#X A V I ♕ Posted November 29, 2018 Posted November 29, 2018 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. OUR VERDICT Honda HR-V The original pioneer of the crossover range the Honda CR-V makes a comeback bid Former crossover hatchback pioneer makes a comeback bid - but is success within the HR-V's grasp, and does it do enough dynamically to stand out? Find an Autocar car review Driven this week 28 NOVEMBER 2018 FIRST DRIVE Hyundai Veloster N Performance 2018 review Top-rung 'performance' coupe is a good reason to regret UK-market... Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2018 first drive review - hero front 27 NOVEMBER 2018 FIRST DRIVE Mercedes-Benz B-Class B200 AMG line 2018 review A first-rate cabin and mature dynamics make the B-Class a fine alternative to... Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2018 long-term review - hero front 25 NOVEMBER 2018 FIRST DRIVE Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2018 long-term review The wide array of specced options to try makes the latest-generation A-Class... 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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