logo
Honda puts price tag on lightly revised, simplified HR-V

Honda puts price tag on lightly revised, simplified HR-V

The Citizen15-07-2025
Line-up has been reduced to a single derivative, still powered by a normally aspirated petrol engine hooked to a CVT.
HR-V has undergone a minor restyling from its launch three years ago. Image: Honda
Having cut a silent figure since its local market launch three years ago, Honda has handed the HR-V its first mid-life update consisting not only of revised features, but also a streamlined model range.
New outside
A line-up now comprising a single model, the Elegance, as per an amalgamation of the previous Comfort and Executive, the HR-V's minor exterior changes involve a new body-coloured grille, slightly restyled LED headlights, a full-width LED strip between the taillight clusters, and new dual-tone 18-inch alloy wheels.
ALSO READ: Honda HR-V struggles to impress in crowded compact SUV segment
In an expansion though, the HR-V gains two new colour options, Crystal Black Pearl, in place of the previous Coffee Cherry Red Metallic, and Ignite Red Metallic.
New are dual-tone 18-inch alloy wheels. Image: Honda
Carried over hues are Opal White Pearl, Meteoroid Grey Metallic and Brilliant Sporty Blue Metallic.
Cabin changes
Inside, the changes are a trifle more substantial in that the centre console has been freshened-up to accommodate a new 15-watt wireless smartphone charger.
Interior has received minor changes. Image: Honda
Still residing at the base of the dashboard is the type-A USB port, now flanked by a new type-C USB input.
Spec
Combining aspects from the Comfort and Executive's specification sheets means that, in addition to the items already items, the HR-V Elegance comes with the following as standard:
automatic air-conditioning;
rain sense wipers;
eight-inch infotainment system;
push-button start;
keyless entry;
4.2-inch TFT instrument cluster display;
imitation leather upholstery;
wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto;
folding electric mirrors
While the upwards folding Magic Rear Seats remain, items no longer available the Executive previously offered, is the electric driver's seat, the panoramic sunroof, electric tailgate and the eight-speaker sound system now minus two amplifiers.
Trademark Magic Rear Seats have been carried over. Image: Honda
On the safety side, the HR-V gains Forward Collision Warning and what Honda calls Agile Handle Assist.
Still standard is Adaptive Cruise Control, Hill Descent Control, a reverse camera and parking sensors, Collision Mitigation Braking, Lane Keep Assist, Road Departure Mitigation and Auto High Beam Assist. No longer available is the Lanewatch side-view camera.
Same powertrain
Up front, the HR-V retains the combination of the 89kW/145Nm normally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine, mated to a CVT. Claimed fuel consumption is also unchanged at 7.4 L/100 km.
Price
Now available, pricing starts at R539 000, a credit of R14 600 over when the Executive first launched, but up R70 900 on the Comfort.
Included in the HR-V's price tag is a five-year/200 000 km warranty as well as a four-year/60 000 km service plan.
ALSO READ: New Honda HR-V shines but needs one major improvement
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

#Musings: Are headlights becoming too bright?
#Musings: Are headlights becoming too bright?

The Citizen

timea day ago

  • The Citizen

#Musings: Are headlights becoming too bright?

In amongst all the chatter about streetlights, I can't help but feel there is another increasingly dangerous lighting situation hitting our roads. When driving between Tongaat and Ballito along the R102 recently, I found myself almost blinded by an electric blue LED laser beam shot through my back window. The interior of my car was so bright that I had to pinch my arm just to check I hadn't lost focus and inadvertently landed at the pearly gates. After gathering myself and squinting to see the cause, I saw five letters that made my heart sink. GP SUV. Naturally, as a KZN native, I muttered under my breath, cursed the Joburger in his oversized car who thought he was still driving down Jan Smuts with his brights on and planned to move on with my evening. But after the driver eventually overtook me after camping on my tail for five minutes, I was astonished to see the halo of his headlights increase tenfold. He hadn't had his brights on after all. It begs the question, are headlights becoming too bright? After a bit of research, it turns out I'm not alone in feeling personally selected for spotlight torture. Two key shifts in automotive engineering and consumer trends seem to be to blame. Firstly, almost all new cars are fitted with LED headlights, which emit a white-blue hue, rather than the softer white-yellow colours of halogen headlights that were formerly the standard. According to American lighting scientist John Bullough, quoted in Vox, light intensity – typically measured in lumens or candelas – does not take into account how different colours impact the eye. That means a given LED headlight might measure at the same intensity as a halogen option, but our eyes perceive the LED as brighter because it is more likely to also be picked up by our peripheral vision. Secondly, bigger cars are becoming more popular, particularly in affluent areas. If you drive through Salt Rock or Sheffield now, you will no doubt recognise the parade of Range Rovers, Land Cruisers, Hiluxes and every other model of SUV or bakkie you can imagine. When was the last time you saw a real beat-up skadonk rolling around the suburbs? Combine the height of a large vehicle's headlights with the enhanced perceived brightness, and if you're in a hatchback or sedan, you've got your own private blue-light brigade following you. This is likely the new normal, with car manufacturers incentivised to include LED headlights for improved safety ratings. So, if you're behind the wheel of one of these monster machines, do the decent thing and give the smaller car in front a fair following distance so as not to burn their retinas. Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below.

Ayrton Senna's final Honda V10 F1 engine goes under the hammer
Ayrton Senna's final Honda V10 F1 engine goes under the hammer

The Herald

time4 days ago

  • The Herald

Ayrton Senna's final Honda V10 F1 engine goes under the hammer

According to the company, Senna used this exact engine during warm up at the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka in October 1990 and again in the race at the season-ending Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide on November 4. Back in the day, Honda's F1 power units were typically returned to Japan for inspection and dismantling, with most parts eventually discarded. But with the firm shifting its focus to V12 development for the 1991 season, engine V805 was spared, thus making it the last Honda F1 V10 driven in competition by Senna. Monterey Car Week is a mecca for classic car collectors, where high-profile sales, concours events and historic races attract global attention. HRC has confirmed it plans to expand its memorabilia business in future, including in Japan, with more auctions of historically significant machines and components.

Ayrton Senna's final Honda V10 F1 engine goes under the hammer
Ayrton Senna's final Honda V10 F1 engine goes under the hammer

TimesLIVE

time4 days ago

  • TimesLIVE

Ayrton Senna's final Honda V10 F1 engine goes under the hammer

Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) will auction off a significant piece of Formula One history next month — the final Honda V10 engine used in competition by legendary driver Ayrton Senna. The unit, engine number V805 of the RA100E series, powered Senna's McLaren Honda MP4/5B during the 1990 FIA Formula One World Championship. It will go on sale at the Bonhams Quail Auction in Carmel, California, on August 15 as part of the prestigious Monterey Car Week. HRC announced earlier this year it would launch a motorsport memorabilia programme aimed at offering collectors and enthusiasts access to authentic race cars, engines and components. The V805 engine is the first item in this initiative and it's an important one. Disassembled and preserved by HRC's own technicians, the engine will be auctioned in a custom-built display case containing all its original parts. It also comes with an HRC-issued certificate of authenticity. According to the company, Senna used this exact engine during warm up at the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka in October 1990 and again in the race at the season-ending Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide on November 4. Back in the day, Honda's F1 power units were typically returned to Japan for inspection and dismantling, with most parts eventually discarded. But with the firm shifting its focus to V12 development for the 1991 season, engine V805 was spared, thus making it the last Honda F1 V10 driven in competition by Senna. Monterey Car Week is a mecca for classic car collectors, where high-profile sales, concours events and historic races attract global attention.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store