Honda has been extensively testing the HR-V on Indian roads indicating that the brand is gearing up to introduce the new crossover styled mid-sized SUV which could rival the Tata Harrier, MG Hector, Hyundai Creta, Renault Captur and the soon to be launched Kia Seltos in the Indian market. The Honda HR-V has been in the international market for quite some time and the car was deemed a bit too expensive for the Indian market, back then, but times have changed and now Honda may be planning to think-over and introduce the car around the coming festive season.
In terms of styling, the HR-V is expected to come with all the latest bells and whistles with a chrome bar styled front grille, LED headlights, LED taillights and LED bar-styled fog lamps along with LED daytime running lights, shark fin antenna, window-mounted door handles on the rear, flared wheel arches and 5-spoke alloy wheels as seen in the heavily camouflaged pictures of the test mule spotted recently near the nation’s capital.
As of now, no pictures of the interiors have surfaced the internet but it is speculated that the car might get a three-pot layout similar to the Honda City with the tachometer on the left, a speedometer in the centre and a digital MID on the right-hand side, steering mounted controls, a touchscreen infotainment system and rotary knobs on the climate control.
In the engine department, the HR-V is expected to be powered by a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine that produces 119 PS of power and 145 Nm of torque, currently employed in the Honda City. While the diesel iteration could get the 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel engine that produces 120 PS of power and 300 Nm of torque from the Honda Civic.
The Honda HR-V is also expected to get a host of safety features and the international-spec variant has been given 5-stars from the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) in the U.S.A which makes it one of the safest cars in its segment.
The car is expected to be heavily localised to keep the prices competitive.
