• The designers have produced a good looking package in the new HR-V. Picture: QUICKPIC

  • The interior looks good although we are not sure whether the passenger will appreciate those three air vents. Picture: QUICKPIC

  • 1
  • 2

THE crossover market is like Paris Fashion Week these days. Every vehicle maker is pulling out all the stops to show off its latest model on the catwalk to try to turn it into the must-have accessory.

It is becoming so competitive that the lines are being blurred between crossovers and small SUVs and even the originators of the segment like the Subaru Forester, Volvo XC70 and Audi Allroad are being seen by many as beefed up station wagons rather than the real crossovers that they are.

The latest to join the throng is Honda, which just months after its reveal at the Geneva Motor Show, has launched its new HR-V in the South African market.

The nameplate is not new, of course, but the original quirky model sold in such low numbers that it was barely noticed.

The new generation also sports that coupe rear styling that so many manufacturers are after. BMW might have started it with the X6 but now everyone wants a piece of the coupe-look action. And it works well in the HR-V, giving it a look not dissimilar to the Infiniti QX50.

Inside, the company says that its designers focused on intelligent packaging to deliver a spacious front and rear cabin. The company’s Magic Seat system, already available in the Jazz and Civic, is also included, adding further practicality and flexibility to the interior. With the seats raised, the luggage compartment offers 393l of boot space up to window level, while folding the split rear seat flat increases cargo capacity to 1,002l.

There are two petrol engine choices, both linked to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with paddle shifts. We have not driven the new model yet so will hold back on judging the decision to go with a CVT. It might be really good, but that would make it the exception so we will have to wait and see. Drive goes to the front wheels and performance can come from either a 1.5l four-cylinder with 88kW and 145Nm or a more powerful 1.8l unit with 105kW and 145Nm. The latter also gets stop/start technology.

Safety is addressed via an extensive array of passive and active safety systems. Passive measures include six airbags, head restraints, inertia reel seatbelts for all seating positions, and Honda’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure. Active systems include ABS anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution, emergency brake assist and emergency stop signal activation, as well as vehicle stability assist and hill start assist.

The range starts with the 1.5 Comfort, which is priced at R299,900. This brings it under the psychological R300,000 mark and significantly under major rivals like the Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5, Nissan Qashqai and Volkswagen Tiguan. It is comprehensively equipped, with halogen headlights front fog lamps, roof rails and comprehensive colour coding.

The interior features cloth upholstery and soft-touch surfaces and finishes as well as all the essentials like cupholders, a glove compartment, door panel pockets and a front centre armrest. It also gets a five-inch monitor providing the interface between the occupants and the on-board infotainment system. It includes a 150 watt, four-speaker sound system, USB and aux inputs, as well as Bluetooth connectivity.

The 1.8 Elegance hits the market at R354,900 and offers all the standard features of its 1.5 Comfort stablemate but augments the list with items like larger alloy wheels, and auto-activating LED headlights with daytime running lights.

Inside, the Elegance gains leather upholstery and a leather-trimmed steering wheel, automatic climate control, heated front seats and a rear armrest. The five-inch monitor makes way for a seven-inch touch screen display with rear-view camera.

The HR-V looks as though it has the potential to be a major threat to some of its more established rivals. It looks good and the company has managed to bring it to SA at a decent price. We will only get to drive it next month, but we are looking forward to seeing if Honda has come up with a package that will be as successful in the crossover market as the CR-V has been in the small SUV segment.