2015 Honda HR-V: Australian price and specs

Honda is banking on more than 20,000 expressions of interest from Australian buyers for the HR-V converting into sales. An ambitious goal of moving 800 mini-SUVs per month is the backbone of the Japanese manufacturer’s all-out offensive to boost brand sales by 50%, back to their 2007 high of 60,000 units annually in this country.

That’s going to require the HR-V to shift as many copies per month as the popular Subaru XV – so the going isn’t going to be easy for Honda, a brand fighting off a reputation that has waned over the last decade, particularly compared to Mazda.

Honda’s mini-SUV will fight in the trenches with Mazda’s forthcoming CX-3, and Honda’s pitching their option as more generously equipped across the range. A reversing camera, daytime running lights, cruise control, and touchscreen audio with a smartphone navigation link are present on each model, from the $24,990 VTi base model upwards.

The HR-V’s practical, too, with 1,032 litres of space available with the Magic Seats dropped in the back.

All models share Honda’s 105kW 1.8-litre Earth Dreams four-cylinder petrol, mated to a continuously-variable automatic gearbox. Stepping up to the $27,990 VTi-S buys you leather on the steering wheel and shifter, as well as push button start, roof rails, 17-inch alloys, and autonomous braking.

The VTi-L tops off the range at $32,990, bringing leather trim and heated seats, a panoramic sunroof, and shift paddles for that CVT. Plush.

The flagship HR-V can also be had with a $1,000 ADAS safety package that offers collision and lane departure warnings, plus automatic high-beam.

It’s the VTi-S that’s the real value proposition, and in line with that, Honda expects it to take home 40% of sales.

Capped price servicing applies for the HR-V, with 12 month or 10,000 kilometre intervals.

2015 Honda HR-V range: pricing

All prices are RRP list prices, before on-road costs or options.

• VTi: $24,990
• VTi-S: $27,990
• VTi-L: $32,990
• VTi-L ADAS: $33,990