Honda will introduce an all-new HR-V subcompact SUV for the 2023 model year. The Japanese automaker is taking its time revealing details, but we have the first photos to show you today.
Honda has split the HR-V lineup into two models for 2023, one to meet American tastes and one for the rest of the world. We expect prices to stay close to the sub-$22,000 starting point of the current model.
As you might expect, the U.S.-bound next-gen HR-V is bigger than the one it replaces. The photos show a smoother, sleeker design. That face will take some getting used to — and this is one car where it’s hard not to describe the front fascia as a face. Headlights set wide apart from the pinched grille make it look almost tired.
But from every view other than head-on, it’s a sharp improvement. A longer hood and lower beltline emphasize its new length. The wipers now tuck beneath the hood line, giving it a clean, aerodynamic look.
New manufacturing techniques eliminate the need for plastic molding along the roofline, giving it a cleaner, more sophisticated greenhouse.
Honda hasn’t let journalists see the cabin yet.
Mechanical details will also have to wait, but for this – Honda says the HR-V now shares its chassis with the Honda Civic, which was redesigned for the 2022 model year. The new Civic has won rave reviews for its tighter handling and refined ride, which bodes well for any vehicle sharing its bones.
Honda hasn’t said what engine sits beneath the hood of the new HR-V. For reference, the Civic offers a 158-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder or 180-horsepower 1.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine.
