Honda Motor Co. is gearing up for the launch this year of the next-gen HR-V subcompact crossover in the U.S., and teaser sketches suggest it will have more rugged exterior styling than the outgoing model.
When Honda rolled out a redesigned 2022 model for global markets last year, it said North America would have to wait for a unique version. The subcompact crossover, called the Vezel elsewhere, was launched as a standard hybrid in Japan and Europe.
Honda is calling 2022 “the year of the crossover” in North America, as it seeks to increase light-truck sales to satisfy consumer demand and capture higher transaction prices.
The automaker recently freshened the Passport midsize crossover with more off-road styling.
Honda said the second-generation HR-V will launch in the U.S. this year as a 2023 model. Although the vehicle is uniquely styled for North America, Honda did not offer any mechanical details.
Honda is planning a bigger push into hybrids, but not on all vehicles.
The current HR-V in the U.S. dates from the 2016 model year, when the nameplate debuted in response to growing consumer interest in small crossovers. The 2022 model has a 141-hp engine and optional all-wheel drive. Pricing starts at $23,095 with shipping.
Last year, Honda sold 137,090 HR-Vs for a 63 percent year-over-year increase and an all-time record, the company said, making it the top-selling subcompact crossover in the U.S.
It is also Honda’s third-bestselling crossover in the U.S., behind the CR-V and Pilot.