Honda HR-V Hybrid 2022: new-gen small SUV set to launch in hybrid and petrol forms, though only with four seats

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Honda Australia has confirmed its new-generation HR-V small SUV will be priced from $36,700 driveaway under the brand’s new fixed-price model, though it will only be available with four seatbelts due to design-rule limitations.

Set to go on sale from April 19, the new HR-V range will kick off with the Vi-X grade which is paired with a traditional petrol engine for the aforementioned $37K starting price, while a hybrid version, known as the e-HEV L, will cost $45,000 driveaway.

The 2022 HR-V’s entry price represents a $5200 jump over the outgoing third-generation HR-V VTi, however Honda claims the new Vi-X starting grade sits between the previous mid-spec VTi-X and top-spec RS in terms of specification.

With a new hybrid grade at its disposal and manufacturing sourced from Japan instead of Thailand, Honda’s third-generation HR-V will do battle with the forthcoming new-gen Nissan Qashqai and Toyota’s C-HR when it arrives in Australia next month.

But unlike its chief rivals, the new-gen HR-V will be strictly a four-seater. Honda Australia told Chasing Cars that “due to Australia’s unique design rules relating to child restraint anchorages for nominated seating positions, the new HR-V will be a four-seater for our market.

“Other markets do not have the same design rules, so they are able to offer seatbelts for three rear seating positions without the interconnected requirement for child restraint upper anchorages at each seating position” – leaving the Oz-market HR-V somewhat compromised given its interior space. 

What does the new HR-V include?

Replacing the ageing second-gen HR-V (which launched in Australia in February 2015), the new HR-V has seen a host of technology and safety improvements that bring it up to date with its rivals.

As standard, the HR-V Vi-X is fitted with a 9.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay (but wired Android Auto), navigation and DAB digital radio that play through a four-speaker sound system.

The cabin features black cloth seats with manual height adjustment on the driver’s side, single-zone climate control and Honda’s ‘Magic seats’ that can have their cushions flipped up for carrying tall items or the whole arrangement folded dead-flat.

From the outside, modern features like LED headlights and tail-lights garnish a completely redesigned exterior along with 18-inch alloys and rear privacy glass.

The HR-V’s safety suite includes lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, and front and rear parking sensors, along with adaptive cruise control and hill-descent control.

Honda has equipped the HR-V Vi-X grade with a 1.5-litre petrol four-cylinder engine producing 89kW of power and 145Nm of torque which drives the front wheels through a CVT transmission.

Hybrid brings improved fuel consumption, more features

The HR-V e-HEV L is a hybrid but functions more like an electric vehicle, with a pair of electric motors making ​​96kW/253Nm drawing power from a battery that is constantly charged up by the 1.5-litre engine.

The end result is a combined fuel-consumption figure of 4.3L/100km, compared to the petrol-only Vi-X which uses 5.8L/100km.

To justify its $45K asking price, Honda has also fitted the HR-V e-HEV with a more premium interior and features such as leather upholstery with heated front seats and a heated leather steering wheel, dual-zone climate control and air vents in the second row.

Hybrid buyers also net convenience features such as a power tailgate and rain-sensing wipers along with a boosted safety package thanks to the addition of blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive headlights that point in the direction of the front wheels.

The third-generation HR-V will be available in a choice of five colours including Platinum While, Premium Opal and Crystal Black, along with two metallic colours – Metroid Grey and Premium Crystal Red.

For those interested in checking out the HR-V, Honda will be delivering models to its showrooms in the coming weeks before it goes on sale on April 19.