Honda Malaysia has announced that the order books have opened for the new Honda HR-V ahead of its official launch here in February. The B-segment SUV – which made its ASEAN debut at the IIMS in September last year – is also being teased in the metal via a series of roadshows, the first of which kicks off today; the photos here are from the one happening at Mid Valley Megamall.
Initial specifications of the Malaysian-spec HR-V have also come about – we’ll be getting three grades, the entry-level S, E and range-topping V. All will be equipped with a 1.8 litre SOHC i-VTEC unit, paired with a CVT transmission.
No power output numbers have yet been mentioned, but it shouldn’t veer very far away from that found on the Thai-market – and Australian-spec – HR-V, which is 141 PS at 6,500 rpm and 172 Nm of torque at 4,300 rpm, similar to the numbers seen on the Civic 1.8.
In terms of features and equipment, the provisional list for the V grade – which is the only trim level on display at the roadshow – includes LED headlamps, LED DRLs, LED rear combi lights, keyless smart entry with push-start ignition, electric parking brake, auto brake hold and cruise control.
The variant also features a seven-inch touchscreen head unit that the higher-end Thai versions get (the Thai S grade comes with a five-inch touchscreen, so it’s likely that our S grade will have the same), a multi-angle rear-view camera as well as a touch-panel auto air-conditioning system.
As for connections, there’s Bluetooth, two USB ports (one in the S) and an HDMI port plus six speakers for the audio system for both E and V grades – the entry-level variant, meanwhile, should come with four speakers, the same number as seen on the Thai-spec S.
One thing we won’t be getting are the two 17-inch wheels seen in the Thai models – the Malaysian HR-V will ride on 16-inch alloys, presumably identical to that on the base-line VTi that will be sold in Australia. As for upholstery trim, combi leather is listed, essentially a mix of leather and fabric for the seat wraps.
As for safety kit, the list reads as such: ABS, EBD and brake assist, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), hill start assist, emergency stop signal and Isofix mount points. It’s known that the V grade will come with six airbags (front, side curtain and side). In Thailand, the S and E variants feature two airbags, a number unlikely to be changed here.
No indicative pricing for the HR-V as yet – all that’s happening at the moment is that order taking for the SUV has begun, and bookings can be made at all 77 Honda dealerships nationwide. As for catching the vehicle in the metal, you’ll be able to do so at the following roadshows:
- Jan 6-11 – Mid Valley, Kuala Lumpur
- Jan 9-11 – Sunway Carnival, Penang
- Jan 12-14 – Avenue K, Kuala Lumpur
- Jan 16-18 – Paradigm Mall, Petaling Jaya
- Jan 16-18 – KSL Mall, Johor Bahru
- Jan 23-25 – Village Mall, Sungai Petani
