Efficiency and driving pleasure, with a completely renewed style. First contact behind the wheel again Honda HR-V and: HEV, the third generation of the Japanese SUV that is preparing to arrive on the Italian market in the hybrid version only. After having discovered it up close in a static preview in Milan, we had the opportunity to preview it during a test drive near Frankfurt. Here is our test on German roads.
From the first glance you can see a notable stylistic evolution, with the new generation of Honda HR-V that boasts a sportier design which brings it closer and closer to a high-wheeled coupe. The shapes are soft and clean, even with a look that expresses a marked personality, especially in the front part where the integrated grille stands out in the center of which the Honda logo stands out. On its sides an optical signature stretches that visually embraces the front, extending to the sides of the car. While maintaining the size of the previous generation, the Japanese SUV has a slender body which transmits a greater presence on the road, with the flat bonnet that improves the visibility of the driver and is integrated into the pillars, thus also increasing visibility.
As well as for the outside, too the cockpit has been completely renewed. We always started from the desire to maximize comfort and provide the driver and passengers with an optimal experience. The result is a brighter environment, with more space at the rear where the relocation of the tank and system components and: optimized HEVs that offer an impressive 35 mm more for the legs. Once again it is possible to benefit from Magic seats, Honda’s strong point for maximizing load spaces with seats that can be folded down or raised, significantly increasing the luggage compartment capacity. The stabilizing front seats then provide ergonomic support that minimizes fatigue on long journeys. The reshaping of the windows makes the passenger compartment even brighter.
The most important novelty for the Honda HR-V range concerns the offer of engines which now includes only the electrified version. The Japanese SUV takes advantage of the configuration a two electric motors and: HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) which had already debuted on the new Jazz. This technology, the result of 20 years of experience and the know-how gathered on the track by the team of engineers involved in Formula 1, has allowed us to design an efficient and high-performance powertrain, improving the system offered on the Jazz also in relation to the greater mass of HR. -V. The full hybrid system in this case is based on a 1.5 Atkinson cycle i-VTEC engine and two electric units. Power and torque have been increased to 96 kW (131 hp) and 253 Nm respectively, while the final transmission ratio has been reduced for better driving performance. The new HR-V’s e: HEV battery system has a higher energy density which allows the powertrain to generate more power. The number of battery cells has been increased by 25%, from 48 cells in the Jazz e: HEV to 60 in the HR-V.
Connectivity also improves on Honda HR-V, with multimedia services available through a 9 ” touch screen which aims to reduce any kind of distraction for the driver. The system is now faster and has a usability similar to that of a smartphone with sliding controls. The display can also be configured according to the driver’s needs, with customizable quick links to the most used features. It is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with the latter also available with wireless mirroring. ADAS and security systems included in the Honda Sensing package include automatic emergency braking with recognition of pedestrians and cyclists even in the absence of street light, Adaptive Cruise Control, Low Speed Brake System, Lane Keep Assist, Enhanced Road Departure Mitigation System, sign recognition system road, the Intelligent Speed Limiter and finally the Front & Rear Collision Mitigation Throttle Control. The driver can decide which information relating to these systems to display directly on the 7 ” TFT display behind the steering wheel.
The driving position has been raised by 10 mm and when you get behind the wheel you immediately have a feeling of greater control over the car and its dimensions. The aforementioned flat bonnet and the lowering of the rear-view mirrors also contribute to this purpose, two elements that also improve the driver’s visibility. The steering is precise and has the right lightness to maneuver better in city traffic. Outside the built-up areas, however, when you try to press more decisively with your foot on the accelerator, the scooter effect of the internal combustion engine is heard as on all full hybrids, producing a sound that is perhaps too decisive that clashes with the silence of the electrified gear. A detail that does not however affect the efficiency and consumption which are confirmed as the flagship of the HR-V, with an average of 5.7-5.8 liters / 100 km differing slightly from those declared. The choice of materials for the coverings is also right, with a mix of hard and soft touch that goes well. well with the premium and sporty vocation sought by Honda. The new display of the infotainment system, which combines buttons and touchscreen, also appears significantly faster than in the past and has a simpler interface. The new lines, comfort and hybrid technology confirm the winning recipe of the Honda SUV which will be a more than interesting opponent on the market.
Honda HR-V will be declined in three productions Elegance, Advance and Advance Style. The price list starts at 30,900 euros, with the entry level that already includes Smart Key, Adaptive Cruise Control, Hill Descent Contol, followed by the Advance at a cost of 33,400 euros up to the top of the range, the Advance Style, the protagonist of our test, which ranks at the top of the range with a price of 35,900 euros Advance Style and includes among other things the two-tone roof, premium audio system and wireless charger for the smartphone. To the standard colors, the new generation adds Sand Khakie and Metereoid Gray. The arrival on the market is scheduled for February 2022 but the orders are already open, with a pre-launch offer of 26,400 euros with 4,500 euros of Honda Hybrid Bonus and state incentives which includes the Privilege Pack 8 years warranty and 3 years of free maintenance. Pre-orders have already been opened. about 6,000 units for the year.