Honda Drops New Images Of 2021 Honda HR-V e:HEV Ahead Of European Launch

The all-new 2021 Honda HR-V e:HEV will begin arriving in mainland European showrooms later this year, with the U.K.following in early 2022 with prices starting from £26,960 OTR. To build up anticipation, Honda has released a selection of new interior and exterior photos of the new crossover.

The e:HEV badge stands for “hybrid electric vehicle,” meaning that the new HR-V joins the CR-V and the Jazz as mainstream hybrid options in Honda’s European lineup. The crossover is powered by a 1.5-liter DOHC i-VTEC gas engine and an electric motor that together pump out 129 hp (131 PS/96 kW) and 187 lb-ft (253 Nm) of torque.

As a result of the electric assistance, it can hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in 10.6 seconds. On the highway, it runs mostly on engine power, but if you call upon the powertrain for more, as in an overtaking maneuver, the electric motors kick in, giving you a wave of torque to ride past the slower car. More to the point, it’s also capable of returning 43.5 mpg (5.4 l/100km) on the WLTP test cycle.

Despite the hybrid powertrain grabbing headlines, Honda chose a “man maximum, machine minimum” design philosophy to keep it out of the way. That means that the engine, motors, and batteries are all contained either within the engine bay or the chassis to maximize interior space and comfort.

The new HR-V also delivers more legroom to the rear passengers, more reclining space, and more shoulder room compared to its predecessor. Honda claims that the crossover has class-leading cargo space, offering up to 11.2 square feet (319 liters) of trunk space with the back seats up and 46 square feet (1,305 liters) with them folded.

To keep the passengers informed, meanwhile, there are plenty of advanced connectivity technologies. The crossover can act as a WiFi hotspot if desired and the My Honda+ app is being extensively updated to make it more useful to users. Yet more technology, like Honda’s SENSING suite of safety technology means that features like automatic high-beams and blind spot information are standard for the HR-V.