Honda HR-V - What makes it desirable?

The Honda HR-V made its way to the Malaysian car scene for the first time back in early 2015 and got its first update just a year later. Finally, the all-new facelifted HR-V went on sale earlier this year and brought with it some exterior styling changes and a new Hybrid version - the latter is only sold in Japan, Singapore, and Malaysia.

The Honda HR-V is built upon the Jazz hatchback’s platform, and in Malaysia, this subcompact crossover SUV goes up against other segment stalwarts such as the Mazda CX-3 and Mitsubishi ASX. So what exactly makes the Honda “Hi-Rider Revolutionary Vehicle” (HR-V) all so desirable to prospective crossover buyers? Well, that’s what we are here to find out.

Chic exterior design

The moment you lay your eyes on the Honda HR-V, you know that it isn’t exactly like every other crossover SUV - you’re either going to love it or wouldn’t be able to ever get accustomed to its looks. In a world where many carmakers tend to play it safe with their designs, Honda certainly didn’t want to go unnoticed when it came to the new HR-V.

The exterior design of the HR-V, especially in its RS avatar, looks youthful, bold, sporty and contemporary from almost every angle. Upfront, there’s Honda’s new and thick "flying wing" grille design with a sophisticated honeycomb pattern for the intake, sweptback headlamps with stylish LED running lights, heavily sculpted bumper, enlarged fog lamp housings and a more aggressive lower apron.

The jacked-up stance of the HR-V becomes very apparent when viewed from the sides, where it also features two-tone alloy wheels, coupe-like sloped roof, pillar-mounted rear door handles, along with swooping body lines and contours. At the back, the HR-V gets large combination LED tail lamps that are connected by a thin chrome strip, prominent roof spoiler and a gently sculpted tailgate.

The sportier RS trim looks even more sporty, with its predominantly gloss black trim bits such as the front grille, air intakes, fog lamp housings, front & rear bumpers, wing mirrors, and front & side skirts. Then there are the larger 18-inch wheels and the cool smoked tail lamp housings at the back. Overall, the Honda HR-V has no trouble garnering attention.

Features and equipment

Along with its eye-catching design, the Honda HR-V also boasts some cool and useful features. Depending on the variant you opt for, the HR-V can be had with amenities such as automatic LED headlamps with auto levelling, LED front fog lights, power-operated & closing door mirrors with integrated LED turn signals, keyless entry with push-button start, cruise control, full leather interior upholstery, sports pedals, 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat,

leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel with paddle shifters, electronic parking brake, single-zone automatic climate control with capacitive touch controls, ‘ECON’ mode button, instrument cluster with customisable ambient lighting, 7-inch touch-multimedia head unit with support for HDMI, USB and Bluetooth, four-speaker sound system, and parking sensors along with Honda’s Multi-Angle Rearview Camera.

Vital safety gear

The Honda HR-V has been awarded a full 5-star NCAP safety rating by multiple agencies all over the world. Even the base variant of the new HR-V comes equipped with life-saving features such as six airbags (dual front, side and side curtain), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA),

Hill Start Assist (HSA), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Automatic Brake Hold (ABH), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) and rear seat ISOFIX anchoring points. Meanwhile, higher trims of the HR-V also come with the Honda LaneWatch Camera (LWC) system which further bolsters safety by displaying a live feed of the blind spot on the passenger side of the vehicle.

Frugal hybrid powertrain

The facelifted Honda HR-V family is now joined by a new Hybrid variant as well. Priced at RM 120,800, the HR-V Hybrid uses a 1.5-litre i-VTEC four-cylinder petrol engine that’s backed up by a 30hp electric motor. This means the HR-V Hybrid powertrain belts out a combined output of 150 horsepower and a maximum torque figure of 190 newton-metres. Connecting this hybrid powerplant to the front wheels is a smooth 7-speed Dual-Clutch Transmission (7DCT). If optimum fuel consumption is a priority for you, the HR-V Hybrid’s fantastic 25 kmpl figure should leave you quite thrilled.

Refinement and build quality

Aside from its tight rear seats and a noticeably stiff ride, the new Honda HR-V is actually a pretty comfortable car to travel in. Unlike some other crossovers in this segment, the HR-V doesn’t roll much around corners, while the “Ultra” seats are comfy and supportive. There’s a little bit of tyre roar (especially in the RS) and mild wind noise when travelling at speed, but otherwise, there’s no gruff engine note to be heard inside the cabin at all. The HR-V also scores points for its overall build quality and the high levels of fit-and-finish.

Honda reliability and brand value

Finally, one of the biggest desirability factors that work in the new HR-V’s favour is its brand appeal. We all know that Honda cars are considered extremely reliable, hassle-free and well-made -- all of which hold true for the HR-V as well. Combine this with all the other points mentioned above, and you’ve a subcompact crossover SUV that’s hard to ignore.

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