2019 Honda HR-V gets 180bhp sport trim package
The range-topping Honda HR-V compact SUV will feature styling and suspension upgrades when it arrives in 2019
Honda has announced that the 2019 HR-V will be available in Sport trim, adding unique styling elements and uprated suspension to the compact SUV for the first time.
Powered by the 180bhp, 1.5-litre, four-cylinder VTEC turbocharged engine available in the latest Civic hatchback, the Sport trim uses a revised damper set up to keep the HR-V level when cornering.
The Sport is differentiated from the standard HR-V by its black honeycomb front grille, door mirrors and fog light surrounds. Dual-exit exhaust pipes and unique 18in alloy wheels give the variant a more purposeful stance than the entry-level model.
Inside, more supportive seats, finished in black and red, and a black headlining come as standard.
The car maker is aiming the trim level at “buyers who want a sportier driving experience from a subcompact SUV”, and is set to begin production in December, with the first HR-V Sports being delivered early next year.
Revised Honda HR-V chases rivals with styling and engine upgrades
The facelifted HR-V was revealed back in August with styling and technology upgrades to better compete in the small SUV segment.
A thorough facelift alters the exterior, interior and engine range, with a 1.6-litre diesel leading the line-up. It will now be joined by the 1.5-litre turbo petrol.
The HR-V's new styling joins the rest of the range in bearing Honda’s ‘solid wing face’, with a large chrome shape added to the front end of the car. A new paint colour and a new alloy wheel design will also be available.
Inside, Honda claims to have improved the upholstery fabric and the design of the seats for better comfort. It has also aimed to improve refinement, with a greater use of soundproofing throughout, as well as a noise cancellation system to counter low-end engine noise.
The existing 1.5-litre VTEC engine returns a claimed 53.2mpg and 121g/km under the new WLTP test cycle, an improvement over the pre-facelift version’s 49.6mpg and 134g/km. This is down to friction-reducing tweaks inside the cylinder bores and timing chain.
Prices for the HR-V start from £19,795 for an entry-level 'S' trim model with the naturally-aspirated petrol engine and a manual transmission, rising to £26, 805 for an 'EX' grade with a CVT transmission.
Across 2017, Honda sold 6098 HR-Vs, compared with 13,056 CR-Vs and 15,735 Civics, in both ninth and 10th generations. The HR-V’s best year so far was 2016, when 7266 units were sold.
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