The all-new 2023 Honda HR-V gains aspirational qualities beyond its segment.
A larger, more responsive engine, an all-new platform with a smooth-riding independent rear suspension, and a clean, high-tech interior with standard digital instrumentation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, take HR-V to a new level and will start to arrive in dealerships this month.
The new second-generation HR-V is longer and wider, more comfortable yet also sportier and more fun-to-drive while featuring more rear-seat legroom and one of the largest cargo areas in its class. For a smoother ride, HR-V’s wheelbase has been extended and its tracks are significantly wider, creating an athletic stance and improving stability. Class-leading safety features include standard Honda Sensing, next-gen front airbags, as well as standard side-impact and knee airbags.
“The new HR-V is the perfect size for those looking for an SUV that can park in tight spaces and carry all their gear while delivering a fun and sporty driving experience,” said Steve Hui, Assistant Vice President of Honda Canada. “We expect it will be popular with young and diverse consumers representing a variety of lifestyles.”
Expressive Exterior Styling
HR-V’s all-new design features a low horizontal beltline beginning with the extended hood, continuing over the swell of the rear fenders, adding stature to HR-V’s sleek flowing forms. Wide-set LED headlights and taillights highlight HR-V’s increased width (+70mm wider) and broad-shouldered stance. Overall length has grown by 221mm.
An expressive grille is flanked by air curtain inlets routing air through the bumper, and around the front wheels, improving aerodynamic efficiency. For a cleaner upscale look, laser-brazing technology eliminates roof mouldings, and the windshield wipers hide under the hood line when not in use.
In the rear, the sculpted hatch and standard tailgate spoiler highlight HR-V’s sporty proportions, and the outer edge of the taillights have been shaped to improve aerodynamics.
HR-V LX is highlighted by a matte finish on its honeycomb-style grille, and the lower section of its front and rear bumpers. Large 17-inch alloy silver-painted wheels are standard.
HR-V Sport gets an even more aggressive horizontal-themed grille mesh, a gloss-black rear spoiler, and a chrome exhaust finisher. The lower portion of the rear bumper is painted gunmetal metallic and will come with 17-inch Shark Gray-painted alloy wheels as standard.
The HR-V EX-L Navi features a unique gloss-black version of the honeycomb grille, gloss black door pillars, and gloss black trim on the front and rear bumpers. EX-L Navi also rides on 17-inch alloy wheels, painted Shark Gray with an exclusive machined finish.
HR-V will be available in eight different colours, including an all-new colour exclusive to HR-V: Nordic Forest Pearl.
Simple, Sporty and Spacious Interior
HR-V’s clean and sporty interior is a fresh take on Honda’s new design direction. Outward visibility is improved—expansive greenhouse and outside mirrors are positioned away from the windshield pillars.
Further improving visibility is the top of the HR-V’s wide instrument panel. A striking metal honeycomb mesh accent stretches from door to door across the dash creating a dramatic visual dividing line between audio, information displays and climate controls, while the intricate flow-through design conceals the air vents.
Premium materials are used throughout the interior. HR-V’s centre console is uniquely curved and richly upholstered with French stitching. A clever pass-through complete with USB charging ports is ideal storage for small items.
All-new Body Stabilizing Seats firmly hold the body, reducing fatigue, and enhancing comfort. The rear seat area is wider to better accommodate three passengers with thoughtful touches.
HR-V’s cargo area has been expanded to 691 L. with the seatbacks up, and its low lift-over height of just over 686 mm makes loading large or heavy items easy. The standard 60/40 split rear seatbacks fold easily to a flat floor—expanding the space to 1559 L.
Driver-Focused Technology
HR-V features a digital instrument display, gaining larger standard and available colour touchscreens featuring standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.
All HR-V grades are equipped with a 7-inch colour LCD instrument display. An all-digital speedometer and tachometer are on the left side while a physical speedometer dial occupies the right side. The 7-inch multi-information display also features user-selectable functions—Honda Sensing settings, vehicle information and more.
A new 7-inch colour touchscreen is standard on LX and Sport models. HR-V EX-L Navi comes with a large 9-inch colour touchscreen with Navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, plus a Qi-compatible wireless charging pad and an upgraded audio system with eight speakers. The new touchscreen features a physical volume knob, large, easy-to-recognize icons, and a simplified navigation structure.
Fun-to-Drive
For a sportier driving experience, the new HR-V features a significantly stronger structure, a new independent rear suspension, and a larger, more responsive engine.
HR-V supports improvements in ride, handling and overall refinement. A new fully independent suspension features MacPherson struts in front and a new rear multilink arrangement Low-friction components improve ride quality while delivering improved response and a sporty driving feel.
HR-V’s wheelbase has been extended to 2655 mm for a smoother ride and significantly wider tracks—+55 mm in the front and +64 mm in the rear—increase road stability.
The HR-V features a honed steering column and special tuning to the electronics for improved straight-line stability and an excellent feel. New larger brakes increase stopping power, while a low-drag caliper design aids fuel efficiency.
Powering every 2023 HR-V is a larger 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine producing 158-horsepower (SAE net @ 6,500 rpm) and 138 lb.-ft. of torque (SAE net @ 4,200 rpm). The new more powerful engine (+17 hp and +11 lb.-ft. of torque), delivers improved drivability, refinement, and lower emissions.
The standard continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) has been re-engineered for improved power delivery, refinement and engine sound. It also features a more naturally responsive feel thanks to improved G-Design programming and the addition of Honda’s “Step-Shift” programming, which simulates gear changes when accelerating at full throttle.
For better traction management in slick snowy conditions, HR-V’s available Real Time AWD with Intelligent Control has been re-tuned sending more engine torque to the rear wheels when things get slippery.
Increasing HR-V’s capability is Hill Descent Control for more control on steep, slippery declines. With the press of a button, drivers can select a speed between 3-20 kph using the brake or gas pedal. Once the pedal is released, HR-V will maintain that set speed, allowing the driver to concentrate on steering.
HR-V features three driving modes, Normal, Eco, and a new Snow mode that alters the drive ratios and throttle mapping to maximize available traction and performance in slick snowy conditions. Eco mode reduces throttle and transmission sensitivity, as well as air conditioning output to help preserve fuel efficiency.
Small Crossover Safety Performance Leadership
The second-generation HR-V is a leader in crossover safety performance featuring the latest version of Honda’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) architecture, specifically designed to meet present and anticipated future collision standards while minimizing additional weight.
Honda’s latest driver and passenger front airbag technology is now applied to HR-V, designed to cradle the head and offer enhanced protection. For the first time, HR-V includes standard knee and rear-passenger side-impact airbags.
HR-V also features the new single-camera Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver-assistive systems. The new system presents a 100-degree field of view—twice as wide as the camera-and-radar setup of the previous system. It detects feature points of a target and recognizes attributes of objects i.e. vehicles or pedestrians, white lines, road boundaries (curbs), other vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists and road signs.
New are Traffic Jam Assist (TJA) and Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR), as well as more natural responses for existing features, such as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow (LSF) and Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS).
Additional driver-assist technologies include blind spot information (BSI); EX-L Navi grades feature four sonar sensors on the front and rear bumpers enabling Low-Speed Braking Control and front and rear false-start prevention.
HR-V now includes a Driver Attention Monitor, which issues a warning on the dash if it senses the driver is becoming inattentive. A standard Rear Seat Reminder notifies drivers when exiting the car to check the rear seating area for children, pets or other precious cargo.
For more information, please visit honda.ca/hrv.
