2018 Honda HR-V facelift – new looks, Honda Sensing as standard, priced from RM76k to RM103k in Japan

2018 Honda HR-V facelift – new looks, Honda Sensing as standard, priced from RM76k to RM103k in Japan

The facelifted Honda HR-V has finally made its official debut in Japan, three weeks after the company released the official pictures of the popular B-segment crossover on the internet. With the refresh, Honda expects to sell about 5,000 units of the HR-V (known as the Vezel in the Land of the Rising Sun) monthly. Now then, what’s new with it?

Well, on the design front, the HR-V gets a redesigned front fascia, beginning with new grille with thicker chrome bar. This brings it closer to the Accord and Civic in terms of design, and the new reflector-type LED headlight design further establishes the company’s current family face.

Also new is a mesh-type design for the upper grille, whereas a new LED fog lamp strip can be found on each side of the lower bumper. Lower-specced models get halogen reflector units instead, but Honda Sensing is standard on all models sold in Japan. This bundles features such as Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM), Adaptive Crusie Control (ACC), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CBMS) and Forward Collision Warning (FCW).

Moving on. The rear section of the HR-V is unchanged, although the pictures here suggest that the tail lamps feature a darker tint to it. In Japan, the swankier twin LED bar graphics can be had depending on variants. The 16-inch and 17-inch wheels from before will be carried over, but RS variants will sit on a sportier set of dual-tone 18-inch alloys.

Inside, Honda has reshaped the front seats and changed its stitching pattern to improve “holdability and texture,” and the Japan market gets a unique two-tone cabin (Jazz Brown) for a more premium feel as well. Quietness is also said to be improved thanks to additional use of vibration-absorbing materials. Otherwise, everything else seems unchanged – the touchscreen head unit still supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay – because hey, if it ain’t broken, why bother?

In Japan, the updated Vezel/HR-V is only available with a 1.5 litre direct-injection four-cylinder engine, as well as the Sport Hybrid i-DCD that’s shared with the City and Jazz Hybrid. Petrol-only variants get a continuously variable transmission (CVT) as standard, but only the top-spec Vezel RS will receive paddle shifters. Hybrid models on the other hand get a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with paddle shifters as standard. Both models are available in front-wheel or all-wheel drive, although RS models will only be front-driven.

Pricing for the non-hybrid Vezel starts from JPY ¥2,075,000 (RM76k) for the base G, and goes up to JPY ¥2,475,000 (RM91k) for the top-spec RS trim. The Sport Hybrid line-up however, starts from JPY ¥2,460,000 (RM91k) to JPY ¥2,810,000 (RM103k), the latter for the range-topping Hybrid RS variant.

With the arrival of the facelifted HR-V, the colour palette now grows to a total of eight, thanks to new additions Aurora Amethyst metallic and Silver Mist Green metallic. The Platinum White Pearl colour also joins the JDM offering – the rest are Premium Crystal Red, Midnight Blue Beam, Luna Silver, Crystal Black (pearl) and Rousse Black (metallic).

Back home, Honda Malaysia recently revealed that it will be launching a new model soon. Could it be the facelifted HR-V? Possibly (expect the same 1.8 litre engine to be offered), since the Jazz-based SUV has already been spotted undergoing testing right here in Malaysia. The HR-V has been very successful here – despite being three years old today, it’s still the second most popular Honda model here.

What do you think of the new Honda HR-V? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Matthew H Tong

An ardent believer that fun cars need not be fast and fast cars may not always be fun. Matt advocates the purity and simplicity of manually swapping cogs while coping in silence of its impending doom. Matt's not hot. Never hot.

 

Comments

  • Gogohonhon on Feb 19, 2018 at 12:43 pm

    Wowww. Byebye Chr.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 41 Thumb down 8
    • Robert Mugabe on Feb 19, 2018 at 3:13 pm

      Why Malaysian Honda Sensing not standard? And can we also have the HRV for RM76k?????

