Honda HR-V

Honda HR-V
2018 Honda HR-V 1.5 VTi-S (RU5, Australia)
Overview
Manufacturer	Honda
Production	1998–2006 2015–present
Model years	1999–2006 2016–present
Body and chassis
Class	Subcompact Crossover SUV
Body style	3-door crossover (first generation) 5-door crossover

The Honda HR-V is a subcompact crossover SUV produced by Honda spanning two generations. The first generation HR-V was based on the Honda Logo and sold in Europe, Japan and selective Asia-Pacific markets between 1999 and 2006. The second generation HR-V is based on the third-generation Honda Fit and went on sale in North America, Australia, Brazil, and selective Asian markets in 2015. The second generation HR-V is largely identical to the JDM Vezel which went on sale in late 2013.

The abbreviation HR-V, according to Honda's HR-V history website,^[1] officially stands for Hi-rider Revolutionary Vehicle. The HR-V was introduced to cater for the demand for vehicles with the benefits of SUVs (in particular its larger cousin CR-V), such as increased cargo room and higher visibility, along with the maneuverability, performance and fuel economy of a smaller car.

First generation (1999–2006)

First generation
Overview
Production	1998–2006
Body and chassis
Body style	3 door wagon (GH1 & GH2) 5 door wagon (GH3 & GH4)
Layout	FWD (GH1 & GH3) Real Time AWD (GH2 & GH4)
Related	Honda Logo Honda City Honda Capa
Powertrain
Engine	1.6 L D16A I4 SOHC 1.6 L D16W I4 VTEC SOHC
Transmission	Honda Multimatic S 5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,360 mm (92.9 in) (3-door) 2,460 mm (96.9 in) (5-door)
Length	4,000 mm (157.5 in) (3-door) 4,110 mm (161.8 in) (5-door)
Width	1,695 mm (66.7 in)
Height	1,695 mm (66.7 in)
Curb weight	1,200–1,300 kg (2,646–2,866 lb)
Chronology
Successor	Honda Crossroad (Japan)

The HR-V was built on the supermini platform used by the Honda Logo, while the larger CR-V was built on the Civic platform. Known as one of the earliest low emissions vehicles (in terms of nitrogen oxides) and unique character.

Designed as the "Wild and Joyfull J-WJ" concept vehicle and exhibited at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1997, the HR-V emerged as a futuristic and lightweight cross-country vehicle in 1998, exclusive to Honda dealership network called Honda Verno in Japan. The Honda HR-V was soon put into production due to its popularity, compliance with Japanese Government dimension regulations, and marketed toward a younger demographic as the "Joy Machine" in 1999. The HR-V was shipped to Europe with either a Honda D16W1 type 1.6L SOHC or a four-wheel drive SOHC VTEC Honda D16W5 type engine. An automatic continuously variable transmission gearbox was also an engine option, however, the main criticism of the HR-V was the lack of a diesel engine option. The three door versions were discontinued in 2003 and five door versions in 2006.

The Real Time 4WD system comes from the CR-V and utilizes a dual hydraulic pump rear differential, where the 4WD system is hydraulically activated when the front wheels lose traction. The HR-V also uses enhanced drive shafts and suspension. Variations were produced for Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Rim and for its home market of Japan. The HR-V was revised in 2002 with some exterior styling changes and a new interior. Ahead of its time in terms of design for pedestrian safety, the HR-V seats four people and includes modern safety features such as ABS brakes with EBD (electronic brakeforce distribution), dual SRS (supplemental restraint system) airbags, as well as other features such as electric mirrors, electric windows, folding rear seats, power steering, heat absorbing windows, air conditioning, front fog lights and a rear spoiler housing an LED brake light array.

Pre-facelift Honda HR-V 

Facelifted Honda HR-V 

Facelift Honda HR-V 

Second generation (2016–present)

Second generation
2015 Honda HR-V 1.8 VTi (RU5, Australia)
Overview
Also called	Honda Vezel (Japan) Honda XR-V (China)
Production	2015–present
Model years	2016–present
Assembly	Sumaré, Brazil Campana, Argentina Celaya, Mexico (Feb 2015) Guadalajara, Mexico (2017) Yorii, Saitama, Japan Karawang, Indonesia Alor Gajah, Malaysia Gurgaon, India (Honda Automobile India) Swindon, United Kingdom Ayutthaya, Thailand Ping-Tung, Taiwan (2016)
Designer	Manabu Konaka (2012)
Body and chassis
Body style	5-door crossover
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive Front-engine, all-wheel-drive
Related	Honda Fit Honda XR-V Honda WR-V
Powertrain
Engine	1.5 L L15Z6 I4 1.5 L L15B I4 1.8 L R18Z9 I4
Transmission	6-speed manual CVT automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,610 mm (102.8 in)
Length	4,295 mm (169.1 in)
Width	1,770 mm (69.7 in)
Height	1,605 mm (63.2 in)
Curb weight	1,180–1,270 kg (2,601–2,800 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Honda Element (US) Honda Crossroad (Japan)

