The Honda HR-V will get a small facelift later this year and a cheaper hybrid version will be added to the Australian market. This version could cost less than $40,000 drive-away.
For the updated Honda HR-V small SUV, which will hit stores later this year, a cheaper electric version is on the way.
Drive saw on an Australian Government website that the HR-V range is about to get bigger. It will include a cheaper e:HEV X model in addition to the current base gas Vi X and top-of-the-line e:HEV L models.
Honda Australia hasn't said for sure when it will be in stores, but it's likely to be part of the refreshed lineup that was shown off earlier this year and will be in stores in late 2024.
Drive reported this morning that Honda Australia wants to make cheaper versions of their hybrid technology that don't have as many features.
However, the new e:HEV X is expected to cost between the Vi X and the e:HEV L. Prices have not been set yet.
The current HR-V range is almost sold out. The Vi X costs $34,900 drive-away, and the e:HEV L costs $43,900 drive-away. These prices are good across the country, but they used to be $36,700 and $47,000 drive-away, respectively.
There may also be a price rise for the improved HR-V line to account for new features or a higher level of equipment.
A cheaper hybrid is expected to boost sales of the HR-V, which are up 68 per cent from January to April 2024, compared to the same time last year – but less than a fifth of sales in the same months in 2019, when the base model was about $8000 cheaper.
Over the first three months of this year, the hybrid has accounted for 41 per cent of HR-V sales, compared to 46 per cent across calendar-year 2023.
The current HR-V hybrid pairs a 1.5-litre four-cylinder gas engine with two electric motors for 96kW combined, and stated fuel consumption of 4.3 litres per 100 miles.
In Japan, fuel use for a version similar to Australia's HR-V e:HEV L has dropped by a stated 2 per cent for the facelifted model.
As reported earlier this year, changes for the updated Honda HR-V in Japan include a slightly reshaped grille, new LED tail-light markings, and a reshaped lower dashboard with a bigger storage slot below the air-conditioning controls.
In Japan there is an updated energy management system for hybrid cars, which Honda says "reduces engine noise during city driving and improves responsiveness to driver operation."
New safety features include traffic-jam assist, sudden mis-acceleration suppression – in case drivers hit the accelerator instead of the brake pedal in a car park – and adaptable high beam, which blanks out part of the headlight beam to prevent dazzling approaching motorists.
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