2022 Honda HR-V: How does it stack up against the Proton X50?

Before the arrival of the Proton X50 in October 2020, the Honda HR-V enjoyed tremendous sales success in the B-SUV segment in the Malaysian automotive arena for many years. The X50 shook the king’s throne, and won many hearts with its young design, modern technology and better performance, and ultimately became the best-selling model in the segment. 

Well, here comes the all-new 2022 HR-V as Honda’s answer to the X50. In its latest avatar, the Japanese SUV seems ready to get back its No.1 tag. So, does it offer the better deal against the X50, let’s know in our 2022 Honda HR-V vs Proton X50 comparison. 

Honda HR-V vs Proton X50: Price

The first and foremost thing we compare is the price -

Honda HR-V		Proton X50
HR-V S	RM 114,800	X50 Standard	RM 83,800
HR-V Turbo E	RM 129,800	X50 Executive	RM 89,800
HR-V Turbo V	RM 134,800	X50 Premium	RM 98,800
HR-V RS e:HEV	RM 140,800	X50 Flagship	RM 109,800

The mentioned prices are on-the-road, including sales tax, but excluding insurance. The comparison tells us that there is a pretty good difference of RM 30k between these two SUVs.

Honda HR-V vs Proton X50: Dimensions

Specs	Honda HR-V	Proton X50
Length	4385 mm	4,330 mm
Width	1790 mm	1,800 mm
Height	1590 mm	1,609 mm
Wheelbase	2610 mm	2,600 mm

Size-wise, the new HR-V is a bit longer than the Proton X50, however, in terms of width and height, the latter wins by a little margin. The wheelbase of the two models is almost identical.

Honda HR-V vs Proton X50: Engine and performance

Honda Malaysia offers the new HR-V in three engine options. The base-spec S trim is equipped with a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated DOHC i-VTEC engine generating a power output of 121 PS and a peak torque of 145 Nm. Powering the mid-spec Turbo E and Turbo V is a 1.5-litre VTEC turbo mill delivering 181 PS and 240 Nm of torque. The power is sent to the wheels via a CVT unit. 

The top-spec RS comes with an e:HEV hybrid powertrain setup, which combines a 1.5-litre NA Atkinson-cycle petrol engine and an e-motor. Combinedly, the system kicks out a maximum power of 131 PS and 253 Nm. 

On the other hand, the X50 runs on a 1.5-litre engine that comes in two versions - a port-injected mill powering the Standard, Executive, and Premium variants, while a more powerful direct-injected unit serving the top-spec Flagship. The former kicks out 150 PS of maximum power and 226 Nm of peak torque. However, the latter is good for making 177 PS and 255 Nm. Here, the shifting duties are handled by a 7-speed DCT unit.

On comparing the engine and performance specs, we can see that the mid-spec HR-V models and top-spec X50 deliver almost the same output levels. 

However, when it comes to agility, the X50 wins the race as it takes 7.9 seconds to hit the century sprint, whereas the HR-V Turbo E model completes the same task in 8.7 seconds. 

In terms of fuel consumption, there is a tie between the X50 and HR-V Turbo models as they run 100 km with 6.5 litres of fuel. However, the hybrid HR-V is the most economical among all with a mileage of 4.1 litres per 100 km.

Honda HR-V vs Proton X50: Features

To compare the two SUVs in terms of features, we put their top-spec models against each other and got to know the X50 is no less than the pricier HR-V whether it is exterior, interior, or safety.

Specs	Honda HR-V RS e: HEV	Proton X50 Flagship
Exterior	Chrome chequered grille, Automatic LED headlights, LED combination tail lights, LED front fog lights, Sequential LED front indicators, Chrome lower trim, 18-inch ten-spoke grey alloy, power-folding door mirrors, walk-away automatic locking, automatic wipers, hands-free powered tailgate	Gloss black grille, LED automatic headlamps, LED DRLs, LED tail lights, LED front fog lamps, 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels, Panoramic sunroof, dual-tone exterior paint, automatic rain-sensing wipers
Interior	8.0-inch infotainment unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, 7.0-inch instrument panel, dual-zone automatic climate control, soft-touch dashboard and door cards, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, black leather upholstery, 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, 8 speakers, Honda Connect remote services, Remote engine start, Keyless entry	10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with voice-command assistant, Proton Link App compatibility, 7.0-inch digital instrument display, Single-zone auto air-conditioning, N95 cabin filter, Black headliner, Black and red faux leather upholstery, Leather-wrapped steering wheel, 6-way powered driver’s seat, six loudspeakers, remote engine start, keyless entry, push-button start, automatic dimming rear-view mirror
Safety	6 airbags, ABS with EBD and BA, Stability control, Agile Handling Assist, Hill start assist. Hill descent control, Emergency stop signal, reverse camera, parking sensors LaneWatch blind spot camera and Honda Sensing driver assists (including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane centring assist, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beam)	6 airbags, ABS, EBD, brake assist, Electronic stability control and traction control, Hill hold assist, hill descent control, 360-degree camera, parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring system, forward Collision Warning with autonomous emergency braking, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, Intelligent Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Information System, Intelligent high-beam control, and Auto Park Assist

Verdict

Undoubtedly, the 2022 Honda HR-V is an amazing SUV loaded with all modern-day features and offers an amazing fuel economy with its hybrid setup. But to enjoy the latter, you need to forgo the power and have to pay a much higher price than the X50. So ultimately, the choice boils down to your preferences and affordability.

Also read: Honda ZR-V unveiled in Japan; closely resembles the US-spec HR-V