Recently, a special version of the Honda HR-V entered the market in Europe to give those that choose it a sporty and dynamic model to drive.
While we don’t know if this new model will make its way to the US, this new HR-V model brings up a couple of questions and gives us more of the items we want for the ride. The European division of Honda makes this new version a model that appears to be more engaging and luxurious when you want to drive.
The Driving Aspects You Want from Honda
The new Honda HR-V Sport model that’s offered in Europe will make it fun for those that choose to drive it. This small and active SUV brings a new 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, a six-speed manual transmission, chassis improvements, and a few visual upgrades to make this a small SUV that can be fun to toss into the corners and on the road. This is an SUV that tells you that it’s okay to have a ride that’s closer to the ground and rip around corners without the fear of toppling over.
Handling the Extra Power of this Honda
The power numbers offered for this new Honda HR-V Sport come in at 180 horsepower and 177 lb.-ft. of torque to give us the same numbers as the Honda Civic Sport hatchback model. If you want an automatic transmission instead, there’s an optional CVT that drops the torque number to 162 lb.-ft. It appears all models of this SUV will be FWD, which is the case in Europe and the HR-V Sport will ride on 18-inch wheels, have a variable-ratio steering, and brings a sportier tuned suspension that can make the drive right on the road.
Visual Changes You’ll Admire in the new HR-V Sport
This new Honda HR-V Sport wears a new body kit, black trim pieces, dual exhaust tips, a rear spoiler, LED headlights, and a honeycomb front grille treatment. On the inside, you’ll black and red upholstery to give the cabin an upgraded and improved appearance. With the new looks and the new power level that can be had in this HR-V, this model could easily supplant the current HR-V Sport trim that we have in the US. There’s no reason for this small SUV to stay in Europe and not be shared, it needs to come to North America.
Are We Opening up a New Market?
With at least two automakers moving away from building cars for the future, the hot hatch segment of the market is in peril and won’t likely survive much longer. With a more powerful Honda HR-V Sport that uses a six-speed manual transmission, it brings a new question. Will we see hot subcompact crossover SUV models in the future? This could be a new area of the market, which would need a much better name, but it could be right for us to have a new segment of the market for the drive we want to enjoy.
