Honda's new compact CUV, the HR-V, was shown during the Paris Motor Show recently and will hit U.S. shores later this year.
We were offered a sneak peek at the Honda HR-V earlier this year, and got a first look at it in Paris, a few weeks back. But if it strikes your fancy and you live in the U.S., you’ll have to wait another month for a look at the actual sheet metal. The good news is that Honda is providing a teaser image of the compact crossover that will become the new entry point into its growing CUV line-up.
Original hinted at with the 2013 Urban SUV Concept, Honda plans to put the new HR-V on sale shortly after its official debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
The new crossover utility vehicle will be positioned below the CR-V both in price and overall size, but if the Fit is any indication, the new crossover may deliver nearly as much cargo and passenger space.
That’s because the new Honda HR-V shares the same basic underpinnings as the latest-generation Honda Fit which itself went on sale earlier this year.
Honda HR-V shares the same basic underpinnings as the latest-generation Honda Fit which itself went on sale earlier this year.
Like the Fit, Honda says the “HR-V will feature a versatile and spacious interior thanks to an innovative center fuel tank layout (and) the Honda-exclusive Magic Seat, which allows for multiple seating configurations and the ability to fold the second row seat completely flat for added cargo space.”
Set to be revealed on the afternoon of Nov. 19, Honda isn’t offering much more in the way of details. But the HR-V is expected to also share the same new EarthDreams powertrain as the Fit, a 1.5-liter i-VTEC inline-four producing 130 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque.
Paired with a six-speed manual or CVT, the Fit delivers an EPA-rated 33 mpg City, 41 Highway and 36 Combined. Likely to be a bit heavier and less aerodynamic, mileage for the Honda HR-V will likely be a few mpg lower.
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Some sources hint that Honda might offer a larger engine, as well, most likely derived from either the Civic or CR-V. All-wheel-drive is also expected to be an option.
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Incidentally, if the HR-V name rings a bell, Honda actually used that nameplate once before, on a mini SUV it sold in some parts of the world between 1999 and 2006.
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The small crossover segment is becoming popular around the world – one reason why the HR-V first made its appearance at the Paris Motor Show. Such downsized crossovers are proving especially popular with young urban dwellers who want maximum flexibility within a minimum footprint for easier maneuvering and parking on crowded city streets.
Expect to see Honda position the HR-V against such other small crossovers as the new Chevrolet Trax and Jeep Renegade, as well as the recently updated Nissan Juke. That maker also appears to be working on an additional small CUV based on the Extreme Concept it is showing off at the Sao Paulo Auto Show in Brazil. Compact CUVs are expected to become the fastest-growing market segment in the world over the coming decade, analysts widely forecasted.