HR-V will position as entry tier crossover below ZR-V and CR-V.

DETAIL of another crossover Honda intends to have on sale here soon has published on the brand’s website.

The sharing of information about the impending 1.5-litre hybrid HR-V Sport, including its $45,800 price, is part of a pre-sale strategy.

It said then it would upload information from today in order to meet compliance requirements in respect to the model, with “retention sales” also starting from today. 

Teaser advertising is also under way from this point, ahead of a full campaign.

The nameplate is familiar to Kiwis, though it has been absent from the showroom for two and half a years.

Honda NZ indicated some time ago it was keen to get the car back, to sit as a cheaper alternate to the larger ZR-V and CR-V models, but decided to await a facelift that hit Japan in May. It brands as the Vezel in the home market.

That product strategy means the HR-V Sport is $10,000 cheaper than the least costly ZR-V, also a Sport but with a 2.0-litre engine.

The NZ-market model has the same ‘two motor’ e:HEV petrol hybrid drivetrain as the Jazz small car, with tuning almost identical to that presented in the hatchback in its perkiest RS format. 

With e:HEV, the petrol engine effectively acts as a generator of electricity for the motor, which drives the wheels. 

As in Jazz RS, the HR-V engine creates 78kW and 127Nm, but power output from the electric appears to be stronger, with 96kW from the crossover representing a 6kW lift. Torque from the electric motor is identical, at 253Nm.

Thrift-wise Honda NZ is claiming optimums of 4.3 litres per 100km fuel burn (against 3.8L/100km for Jazz) and emissions of 98 grams per kilometre, versus 9.1.

The HR-V is a physically larger car and heavier, and has larger wheels, configuring with 18-inch rims against 16s on the hatchback.

The design updates with 2024 HR-V include a revised grille and lower front bumper, full-LED two-tier tail-lights, traffic jam assist, adaptive high-beam headlights, and a mis-acceleration prevention assist. 

Honda NZ’s information includes advice that it is not rated for towing.

The car is 4345mm long, 1590mm tall, 1790mm wide and is on a 2610mm wheelbase.