Honda HR-V compact crossover arriving February 2015

Honda’s take on the burgeoning compact crossover segment will be fulfilled by the all-new HR-V next year.

Slated to land in Australia in February 2015, the HR-V will rival the likes of Nissan Qashqai, Mitsubishi ASX, Ford Kuga and the upcoming Mazda CX-3.

“The all-new HR-V is a very important model,” said Honda Australia Director Stephen Collins. “The HR-V will be positioned below the CR-V and complement our SUV line-up by offering versatility and practicality along with new safety technology, loads of features and of course a sporty, dynamic drive. We know consumers want more choice and we will offer that choice in the all-new HR-V, right into one of Australia’s fastest growing segments.”

Built on the new Jazz platform, the HR-V will be powered by a 1.8 litre i-VTEC engine, delivering 105 kW of power and 172 Nm of torque. Depending on model, fuel economy will range between 6.6 litres per 100 kilometres and 6.9 litres per 100 kilometres in the combined cycle.

The HR-V aims to combine the comfort of a car with the spacious interior and high driving position of a SUV. Featuring Honda’s unique Magic Seats that are also found in the Jazz and Civic hatch range, the HR-V offers a wide range of seat configurations – 18 in fact – along with the ability to fold the second row seats completely flat for added cargo space, fitting almost any lifestyle and life-stage.

The all-new HR-V will also feature new safety technology – and a first for Honda – called City-Brake Active. City-Brake Active works at low speed and can assist the driver when a vehicle in front stops suddenly, using a sensor located in the rearview mirror. The system provides an audible warning and can also apply braking.

Honda’s advanced touch screen Display Audio system is also a feature of the all-new HR-V. Found in the Odyssey, City and Jazz, the system fully integrates supported smartphones with the in-car multimedia screen, allowing access to phone and cloud-based applications including voice-activated Bluetooth capability (Apple and Android) and audio streaming.

Full pricing and specifications will be available closer to the launch of the all-new HR-V.