Honda has dubbed this “the Year of the SUV,” and it’s putting money and muscle behind this with an assortment of new or updated offerings. This not only includes the brand’s best-selling CR-V and more rugged Pilot, but also a new version of the little HR-V.
Curiously, the automaker launched a third-generation version in Europe last year. It’s just getting ready to bring out the American model, and it’s giving us this teaser image ahead of the official April 4 debut.
The pic suggests a new design that, among other things, will introduce LED taillights on Honda’s entry-level crossover line. But beyond confirming the date of the unveiling, there’s not much to go on. Officially, anyway. Based on what we saw in Europe, as well as various sources in and outside Honda, a few things appear likely.
Carving out a subcompact niche
The original Honda HR-V debuted in the U.S. in 2015 and was among the first entries into what is now an expanding field of subcompact crossovers.
While Honda’s subcompact CUV has scored well in Europe and Asia, it hasn’t reached the peak level of sales Hond had expected in the U.S. market, where it’s the brand’s third best-seller. That said, demand has been growing, hitting 137,090 units in the U.S. last year. That was up from 84,027 during pandemic-restricted 2020, and 99,104 in 2019. So, Honda is betting it can tweak the 2023 HR-V and build up demand
It appears likely that the new model will be a bit bigger than the outgoing Honda HR-V, though it certainly won’t impinge on the familiar CR-V line.
A roomy interior, a loyal following
The smaller model has built up a loyal following based on its unexpectedly roomy interior that can accomodate significantly more cargo than its exterior footprint might suggest. But one of the big questions is whether Honda will retain the incredibly flexible seating layout of the second-generation model.
Honda has said the HR-V we get here will be “unique to North America.” So don’t expect it to mirror either the design or features of the European crossover — or the Japanese version, known as the Honda Vezel. Those LED lamps offer a bit of confirmation.
The likelihood, sources indicate, is that the 2023 Honda HR-V will mirror the powertrain line-up of the Civic family, with a choice 158 horsepower naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline four and a 180 hp turbo-4 displacing 1.5 liters.
More questions
But that raises another question: Honda has been steadily expanding its slate of hybrid models and the new European HR-V has a gas-electric powertrain as standard equipment. That seems questionable for the American market. But will a hybrid be available here, at the least, as an option?
We’ll have to wait a couple more weeks to get our first look at the production crossover bound for the U.S.
