Honda HR-V compact SUV revealed for the Brazilian market at the 2014 Sao Paulo Motor Show. Powering the car is an exclusive 1.8-litre i-VTEC flex fuel engine, mated to a CVT transmission.
Honda Urban SUV concept made its debut at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show and the striking new design of the compact SUV gathered tremendous attention within no time. It’s a fact that the SUV segment in India is booming and more so in the affordable compact SUV space. Consequently, the eyes of our Indian junta was gleaming out of optimism that this compact SUV is bound to hit the Indian roads. Later in 2013 at the Tokyo Motor Show, Honda unveiled the production version of the Urban SUV concept termed as Vezel or HR-V in some markets.
Alas, Honda has no plans to introduce the HR-V in India for the time being because it is turning out to be an expensive proposition in our country. Instead, the Japanese carmaker is considering a Brio based compact SUV for India. Those who are well aware of the Brazilian car market know that it is somewhat similar to ours and we get similar cars as well. The Honda Vezel is also confirmed for the Indonesian market. Nonetheless, the Honda HR-V has made its Brazilian debut at the 2014 Sao Paulo Motor Show and deliveries will begin from the first quarter of 2015.
On the design front, nothing has been changed on the Brazilian spec Honda HR-V. Based on the new “H-Design”, the compact SUV looks well proportioned from every angle. The front fascia is wide and aggressive and the sharp creases swooping around the body further enhance the presence of the car. The alloy wheels pattern seems Hyundai inspired and the steeply raked rear window line lends a coupe silhouette to the HR-V. The rear profile is quite busy with a huge tail lamp cluster sitting on a heavily sculpted tail gate.
Powering the Brazilian version of the Honda HR-V is an exclusive 1.8-litre SOHC i-VTEC flex fuel engine, mated to a CVT automatic transmission. In other markets the compact SUV gets powered by the Jazz derived engine, 1.5-litre 4-cylinder i-VTEC that produces 130 BHP of power mated to manual or CVT transmission option. Don’t lose hope, Honda can still change their mind for India and surprise us at the 2016 Auto Expo. Until then Ford, Renault and Nissan have nothing to worry about, at least from Honda.
