestrian Collision Mitigation Steering System and Collision Mitigation Brake System for better driving at night (CMBS), that can also detect any oncoming obstacle and applies the brakes for the driver.

Honda SENSING also includes Active Cruise Control, Blind Spot Warning, Cross Traffic Alert and Hill Descent Control. All these features work in synergy and as unobtrusive as possible for you to enjoy more of your drive and less about accidents on the road.

The upcoming Honda HR-V should be available in Europe by the latter part of 2021. Although local pricing has not been released yet, we have our fingers crossed that ZIGWHEELS.PH  would be driving one to give you a more in depth look. 

Photos from Honda UK

Also read: Recall alert: Honda PH to replace fuel pumps of over 10,000 units for possible defects