Honda HR-V: Three Generations of Honda's Compact Crossover
The Honda HR-V is a compact crossover that sits below the CR-V in Honda's range. The first generation of 1998 came with three or five doors and optional all-wheel drive. Since late 2013 the car has been sold in Japan as the Vezel, and in Europe the third generation of 2021 is offered only as the HR-V e:HEV hybrid. North America has had a separate, larger HR-V since 2022.
Key takeaways
- Three generations: GH (1998–2006), RU (Vezel from December 2013, HR-V in most markets from 2015) and RV (Vezel from April 2021, HR-V e:HEV in Europe from October 2021).
- HR-V begins with "Hi-rider", Honda's reference to the raised seating position; Vezel comes from "bezel", the cut faces of a gemstone, plus V for vehicle.
- The European e:HEV combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine of 79 kW (107 PS) with a 96 kW (131 PS) electric motor and 253 Nm.
- Euro NCAP gave the current HR-V four stars in 2022; in Germany it started at €33,900 in 2026.
Honda HR-V at a glance
| Specification | GH (first) | RU (second) | RV (third, Europe) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years | 1998–2006 | 2013–2022 | since 2021 |
| Body | three- or five-door | five-door crossover | five-door crossover |
| Engines | 1.6 petrol | 1.5 and 1.8 petrol, 1.5 turbo, 1.5 hybrid, 1.6 diesel | 1.5 petrol-electric e:HEV |
| Power | 77–92 kW (105–125 PS) | 88–136 kW (120–185 PS) | 96 kW (131 PS) |
| Drive | front or Real Time 4WD | front or all-wheel drive (front only in Europe) | front-wheel drive |
| Length | 4,000 mm (three-door), 4,110 mm (five-door) | - | 4,355 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,360 / 2,460 mm | - | 2,610 mm |
| Built in | Suzuka (Japan) | Japan, Mexico and other plants | Japan, China, Thailand and other plants |
The HR-V shares the Honda catalogue with the larger Honda CR-V. How the company grew from motorcycles to cars is told in our history of Honda.
Size at a glance
| Dimensions | Honda HR-V RV |
|---|---|
| Length | 4,355 mm171.5 in |
| Width | 1,790 mm70.5 in |
| Height | 1,582 mm62.3 in |
| Wheelbase | 2,610 mm102.8 in |
| Boot | 319 L11.3 cu ft |
First generation (GH, 1998–2006)
The first HR-V was built at Suzuka in Japan. It came as a three-door (GH2, until 2003) and a five-door (GH4). The three-door was 4,000 mm long on a 2,360 mm wheelbase; the five-door measured 4,110 mm on a 2,460 mm wheelbase.
Two 1.6-litre four-cylinder engines were offered. The D16W1 gave 77 kW (105 PS) and 138 Nm; the D16W5 with VTEC gave 92 kW (125 PS) and 142 Nm. Honda's Real Time 4WD, shared with the CR-V, kept the car in front-wheel drive until the front wheels lost grip and then engaged the rear axle hydraulically. ABS with brake-force distribution and two airbags were standard.
In Germany the HR-V was sold from 1999. A small facelift in 2001 moved the fog lamps into the bumper, and from 2005 only the five-door with front-wheel drive was left. Honda then had no HR-V in Europe until 2015.
Second generation (RU): Vezel and HR-V
The second generation went on sale in Japan as the Vezel on 20 December 2013. Built on the platform of the Fit (sold in Europe as the Jazz), it reached North America in 2015 for the 2016 model year and returned to Europe the same year. European cars came from Mexico and were front-wheel drive only. Inside, it kept the Fit's "Magic Seats": the rear seat cushion folds up to free floor space for tall objects.
| Engine | Market | Power | Torque | Gearbox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 i-VTEC (L15) | Europe and others | 88 kW (120 PS) or 97 kW (132 PS) | 145–155 Nm | manual or CVT |
| 1.8 i-VTEC (R18) | North America and others | 104 kW (141 PS) | 174 Nm | CVT |
| 1.6 i-DTEC diesel | Europe, 2015–2020 | 88 kW (120 PS) | 300 Nm | six-speed manual |
| 1.5 VTEC Turbo | Asia, 2018–2021 | 136 kW (185 PS) | 220–240 Nm | manual or CVT |
| 1.5 VTEC Turbo (Sport) | Europe | 134 kW (182 PS) | - | manual or CVT |
| 1.5 i-VTEC hybrid | Japan and Asia | 112 kW (152 PS) system | 190 Nm system | seven-speed dual-clutch |
The Sport version for Europe also had performance dampers. Wikipedia DE gives a launch price of €19,990 in Germany for the relaunched HR-V in 2015.