Honda HR-V 1.8 VTi-S (RU5, Australia)

Interior

The second-generation Honda HR-V debuted at the 2014 New York Auto Show as a concept car, with the production model unveiled later at the 2014 LA Auto Show. The HR-V was introduced in the United States in 2015 as a 2016 model. It shares the same platform as the third-generation Fit and is largely identical to the Vezel, which went on sale in Japan in December 2013. HR-V will be smaller than both CR-V and Pilot, again (after the demise of Element) giving Honda a model range with three SUVs.^[2]

The HR-V's body utilizes 27% ultra-high-strength steel grades, of either of 780, 980 or 1,500 MPa yield strength.^[3]

The US-market HR-V is manufactured at Honda's Celaya, Mexico assembly plant alongside Fit and went on sale in May 2015 as a 2016 model. It is powered by a 1.8-litre SOHC i-VTEC I4 engine mated either to a CVT transmission similar to the Civic or a 6-speed manual transmission (FWD only). Fuel economy for front-wheel drive (FWD) automatic models is rated at 28/35/31 mpg (city/highway/combined) or 27/32/29 mpg for all-wheel drive (AWD) models.^[4]

In Asia, the Thailand-market HR-V went on sale in November 2014. It is powered by 1.8-litre engine with four grades namely S, E, E LIMITED and EL. Sales of the HR-V is to be expanded to other Asian markets in 2015.^[5] In Indonesia, the HR-V is offered with 1.5 and 1.8 litre engine. Initially the 1.5 litre cars were available in the base model A with manual transmission, slightly more equipped S with either manual or CVT, and the loaded and CVT only E model. The only model grade for 1.8 litre is Prestige which comes with full leather interior and panoramic roof. Later, the cheapest model A was dropped, leaving only the S, E, and Prestige. Mugen body kits are optional for the 1.5 E and 1.8 Prestige. The HR-V was introduced in Taiwan in October 2016 and it's only available with the 1.8-litre engine. It comes in three different trim models, the VTi, VTi-S and S, ranging in price from NT$749,000 to 849,000. All models features the CVT transmission, with the VTi featuring six positions (including L) whereas the VTi-S and S comes with five positions, but features manual paddles if the drives wants to take control of the gearing. ^[6]

The Brazil-market HR-V, assembled locally at Honda’s plant in the state of Sao Paulo and imported from Argentina, went on sale in first-quarter 2015 as a 2016 model, competing with the new Jeep Renegade, Ford Ecosport and Renault Duster.^{[7][8][9][10]} For the first nine months of 2015, Honda's production in Brazil was reported to increase by 20 percent as a result of the launch of HR-V compared with a 20% drop for the industry.^[11]

Facelift

Facelifted 2018 Honda HR-V (Europe)

Rear view of the facelift model (Europe)

For the 2018 model year, Honda announced the mid-cycle refresh for the HR-V. It features a revised chrome bar grille and LED headlamps both being similar to Honda Civic, revised taillights and updated bumper design as with the other current Honda products. There are now two headlight options as well; full LED headlights for the touring trim, or LED accented headlights for the other trims. On the interior Honda has announced that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will now be available. The head unit is now updated and features a volume knob replacing the volume slider. Lastly, Honda Sensing will now be standard on EX trims and higher. Although the manual transmission is no longer available, Honda did refine the CVT transmission as well as the optional AWD system. Two new trim levels for the HR-V: Sport and Touring will be added with trims ranging from LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, and Touring will be available.^[12]

Safety

2016 HR-V NHTSA scores^[13]

Overall:
Frontal Driver:
Frontal Passenger:
Side Driver:
Side Passenger:
Side Pole Driver:
Rollover:	/ 15.3%

Engines

Model	Engine	Displacement	Power	Torque
1.5 i-VTEC	L15ZC	1,497 cc	88 kW (120 PS) @6,600 rpm	145 N⋅m (107 lb⋅ft) @4,600 rpm
1.5 i-VTEC	L15B	1,496 cc	97 kW (132 PS) @6,600 rpm	155 N⋅m (114 lb⋅ft) @4,600 rpm
1.8	R18Z9	1,799 cc	104 kW (141 PS) @6,500 rpm	174 N⋅m (128 lb⋅ft) @4,300 rpm

Sales

^*US sales began in May 2015.^[16]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Honda HR-V.

• HR-V Official
• Honda HR-V in Japan (Japanese)
• HR-V Japan (Japanese)
• Honda HR-V Thailand
• Honda HR-V Indonesia