Honda ups safety in facelifted HR-V

BY TUNG NGUYEN | 17th Jul 2018

HONDA Australia’s facelifted HR-V small SUV will hit local showrooms in August with the brand’s City-Brake Active System low-speed autonomous emergency braking (AEB) now standard across the four-tier range.

Pricing remains static on the two carryover entry-level grades, with the HR-V range kicking off at $24,990 before on-roads for the VTi and $27,990 for the VTi-S.

However, the previous VTi-L flagship has been dropped in favour of the sportier $31,990 RS and new range-topping $34,590 VTi-LX.

Aside from the fitment of AEB, standard equipment on the VTi also includes keyless entry, a reversing camera, emergency stop signal, a customisable speed limit alert, a 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with satellite navigation and Bluetooth connectivity, automatic single-zone climate control and an electric parking brake with hold assist.

Stepping up to the VTi-S nets buyers Honda’s LaneWatch camera system, 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, rear parking sensors, automatic LED headlights, push-button start, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, and in-cabin chrome highlights.

Meanwhile, RS grades, which Honda says is “designed for the customers who want a more edgy and sporty HR-V”, feature a unique variable gear ratio steering that results in “more dynamic and direct ride and handling”.

From the outside, the RS is distinguished by 18-inch wheels, piano black bodykit, tinted rear doors and grade-specific badging, as well as a darkened front grille, mirror caps, door handles and foglight surrounds.

Sitting atop the range, the VTi-LX sports chrome door handles and a panoramic sunroof, as well as front parking sensors, one-touch power windows, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and eight-way power adjustable driver’s pew.

However, only the top-spec VTi-LX will receive Honda’s Advanced Driver Assist System safety technology as standard, which includes forward collision warning, high-beam support and lane-departure warning.

Metallic paint costs an additional $575, but is standard on the RS.

All HR-Vs are powered by the same 1.8-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, producing 105kW of power at 6500rpm and 172Nm of toque from 4300rpm, mated to a continuously-variable automatic transmission.

Sending power to the front wheels, the HR-V will return a fuel consumption figure of 6.9 litres per 100km.

Honda Australia director Stephen Collins said the HR-V has been a hit since its reintroduction in 2015, and the new updates are expected to keep it competitive against other small SUV competitors.

“The HR-V is one of the best cars we have brought to Australia in the last decade,” he said. “Since launch it has consistently been in the top three of private sales for the small SUV segment year-on-year and we believe it to be the most complete small SUV available.

“The introduction of the RS grades, builds on the Honda DNA of sport styling and world-class engineering while ensuring there is no compromise on the comfort and versatility this car is known and loved for.”

For the first half of 2018, Honda has racked up 6763 new HR-V registrations, a 6.2 per cent lift over the same period last year.

The HR-V is currently placed fifth in the booming small SUV segment that has swelled 30.7 per cent this year, trailing the Mitsubishi ASX (9899), Mazda CX-3 (8815), Subaru XV (7330) and Nissan Qashqai (7213).