The car sold strongly: Japan registered 96,029 Vezels in 2014, and US sales peaked at 137,090 in 2021. In China it was built by two joint ventures, as the Vezel and as the XR-V; an article about the Chinese XR-V twin appeared on 1cars in 2019. In the United States, NHTSA rated the 2016 HR-V with five stars overall.
Third generation (RV): hybrid only in Europe
The new Vezel was unveiled in Japan on 18 February 2021 and went on sale on 22 April 2021. The European HR-V followed in October 2021 with the trims Elegance, Advance and Advance Style, and for the first time Europe received only a hybrid.
The e:HEV system uses a 1.5-litre Atkinson-cycle petrol engine that acts mainly as a generator, while a 96 kW (131 PS) electric motor drives the front wheels with 253 Nm in most driving situations. Honda UK gives these figures:
| Specification | HR-V e:HEV (Europe) |
|---|---|
| Petrol engine | 1.5 litres, 79 kW (107 PS) at 6,400 rpm, 131 Nm |
| Electric motor | 96 kW (131 PS), 253 Nm |
| 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) | 10.6–10.8 s depending on trim |
| Top speed | about 170 km/h (105 mph) |
| Fuel consumption (WLTP) | 5.4 l/100 km combined, 122 g/km CO2 |
| Length / width / height | 4,355 mm (Advance Sport 4,398 mm) / 1,790 mm / 1,582 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,610 mm |
| Kerb weight | 1,381–1,416 kg |
| Boot (VDA) | 319 l; 304 l with Advance Style; up to 1,289 l to the roof |
| Fuel tank | 40 l |
Honda Germany quotes a range of up to 740 km on one tank for the Elegance. The car is built in Yorii (Japan), and also in China, Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil and other countries for local markets. The fuel cost of the hybrid can be checked with our fuel cost calculator.
A battery-electric relative, the e:Ny1 with a 68.8 kWh battery and 412 km of WLTP range, came to Europe in autumn 2023; in China the electric versions are sold as e:NS1 and e:NP1.
Safety and the 2024 facelift
Euro NCAP tested the HR-V 1.5 hybrid Advance and published four stars on 13 April 2022. It scored 82 % for adult occupants, 75 % for child occupants, 72 % for vulnerable road users and 78 % for safety assist. According to Euro NCAP, the weak point was the protection of children in the rear seats in the crash tests.
Honda presented a facelift on 14 March 2024, and it reached Europe in September 2024. It brought a revised front, new tail-light graphics, new colours, updated energy management for the e:HEV and additional Honda Sensing functions. Europe also gained an Advance Style Plus trim.
The North American HR-V since 2022
North America did not get the Vezel-based car. Its HR-V, shown on 4 April 2022 and on sale from 7 June 2022 as a 2023 model, uses the Honda Architecture platform of the 11th-generation Civic and a 2.0-litre petrol engine. Wikipedia describes it as a separate model related to the ZR-V sold in other markets. Specifications in this article refer to the European car unless stated.
Prices in Germany
In 2026 Honda Germany listed the HR-V e:HEV from €33,900 for the Elegance trim, with Advance Sport, Advance, Advance Style and Advance Style Plus above it. For comparison, the second-generation car started at €19,990 when it returned to the German market in 2015.
Which HR-V to choose
The current e:HEV suits drivers who cover mostly town and suburban distances, where the electric motor does most of the driving, and who want a high seating position in a car about 4.3 metres long. Families should note the boot of about 300 litres; the CR-V is the larger alternative. A used second-generation car with the 1.5 i-VTEC is the simple, cheaper choice, and the 1.6 i-DTEC diesel suits high annual mileage. First-generation cars are at least two decades old; the five-door with Real Time 4WD is the more practical of the two bodies.
Photo gallery
FAQ
Is the Honda Vezel the same car as the HR-V?
Yes, for the second and third generations outside North America: Vezel is the Japanese name. The North American HR-V sold since 2022 is a different, Civic-based model.
What does HR-V stand for?
In Honda's explanation the letters start with "Hi-rider", for the high seating position, and the V stands for vehicle.
Is the HR-V only available as a hybrid?
In Europe the third generation is sold only as the e:HEV hybrid. In other markets petrol versions are also offered.
How big is the HR-V's boot?
319 litres with the rear seats up (304 litres in the Advance Style trims) and up to 1,289 litres to the roof with the seats folded, measured to VDA.
How safe is the Honda HR-V?
Euro NCAP gave the third generation four stars in 2022, with 82 % for adult occupants and 75 % for child occupants.
