Honda HR-V - All you need to know

Honda has always been one of the finest and premium-most automakers in the Philippines, with an extensive lineup that caters to buyers with different expectations and luxuries. The Honda HR-V is one of those productions from the Japanese automaker that’s been on top of the consideration list for a lot of Filipinos.

It offers you the best of different worlds, including the toughness of an SUV, the luxury of a sedan and an ambience of a coupe. While it’s great to look from the outside, it has enough to drool over from the inside as well. You can’t really get your mind off this amazing road machine. It’s no less than a complete package a buyer might want to have.

Powering the same old 1.8-liter i-VTEC with power and torque rated 141hp and 172 Nm respectively, the HR-V facelift is also on its way. Having landed on the shores of Thailand, the Philippines launch is not too far either. Though, it’s not known when it’s really going to happen?

To make you aware of what’s coming next

The HR-V facelift has been upgraded cosmetically, comes with a new front fascia that constitutes a honeycomb grille, a larger chrome bar in the centre, stunning and new LED headlamps with DRLs and strip fog lights with LEDs. An exclusive RS variant has also made its entry which gets a panoramic roof, 17-inch alloy wheels, black cladding on the sides, front and wheel arches. The complete package comes painted in a new Red Pearl shade.

Talking about the outgoing HR-V in the Philippines market, here’s what you, as consumers on the market for small crossovers, need to know.

Design that sparkles

The dynamic styling of the HR-V is all you might want in your next car. It’s sculpted looks, coupe-like appearance and underlying strength is something that gives it an edge over others. The styling components that are not only hard to ignore but ideal to take your breath away. The list of components includes a sporty front grille, 17-inch alloy wheels, black-housed fog lamps, shark fin antenna, concealed rear door handle and power folding ORVMs. The set adds features like LED guide tail lamps, LED twin-projector headlamps and LED daytime running lights for the EL variant. The E CVT variant, on the other hand, gets multi-reflector halogen headlamps.

Interiors that embrace lifestyle

The HR-V treats you with ample of sophistication inside the cabin. With a number of driver-focussed features and a high-deck console, it certainly outclasses many rivals in the segment. The premium features boasted by the HR-V include a 7-inch touchscreen display for your entertainment needs, a touch panel for auto climate control, wide flow air conditioning, smart entry, push-button start, floating illumination ring for driver with seven coloured-accents as a part of ECO assist system, multi-function steering wheel with audio controls, Bluetooth hands-free phone compatibility and MID controls. The 6-speaker audio system gets Bluetooth, USB, HDMI-in, iPod & iPhone connectivity.

Convenience you’ve always dreamt of

You get a feeling of satisfaction and comfort, with leather seats (also available in black fabric on E variant), cubbyholes, door pockets and plenty of bottle/cup holders. The cargo space of 393 litres can be extended to 1665 litres when rear seats are completely folded down. It is versatile to fit long objects, big items and everything that’s possible for a car to equip. While the 60:40 split configuration makes it simple to load in stuff, the complete fold-down mode acts as a catalyst to do even more - a WIN-WIN situation for you though.

Power that keeps your adrenaline flowing

Under the skin, the Honda HR-V gets a 1.8-litre SOHC i-VTEC engine that produces a max power of 141 PS at 6,500rpm and a peak torque of 172 Nm at 4,300rpm. The power is transferred to the front wheels via a CVT which is powered by Honda’s famous Earth Dreams Technology that helps in optimum fuel utilization. Additionally, the HR-V gets drive-by-wire technology, cruise control and paddle shifters for quick gear shifting.

Safety features to grant a sense of satisfaction

Known for its reliability, Honda vehicles have always been safe to drive; at least they come with a good set of precautionary features. The HR-V gets a plethora of them, including airbags (dual front, side* and curtain*), ABS with EBD, hill start assist, vehicle stability assist, reverse camera and seat belts with ELR. Additionally, there are features like emergency stop signal, auto brake hold, ISOFIX child anchors, advanced compatibility engineering, security alarm and 4 reverse sensors*. The Honda HR-V has also been awarded 5-star rating by ASEAN New Car Assessment Program (ASEAN-NCAP) for Adult Occupant Protection.

* For only EL variant

Colors

In the Philippines market, the Honda HR-V is available in seven different colours, including

• Morpho Blue Pearl
• Ruse Black Metallic
• Modern Steel Metallic
• Carnelian Red Pearl
• Taffeta White
• Lunar Silver Metallic
• White Orchid Pearl (For EL variant only)

Variants and pricing

There are two variants available, the E CVT and the EL CVT. While the former is priced at Php 1.26 million, the latter retails for Php 1.48 million.

Additionally, there are customization options, Modulo and Mugen available that transforms your base E variant into a 1.8 E CVT Modulo while the other EL variant enlivens to a newer and sportier 1.8 EL CVT MUGEN.