Honda Vezel to gain HR-V moniker outside Japan?

honda-vezel-tms 002

It seems like the Honda Vezel will leave its nameplate to be used in its home country only, if the latest reports – indicating that Honda will resurrect the HR-V name for the US version of the B-segment crossover – prove to be correct.

According to those reports, Honda has filed for a trademark for the name at the US Patent and Trademark Office and has already shown the vehicle to their American dealers. The car is expected to be built at the Celaya plant in Mexico that also assembles the US-market Fit (Honda Jazz to us) on which it is based.

honda_hr-v_5-door_uk-spec_1

The original distinctively-styled HR-V (Hi-rider Revolutionary Vehicle) debuted in 1999 as one of the first small crossovers to hit the market, being based on the Honda Logo (predecessor of the original Jazz). It was available with a 1.6 litre four-cylinder engine producing 105 PS, or 125 PS with the company’s VTEC variable-valve timing technology.

What about us? The local B-segment crossover marketplace is heating up, with the Peugeot 2008 already here and the Ford EcoSport on its way, so Honda could very well be next to follow suit. In that case, which badge would you want the car to have on its rump – Vezel, or HR-V?

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.

Learn more:

Certified Pre-Owned - 1 Year Warranty

10% discount when you renew your car insurance

Compare prices between different insurer providers and use the promo code 'PAULTAN10' when you make your payment to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services.

Car Insurance

Jonathan Lee

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

 

Comments

  • HRV has my vote

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 19 Thumb down 17
  • toyotafanS on Apr 07, 2014 at 6:58 pm

    remember perodua and toyota actually started with this kinda suv long time ago with perodua nautica and toyota rush

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 32
    • iskhalifah on Apr 07, 2014 at 8:07 pm

      Rush is a constructed built-in ladder frame body. Similar with avanza fortuner innova. It’s a Toyota so malaysians thot they were as competent as monocoque bodied suvs/mpvs.

      Vezel, 2008, Ecosport, Juke etc. are pure monocoque B-segment SUV based on car platform. Handles & rrides a lot better.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 37 Thumb down 2
      • Green on Apr 07, 2014 at 10:12 pm

        there is still a different:

        Rush Avanza is a Rear Wheel Drive.

        IT give better power delivery.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 20
        • Vader on Apr 08, 2014 at 7:23 am

          Rush and Avanza are rear wheel drive cars?Hahaha.. I not sure whether you are kidding, ignorant or just try to be sarcastic.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 21
          • thefact on Apr 08, 2014 at 8:02 am

            avanza is rear wheel drive…. :)
            do some research please.. but doesnt make it a great handler :P

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 2
        • Night Hunter on Apr 08, 2014 at 9:20 am

          Better power Delivery ?

          Stop crapping… RWD has more transmission power lost due to usage of a long shaft, hence less power from the same engine fitted as opposed to FWD…

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 2
          • Green on Apr 09, 2014 at 9:20 pm

            Yes, RWD may bring power loss.

            But RWD give a Quicker acceleration for a Heavy Car.

            Reason: Human Loads are directly being Carried by RWD, instead of being pulled by FWD.

            Yes, Weight Distribution is Designed better in a RWD than a FWD.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
        • azrai on Apr 08, 2014 at 11:01 am

          Conned by Toyota salesman lorr…

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
        • Dear Bros on Apr 08, 2014 at 3:08 pm

          Dear Brothers and sisters, may be you all should check this:

          http://wikicars.org/en/Toyota_Avanza
          {read the 1st sentence]

          So, is Avanza not a RWD car?

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
        • Green on Apr 09, 2014 at 9:21 pm

          If u dont understand about Toyota Avanza or Rush.

          Test Drive it. 1500cc can let u do 0-100 in just 11seconds.

          Reason = RWD

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
    • 4G63T DSM on Apr 07, 2014 at 9:25 pm

      The original CRV and RAV4 were the starters in this segment trying to build upon the apparent longevity of the Vitara from the late 80s before everything in that segment grew 1 size up.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
    • seancorr on Apr 07, 2014 at 11:10 pm

      In my memory the Avanza/Rush handles like crap and revs high when you are on the highway and who can forget about the torture u’d endure when u’re sitting in the rear row going over a speed bump!

      This model needs a complete overhaul to be able to compete with the rest of the boys.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 0
      • Green on Apr 09, 2014 at 9:22 pm

        I wonder how Nissan Serena or Naza Ria for the Rear Row?

        Is it not bouncy?

        All MPV/Van are like that.

        u should consider just the first two row for Fair Comparison.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • BMW Fanboi (Member) on Apr 07, 2014 at 7:20 pm

    Weiiiii…. When is the new Honda Odyssey going to be launched. And by launch I don’t mean at KLIMS last year. I mean customers can take home the car???