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 6
    • AutoFrenz (the original) on Feb 19, 2018 at 4:57 pm

      Ordinary looking hrv…good enuff for honda fanboys whose taste are very lowcost…no surprise here…only chr can satisfy those with high taste and premium looks to match…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 61
    • JustCurious on Feb 19, 2018 at 9:07 pm

      So how many booking did toyo get from chr no by now?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
  • Darth Bezza on Feb 19, 2018 at 12:51 pm

    Good to have Honda Sensing as standard. Hope to see similar feature for Msian market. Toyota CHR better roll out fast, this HRV is going to eat up your market share.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 31 Thumb down 2
  • 12yrsold on Feb 19, 2018 at 12:56 pm

    “If” Honda Sensing is standard on all models, the HRV will continue to be the leader of SUV sold in M’sia.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 36 Thumb down 1
  • D petrol blue one looks awesome

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • Changela front aircond design..
    Add back blower aircond..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 0
  • Glad, our HRV comes with head unit across the variants unlike Axia & other JDM cars.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • seancorr (Member) on Feb 19, 2018 at 1:30 pm

    Consider it a near total market domination if HM can launch its Sensing suite in its top spec model while keeping the same price as before.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 1
  • Digidigi on Feb 19, 2018 at 1:54 pm

    Sell it locally with Honda sensing at 118k, nightmare for Toyota

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 26 Thumb down 0
  • In some country, this cost SGD130k.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 11
  • Suspension problem suda fixed? on Feb 19, 2018 at 2:40 pm

    Current model has suspension kruk kruk problem to the extend of replacing the whole suspension.
    So suda fixed ka?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 3
    • Haikal Rahman on Feb 19, 2018 at 7:30 pm

      Especially when u hit thru pot hole.. Kruk kruk while break, what have u do to fix it?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • MenteriPasola101 on Feb 19, 2018 at 2:50 pm

    In Japan
    In Japan
    In Japan
    ……….

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • Jala Mas on Feb 19, 2018 at 6:26 pm

    I like the red color with black body kits. Saw it in Spore 3 days ago. I reckon it will look sportier and more elegant if the body kits colr are the same as the body.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Bring in HRV hybrid…save the environment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • The main fault is that noisy 1.8 litre engine. I hope the soundproofing is much improved. New front seats and headunit were much needed. But the is no longer pretty and cute, the exterior mods are frankly ugly

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • venoth enthiran on Feb 19, 2018 at 9:54 pm

    Look like donald trump’s smilling face

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Max291 on Feb 20, 2018 at 12:19 am

    Y can’t we have the hybrid version too? Just CKD it & slap the EEV profit badge!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • If the Hr-V comes to Malaysia with Honda Sensing, then there’s no use with Toyota selling the C-HR, since it doesn’t have Toyota Safety Sense.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Kuinosan on Feb 20, 2018 at 11:20 am

    It’s Honda’s market to lose if they don’t offer the Hybrid version of the HRV to the Malaysian market. Buyers who don’t fancy the CVT gearbox will go for the better spec of DCT which is packaged with the Hybrid.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
  • William on Feb 21, 2018 at 11:50 am

    Got information from Honda..no honda sensing for Malaysian..no hybrid..only get minor exterior changes and semi leather seat..still 1.8 NA..have a nice days..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 11
  • Even Japan, such an advance nation has lower car taxes than Malaysia. Kesian Malaysian Honda hardcore lovers, pay so much for crappy built quality from Melaka.
    Better buy its rivals except maybe Toyota cars from Shah Alam plant. LOL.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • any new or update when is the launch date?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 3
  • Arielle on Apr 20, 2018 at 2:38 pm

    Any idea when this will be out in Malaysia? I am keen on the HRV but not sure how long to wait. Will the same specs be available in Malaysia too?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 7
  • i heard from salesman… the new facelift will be out mid august or september… hope some one can do double confirm about the info…i am interested too to buy..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Semi-Value (Member) on Nov 23, 2018 at 10:20 am

    apa price dulu

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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