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Honda will have to "run after the defeat" if it wants to regain leadership in the compact SUV market. After three years, the HR-V lost first place in the segment. Although the difference for Hyunda Creta, the new champion, was minimal, a warning signal must have been issued to the Japanese manufacturer.
Indeed, the HR-V is neither the most powerful compact SUV nor the most economical SUV on the market. It is no longer equipped, but occupies the most expensive position among those who own a flex engine.
If there is not a reference in several questions, the model has the greatest advantage of being a balanced model, it does not go very bad under virtually no aspect.
Based on this principle, Honda has been very cautious in promoting the first visual upgrade of its compact SUV introduced in late October.
On the back, the lanterns are now identical to the old high-end version of Touring – no format change. The 17-inch wheels have a new design, but look small, close to the size of the body.
The HR-V is available in 3 versions, always with 1.8 engine of 140 horses and CVT exchange. The most comprehensive option, Touring, will only be released in a few months and will bring more news. This is the 1.5 turbo engine, which promises to give life to the SUV.
G1 evaluated the most complete version currently available, EXL. The sale price is $ 108,500, which is $ 2,000 less than the cost of the tour in the 2018 model.
Honda HR-V EXL – Photo: Press Release / jpeg; base64, / 9j / 4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD / 2wBDAAMCAgMCAgMDAwMEAwMEBQgFBQQEBQoHBwYIDAoMDAsKCwsNDhIQDQ4RDgsLEBYQERMUFRUVDA8XGBYUGBIUFRT / 2wBDAQMEBAUEBQkFBQkUDQsNFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBT / wgARCAAQABkDASIAAhEBAxEB / 8QAGQAAAgMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwgCBQYH / 8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQD / 2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAYXK1DRkchx4sf / EAB0QAAIBBQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIDAQAEBQYSExT / 2gAIAQEAAQUCx9zry6 + 3VTZdv1WFdYSocXUmcybj79Ar / 8QAFhEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABEB / 9oACAEDAQE / AYmP / 8QAFREBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABH / 2gAIAQIBAT8BV // EACcQAAEDAQQLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAhEDEiEiIwQTMTI0QXGBgpGh / 9oACAEBAAY / AqztMq6uH7 IWvFSK7oPPMvT3NDXPFwEvC4ip6esGLspMCybmrMEDotvxf + / EACEQAQABAwIHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAERACExQXEQYYGhseHw / 9oACAEBAAE / IQxVF4wNsYxzZKRMnxid1RHGSnfODgul67CXz0ohYqTR2q5MGbq + NTX / 2gAMAwEAAgADAAAAEGHf / 8QAFxEAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAFREf / aAAgBAwEBPxDEJI // xAAXEQADAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARFR / 9oACAECAQE / EK9KP // EAB4QAQEAAgICAwAAAAAAAAAAAAERITEAQRBRYcHw / 9oACAEBAAE / EMq8 / nNil3CKEwCcpxkEiYIzqanLefOq4uhdjK / Honda HR-V EXL – Photo: Disclosure "data-src =" https://s2.glbimg.com/tDC2EjJQEw0o7- "Honda HR-V EXL – Photo: Disclosure" Gv6oVzVGYtk = / 0x0: 2000×1297 / 1008×0 / smart / filters: strip_ic () / i.s3.glmg; -6-.jpg "/>
Honda HR-V EXL – Photo: Press Release
The list of equipment is very modest for the price charged by Honda.
As standard, the digital air conditioning, 6 airbags, traction and stability controls, 4-wheel disc brakes, electronic parking brake, media center with 7-inch screen, rear camera, cruise control, automatic headlight and leather seats.
The Jeep Renegade Limited, Hyundai Crete Prestige and Nissan Kicks SL Tech Pack, for example, have more equipment, but they are sold at fairer prices. more expensive of this trio, does not even reach R $ 104 000.
When we consider less popular models, like the Citroën C4 Cactus, the difference is even more striking.The SUV produced in Porto Real (RJ) offers systems such as automatic emergency braking and deterrent lane output, as well as the supercharged engine, the rain sensor, the anti-glare mirror and the access and key start. Nevertheless, he is selling $ 98,990, nearly $ 10,000 less than the former leader.
The HR-V is not just a criticism of the HR-V.
For the 2019 line, Honda made some modifications to the CVT suspension and transmission, which includes 7 virtual speeds and a possibility of change via fins behind the steering wheel.
Comfort remains the main virtue of the model. Now the feature has been enhanced, mainly because of the sound insulation reinforcements. But the more the ears will be attentive, the more they will realize that the CVT transmission always produces a metallic sound during acceleration, although the noise has been slightly attenuated.
Speaking of the transmission, she had the calibration changed so that it was even more fluid. The same thing happened with the suspension. An old nuisance of the HR-V, the shock absorbers reaching the end of the course in the holes and spines, seems to have been defeated.
Another point where HR-V excels is versatility.
The seat recovery system called Magic Seat is unique in this segment. It allows you to house large objects inside the cabin or to increase the trunk area from 437 to 1,010 liters with the seats folded flat.
Volume is the largest of the best-selling models in the category.
Even with minor styling changes and improvements in sound insulation and suspension, Honda will have to do more if it wants to regain lost lead. Lowering the price or improving the supply of equipment could be a solution.
But the bet will be different: Honda chips will go to the new Touring version, which will have a 1.5 turbo engine. It remains to be seen if it will be so successful that the HR-V will be performing again.
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