Updated: Honda sets Nigeria’s sub-compact SUV market aglow with 2023 HR-V versatility

Honda Automobile Western Africa Ltd has created some excitement in the Nigeria’s auto market, particularly the sub-compact SUV segment, with the introduction of the latest (third) generation HR-V.

The expectations are high that the segment is in for a stiff competition and the automaker has dubbed the latest entry as ‘The Standard’, expecting other players to copy the unique features in the 2023 High-rider Revolutionary Vehicle

Some units of the all-new Honda HR-V were made available to the motoring journalists in Lagos on Wednesday for a test drive and it was indeed a pleasant experience.

The coupe-inspired design, assembled at the Honda plant in Ota, Ogun State, is a beauty to behold with its stylish and sporty look.

Its new distinctive features personally experienced during the test drive including Electric Parking Brake and Brake Hold make driving the 2023 HR-V a fun especially. The Brake Hold is particularly found useful and engaged when driving through ‘stop and go’ traffic. Little wonder the vehicle is described as a combination of beauty and utility.

Before the test drive, Remi Adams, manager in charge of Sales Marketing and Logistics at Honda Automobile West Africa, while presenting detailed features of the new vehicle, said the latest HR-V is expected to follow the trail of success blazed by its predecessor.

According to him, the new-generation HR-V comes as a smart versatile SUV that represents another step in the Honda’s commitment to a greener world with less emission.

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This explains while it comes with a 1.5-litre engine technology delivering a blend of efficiency and responsive performance.

He said it was built with the concept of meeting the exact needs of modern consumers – to achieve a rare balance of premium SUV styling and exceptional spaciousness, with compact dimensions and easy entry and exit for passengers.

Exterior

According to Adams, the car’s design has a unisex appeal, for both male and female.

The front side is bold, stylish and aesthetically appealing, thus giving owners/users a lot of confidence.

The clean simplicity of design is realised through the car’s smooth surfaces, with exterior design features incorporated into the body shape.

Its headlights, unique body-coloured grille and distinctive lower mesh grille seamlessly are found to integrate with the forward-protruding nose shape and front quarter panels, giving it a more sculpted appearance and creating a sleek, bold expression.

The body sides present a contemporary, noiseless aesthetic, with a crisp horizontal shoulder line running from the rear as far as the front headlights, generating a sense of forward momentum.

The protruding front section and pulled back A-pillar combine to create a premium long bonnet, visually moving the cabin volume rearwards and further accentuating the sleek coupe-like proportions.

The combination of utility and aesthetics is evident in the simple, elegant tailgate design, which neatly integrates the tailgate door handle within the three-dimensional rear panel.

Aerodynamic improvements are achieved without the need for unnecessary design features that often compromise styling.

Interior

The interior has been designed with a focus on space and light to elevate the sense of airiness in the cabin.

The automaker says the car comes with levels of comfort and practicality unrivalled in the sub-compact SUV segment.

For instance, contemporary fabrics and textured materials have been used to create a solid, premium feel, with the quality of soft-touch materials.

The automaker says the airy feeling is amplified by a unique ‘Air Diffusion System’ where L-shaped vents are positioned in the top corners of the dashboard.

It particularly notes the new driving position, which is 10mm higher than the previous model, adding that the windows are designed to admit as much light as possible, aided by the horizontally orientated, noiseless instrumental panel to the flat line of the bonnet.

The mirror attachment has moved lower down the door, improving visibility around the three-quarter area when turning, thereby preventing blind spot situations.

Seats 

Honda’s next-generation body stabilising front seats feature mat-structure support, replacing the previous spring set-up, which helps prevent fatigue on long journeys and increases comfort in everyday use.

The interior controls are positioned close to the driver’s field of vision for additional comfort while driving.

It also comes with exceptionally versatile rear Magic Seat set-up that offers fold-flat or flip-up seat flexibility.

Easy loading access has not been compromised by the coupe-inspired roofline. The clever packaging and Magic Seats, a lower tailgate edge, tailgate aperture, low, flat cargo floor all work in unison to provide this.

The new HR-V offers greater leg room and shoulder space, for an enhanced feeling of spaciousness and comfort. In addition to the 35mm increase in rear leg room, there is a two-degree recline compared to the previous generation HR-V.

Engine

The vehicle comes with a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine with a CVT transmission that helps to drive with peak power output of 119hp/6600rpm and a torque of 145Nm/4300rpm.

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Best in-class fuel economy is guaranteed with the vehicle’s Econ button that allows the owner to have a fuel usage of as little as 18.4Km/L, depending on driving condition and terrain.

 Connectivity

The new HR-V provides seamless in-car connectivity allowing owners to connect to their everyday lives with ease.

It says the intuitive 8” LCD touchscreen interface is designed to minimise driver distraction, with a simplified and fully customisable menu layer enabling easy access to convenience features and controls.

Also, the HMI operation time is greatly improved compared to previous model, making it quick and easy to switch between apps and providing fast response to inputs and commands.

The interface, which is navigated using familiar smartphone-style controls, also enables smartphone mirroring via Apple CarPlay (through Bluetooth, WiFi or cable) and Android Auto (cable). Over-the-air software updates allows upgrades to the latest features and apps.

Safety

Its innovative safety features include the On/Off headlights that automatically come on when the car gets into a dark environment; go off when it is bright; changes the low beam headlights to high beam headlights when necessary.

It also has a Hill Descent Control, available for the first time in some markets on the HR-V. This operates from a minimum speed of just 3km/h.

“This technology enables greater and smoother control on low-grip surfaces and steep descents to increase driving confidence in a wider range of conditions,” says Honda. 

After-sales support/warranty

The new generation HR-V is supported by a five-year/100,000 warranty. This is addition to five-year free service including labour and parts within the period of the warranty.

The automaker says the same warranty and after-sale support will be offered for other Honda vehicles from HAWA and THP Limited (The Honda Place).

Adams also disclosed that a survey recently conducted among the HR-V customers gave competitive price, fuel economy and status enhancement as top reasons for their sticking to the vehicle.

Updated: Honda sets Nigeria’s sub-compact SUV market aglow with 2023 HR-V versatility