A much-awaited facelift of the Honda HR-V, teased since mid last year, but official launch held back due to problems with price approvals. Mostly cosmetic enhancements, but with an additional hybrid variant.

If you are in the market for a compact crossover, the HR-V remains the best balanced choice in the market. The CX-3 and C-HR are both more attractive, but require too many compromises. The Subaru XV is mechanically superior, but lacks the HR-V’s clever interior touches. It’s just that if you’re after the best value for money at this price range, you should be looking at the Proton X70.

No top-spec hybrid

Honda continues its curious practice of not offering its hybrid engine in conjunction with the highest possible trim variant. We can understand the rationale of wanting to make the hybrid affordable, but surely there are takers ready to pay the necessary for, say, a HR-V RS Hybrid? No?

Long wait since teaser campaign

Okay, we know this is not Honda’s fault, but lengthy delays in the price approval process together with a long drawn out teaser campaign has since interest peaked and probably waned. The Proton X70’s arrival at the same price point certainly doesn’t help matters from Honda’s perspective.

1.8L E: RM108,800

1.8L V: RM118,800

215/55 R17 /
225/50 R18*
*RS Variant

1.8L, inline-4

FWD

Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT)

7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT)

FWD

1.5L, inline-4

1,772mm

Toyota C-HR: 1,795mm (+23)

Mazda CX-3: 1,765mm (-7)

HONDA HR-V

50L, Petrol

1,257kg – 1,290kg

437 - 1,032L

1.8L

50L, Petrol

215/55 R17

Front - Ventilated Disc

Rear - Solid Disc

Front - MacPherson Strut

Rear - Torsion Beam

Front -Ventilated Disc

Rear - Solid Disc

Front - MacPherson Strut

Rear - Torsion Beam

404 - 991L

1,300kg

1.5L HYBRID

What's Good

What's Not

To Buy or

Not To Buy

?

What’s this?

- 2019 -

Assembled in Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia.

4,334mm

Toyota C-HR: 4,360mm (+26)

Mazda CX-3: 4,275mm (-59)

2,610mm

Toyota C-HR: 2,640mm (+30)

Mazda CX-3: 2,570mm (-40)

3.0%

Interest Rate

9

Years

RM1320.80 / month

RM1151.46 / month

1.8 RS

1.8 E

CX-3 - 156/6,000

6

Airbags

Honda Lanewatch

Hill Start Assist (HSA)

Multi-Angle Rearview Camera

Emergency Stop Signal (ESS)

Auto Brake Hold (ABH)

ISOFIX

Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)

G-CON

Still the HR-V we know, mostly

The HR-V has been a hugely successful product for Honda, and there is no real imperative to drastically alter the formula beyond the superficial. Why disrupt a winning formula?

Hybrid i-DCD

Honda is the most active car maker in offering hybrids at affordable price segments, and the HR-V Hybrid continues the agenda. The i-DCD setup, which mates a 1.5-litre direct-injected four pot mated to an electric motor and 7-speed dual clutch transmission, is tried and tested in both the City and Jazz.

Right size

A major factor of the HR-V’s success is that it taps on the current trend favouring crossovers, but contained with a package that is compact yet stylish.

Interior packaging

It’s a Honda. Need we say more about its clever utilization of interior room? The HR-V has the most practical interior amongst crossovers its size.

RM169.34

1,605mm

Toyota C-HR: 1,565mm (-40)

Mazda CX-3: 1,535mm (-70)

1.8L RS: RM124,800

1.5L Hybrid: RM120,800

C-HR - 140/6,400

PS/RPM

29.5/1,313 - 2,000

1.8L - 142/6,500

Nm/RPM

CX-3 - 206/2,800

C-HR - 171/4,000

1.8L - 172/4,300

1.5L HYBRID 132/6,600

1.5L HYBRID 156/4,600

152

190

160/1,313