New Honda HR-V launched officially by Kah Motor in Singapore, with 1.5-litre petrol and hybrid variants, priced at $123,999 and $154,999 with COE respectively

Pictures: Derryn Wong and Honda

SINGAPORE

The all-new Honda HR-V has been officially launched in Singapore by local authorised distributor Kah Motor following an online unveiling event tonight. The latest version of Honda’s hit crossover SUV is now available in both 1.5-litre petrol as well as hybrid guises, with the latter featuring Honda’s e:HEV drivetrain as seen on the Honda Jazz.

Prices start at S$123,999 inclusive of COE for the HR-V 1.5 DX petrol model, while the HR-V 1.5 HX e:HEV hybrid version is retailing for S$154,999 with COE, inclusive of a S$15,000 VES rebate. We have the lowdown in our international launch story, as well as our local pre-launch preview.

What’s new?

Almost everything really. The car’s design has been completely revamped, with a new imposing front grille that blends with the rest of the car’s front end design. The rear too gets the now-trendy horizontal light bar that connects the taillights, while the car’s overall posture is also more upright, which Honda says is to maximise interior space.

The general silhouette remains the sleek coupe-SUV style of the outgoing model however, complete with the hidden rear door handles, while the dimensions are also similar to the previous model, with the new HR-V measuring in at 4,340mm long, 1,790mm wide, and 1,580mm high (10mm higher for the hybrid), with a wheelbase of 2,610mm.

The other major change for the new HR-V is the addition of the e:HEV hybrid variant. Like the Jazz, this marks the first time that Kah Motor is offering a hybrid for the HR-V, with the previous model only available with a petrol engine if you wanted one through official channels.

The HR-V uses the same e:HEV system as the Jazz Hybrid, and in this form it consists of a 1.5-litre engine that develops 106hp and 127Nm of torque, combined with two electric motors that produces 131hp and 253Nm of torque. Honda does not disclose an official combined power output figure, but according to the LTA it crosses the 130hp threshold and therefore nets a Cat B COE.

Nevertheless, the hybrid is still able to get a S$15,000 VES A2 rebate, while offering a quoted fuel consumption figure of 4.3L/100km. As with the Jazz, the e:HEV system on the HR-V toggles automatically between pure electric drive, full engine power, or a combination of both depending on the driving conditions, with selectable regenerative braking available as well.

The non-hybrid HR-V meanwhile is powered by a 1.5-litre petrol that produces 118hp and 142Nm of torque, and can return a fuel consumption figure of 5.8L/100km.

How about the interior and features?

Honda claims that the new HR-V now offers slightly more interior room thanks to clever engineering, with rear passengers now having 35mm more legroom. The A-pillars have also been moved to improve visibility, while the larger windows should help make the car feel less claustrophobic inside. Like the Honda Jazz, the HR-V has the fold-up ‘magic seat’ system so you can carry tall objects – watch the walkthrough video at the start of this article for more info.

There is also an “Air Diffusion System” which directs air from the air con vents towards the side windows and roof, forming an ‘air curtain’ and helping cool air circulate throughout the cabin.

The dashboard now mimics the one on the latest Civic, with a 9.0-inch touchscreen sitting atop, and buttons kept to a minimum. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity is now standard, while there is also a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster for the hybrid variant, with the petrol model making do with a more regular two-meter setup with a 4.2-inch LCD display.

Standard equipment on the petrol model includes LED lights, reverse camera, rear air con vents, and a dust and pollen filter for the air con system. The hybrid model adds to that a powered rear tailgate, paddle shifters, and LED fog lights.

The HR-V also comes with the Honda Sensing suite of driver assistance features, and these include things like adaptive cruise control, collision mitigating braking, and lane keeping assist, among others. Notably, the Honda Sensing suite is available as standard on both the petrol and hybrid models.

How important is the new HR-V?

Very, given that the previous model was one of the best-selling cars in Singapore in recent times. For Kah Motor too, the new HR-V will be a hugely important car this year, given that the parallel imported equivalent, the Vezel, has been on sale here for nearly a year now, and has once again been garnering strong interest from consumers.

The introduction of the hybrid model officially also underlines the importance of electrified models in a car brand’s lineup here in Singapore, given the shift in policies towards encouraging the adoption of greener vehicles. From having no hybrid models two years ago, Honda now has two in its lineup, and the Jazz and HR-V hybrids will be joined by the Civic Hybrid later this year to further bolster Kah Motor’s green credentials in Singapore.

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