2015 Honda HR-V - on-sale date, engines and pricing

The reborn Honda HR-V compact crossover will go on sale this September, priced from £17,995.

It won the What Car? Car of the Year 2015 Reader Award as the most keenly anticipated new car of the year. 

What is it?

The Honda HR-V is based on a similar platform to the Civic hatchback and the Jazz supermini.

Like many other manufacturers, Honda has seen an opportunity to provide a small car with SUV styling to take advantage of the current vogue for compact crossover cars.

Outside, the HR-V looks good, with styling that sits between a coupe and a compact SUV, which should see it appeal to style-conscious buyers who might opt for a Renault Captur or a Nissan Juke. However, Honda has been very clear about targeting rival cars in the class above, specifically the Nissan Qashqai.

Honda claims the interior is of the same high quality as the other models in its line-up. This is also an area where key rivals in this class sometimes fall short.

Like its Jazz small car, Honda has given the HR-V its 'magic seat' system that allows the second row of seats to be folded totally flat. Interior space is also increased by the positioning of the fuel tank, which is located under the centre of the car. As a result of these two features, Honda reckons the HR-V will have class-leading cabin space. The claimed 453 litres of boot space is also better than most of its rivals.

What engines will it come with?

Although it looks like a pocket-sized SUV, the HR-V will only be available as a two-wheel drive model in the UK.

There will be two engines available at launch – an all-new 128 bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine and a 118bhp 1.6-litre diesel, versions of which are shared with the Civic hatch and CR-V SUV. The petrol engine will be available with a CVT automatic gearbox but both engines will come with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard.

Diesel-powered versions of the HR-V can return up to 70.6mpg, while petrol models return up to 52.3mpg.

How much will it cost and what equipment will it come with?

The HR-V will be available in four specifications in the UK - S, SE, SE Navi and EX.

Entry-level S models get 16-inch alloy wheels, a DAB radio with Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control, climate control and front and rear parking sensors. SE specification adds 17-inch alloys, dual-zone climate control, automatic lights and wipers, and Honda’s 7-inch touchscreen Connect infotainment system. Higher up the range, SE Navi adds satellite navigation.

Top-level EX models get keyless entry and start, panoramic sunroof, leather trim, rear-view camera, heated seats and LED lighting.

All versions get a high standard level of safety equipment, including autonomous emergency braking. Top-end models get a raft of other kit including forward collision detection, lane-departure warning and traffic-sign recognition systems as standard, which are all under the banner of Advanced Driver Assist System.

The HR-V will go on sale in September with prices starting from £17,995. Diesel variants start at £19,745, and prices for top-spec models rise to £24,945. Honda says 80% of HR-V sales are expected to be bought on PCP finance deals, and the HR-V is available from £149 per month with a 30% deposit.