    Any news / rumours?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 30 Thumb down 2
    • Already launched laaa at KLIMS… problem is no buyers… hence U cant see on the road. Selling an MPV close to 250k, you’re facing stiff competition from the larger MPVs such as Vellfire or Alphard that priced slightly lower albeit the grey import status.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 3
      • Bro chk the price properly before u comment. Its not arrive in malaysia yet not call no buyers.

        Alphard is selling 300k by umw

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Vesel

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 12
  • HR-V ? no way, it will become HIV

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 31 Thumb down 12
  • Lately the steering wheel of Honda models have become very plain, not to mention boring looking dashboards. Feel sorry for their fans.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 12
  • AVH (Member) on Apr 07, 2014 at 8:02 pm

    Its more or less confirm for a year end launch, the name is neither my concern but the price and the specs is what I want to know.
    The price will most likely sit above the jazz and below the CRV(my guess RM95k-RM125k)and will feature a 1.5l engine. But will it be the same L15A7 gun found in our new 6th gen City or the more advance EartDream 1.5l DI DOCH engine found in the JDM fit and Vezel(my vote for the former). Also the spec, HM did very well with the new city spec sheet and considering this is priced higher, I expect it to follow suit.

    Small SUVs I’ve said before are ideal for Malaysia , small enough to crawl through the back roads of bukit Bintang and Raub, but high enough to rugged through the poor roads and floods of Rawang.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 29 Thumb down 1
    • 4G63T DSM on Apr 07, 2014 at 9:34 pm

      You must be one of the rare odd ones that still spelt it “DOCH”, and local mechanics pronouncing it “dosh” I remember car stickers that read that. Still gives me a laugh.

      125K tops. Won’t be lower than 115K. Not in Honda Malaysia’s character to be “cheap” That’s what the 2008 is going for. And like the City, the top spec V is a few grand more than the fully loaded 208.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
      • AVH (Member) on Apr 07, 2014 at 10:06 pm

        It’s a habit , DOCH is a pronounceable word were DOHC, and what’s the difference can Double overhead cam head be from the original. This gets worse if u are into military equipment where there are enough abbreviation to fill an encyclopedia……literally.

        Anyways I do agree with the RM115k, unless they come with a super cheap like the city S spec.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
        • Obviously (Member) on Apr 08, 2014 at 7:22 am

          DOHC is pronounceable. It’ll just sound a bit German. It’s officially supposed to be Double OverHead Camshaft, though.

          Hopefully they load enough goodies to justify the asking price. :)

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • Man.. would the front passenger gets frostbites with that much air blow onto him? LOL!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 0
  • seancorr on Apr 07, 2014 at 11:16 pm

    Doesn’t matter what name they use, am more interested to see what spec they offer for the kind of price they will be asking.

    At the moment my money is on the Ecosport but the way its rear door opens out will be an issue in tight parking spots…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Josh Ling on Apr 07, 2014 at 11:33 pm

    Vezel anytime. I would rather it be called some new names, rather than the name of an older crossover who has not even been sold in Malaysia. I think Honda might even come up with another name for Asian market. I don’t know, just a guess.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • No HRV plz,
    Can it be CKD and be below the rm100k mark. It’s the city and jazz platform, so I persume it’s also around there. If rm115-120k, better take the ASX 2wd, 2.0, leather and with navi.

    Honda, give us more rumors and leads so we can know more. Wouldn’t mind getting it for my wife.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Vezel, I’ve heard it’ll be launched in Thailand by the end of 2014, assembled in new Honda plant in Prachinburi province, the east of Thailand.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Sahipul on Apr 08, 2014 at 8:37 am

    I’ll go Vezel, but if they want to be consistent with CRV, then they might go for HRV

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Surprising no one say it’s ugly as the Ssangyong because it’s a Honda god-car.

    Let’s say its a Proton or non-god-car…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 4
  • slk3879 on Apr 08, 2014 at 10:56 am

    Doesn’t matter if it is named HRV or Vezel or anything else. Creative Malaysian can always replace the nameplate with something different for a very cheap price.

    What is important is the price and spec. I was really interested in Peugeot 2008 before it was launched, but then I say no after seeing the official price and specs. Now I am shifting my interest to this Honda, hopefully it handles well.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Denaihati on Apr 08, 2014 at 11:39 am

    Vezel, HR-V look like old CRV. i think, it is good time honda malaysia bring this Vezel, hybrid version maybe.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • holofanboi on Apr 08, 2014 at 3:16 pm

    @Paul

    If this ever comes to Malaysia, make absolutely sure you tack on the funky bodykit and get Danny to review it.

    It will satisfy mine *ahem* ALL your reader’s true sadistic nature to see him mind and body broken in a funky Vezel.

    To be honest though, I…kinda like the proportions of this car. It looks like a clay model of a Tucson that was given to a professional artist to remodel it with a scalpel.

    Or to be crude, a Tucson that underwent a sex-change surgery. It now finally looks like a male.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • H-RV, High Resale Value lol

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
 

Add a comment

required

required