Thai-spec models pictured
- Malaysia to debut all-new 2022 soon
- HR-V e:HEV will square off against the Corolla Cross Hybrid
- How much will the HR-V e:HEV cost in Malaysia?
When the all-new 2022 HR-V arrives in Malaysia later this year, it will likely bring with it not one, not two, but three powertrains – all brand-new powertrains on the HR-V.
Thai-spec car shown
One of which is the petrol-electric 1.5-litre i-MMD hybrid system, which made its debut in Malaysia on the RS.
Thai-spec car shown
Seeing that Honda Malaysia has yet to reveal any details surrounding the new HR-V, we will pit Thailand’s Honda HR-V e:HEV against its direct rival, the Hybrid.
Thailand only sells the hybrid version of the HR-V
To keep things fair and consistent, we’ll be pitting both top spec variants against each other. In this case, the Corolla Cross HEV Premium Safety will square off against the Honda HR-V e:HEV RS.
Powertrain – Same hybrid name, but with very different approach
No turbo for Thailand, only hybrid
While both the HR-V e:HEV and Corolla Cross Hybrid are petrol-electric hybrid models, Honda and Toyota took a very different approach with the hybrid implementation.
HR-V e:HEV's i-MMD powertrain pictured
The Honda HR-V e:HEV gets Honda’s i-MMD two-motor hybrid system, which works in conjunction with a 1.5-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine. The engine is good for 106 PS and 127 Nm, while the hybrid system does 131 PS and 253 Nm.
Thailand hosted the debut of the sporty HR-V e:HEV RS
There's no combined output for Honda e:HEV models, and neither can you sum up engine and motor outputs as they peak at different rotational speeds, but Honda says performance is comparable to a 2.4-litre naturally-aspirated engine.
The Corolla Cross Hybrid arrived in Thailand ahead of the HR-V
On the other hand, Thailand’s Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid combines a 1.8-litre petrol engine with 98 PS and 142 Nm to an electric motor. Combined system output, according to Toyota, is 122 PS.
Feature set – Feature-laden for top-spec models
Left: HR-V e:HEV RS. Right: Corolla Cross Hybrid Premium Safety
For both top-spec variants of the HR-V e:HEV and Corolla Cross Hybrid, they receive equipment such as automatic LED headlights, LED tail lights, 18-inch alloy wheels, power tailgate, power-adjustable driver seat, automatic climate control, rear air-conditioning vents, as well as an infotainment system that supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
No EPB for the Corolla Cross
Despite both being top-spec variants, there are differences too. For example, the Corolla Cross Hybrid offers a foot-operated parking brake, while the HR-V e:HEV offers a more modern electric parking brake (EPB) instead.
Safety equipment – Do you prefer Sensing or Toyota Safety Sense?
Headlining Thailand’s Honda HR-V is the inclusion of the Honda Sensing ADAS suite on all variants, which includes Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation System with Lane Departure Warning (RDM with LDW), Auto High-Beam (AHB), and Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow (ACC with LSF).
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Lane Departure Alert (LDA) are among the features found in TSS
Thailand’s Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, on the other hand, only offers the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) ADAS suite on the top-spec variant.
RS variant pictured
The Corolla Cross Hybrid also one ups the HR-V e:HEV in terms of airbag count, as the former offers 7 airbags, compared to the 6 airbags found on the latter.
Price – What happens when they come to Malaysia?
Thai-spec HR-V e:HEV shown
Over in Thailand, the 2022 Honda HR-V e:HEV RS is cheaper than the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid Premium Safety. Priced at THB 1,179,000 (~RM 150k), the HR-V e:HEV RS is THB 20,000 cheaper than the top-spec Corolla Cross Hybrid. The latter is priced at THB 1,199,000 (~RM 152k) in the Kingdom.
Malaysia's Corolla Cross Hybrid is priced from RM 136,550
Back home in Malaysia, our Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is priced from RM 136,550 (on-the road, without insurance, valid until 30-June 2022). Does it necessarily mean that the similar quantum in price gap can be expected for the Honda HR-V e:HEV in Malaysia and that the HR-V will be cheaper than the Corolla Cross?
Will Malaysia get Ignite Red like Thailand?
We don't know for certain if the all-new 2022 Honda HR-V will be cheaper or more expensive, but it will be comparatively priced against the Toyota Corolla Cross.
The RU-generation HR-V is on its way out
The outgoing RU-generation HR-V is using a larger 1.8-litre engine, which sits in a higher excise tax bracket. In theory, prices for the new 1.5-litre HR-V should be cheaper but not if the 1.5-litre engine is a more complex hybrid or turbocharged unit – which is the case for the 2022 Honda HR-V.
At the moment, the RU-generation HR-V is priced between RM 104,000 to RM 118,581, while the Toyota Corolla Cross is priced between RM 123,000 to RM 136,550. Expect prices of the all-new HR-V to increase a bit more than before, but within the range of the Corolla Cross.
Keyword: 2022 Honda HR-V e:HEV: How much will this Corolla Cross Hybrid rival be priced when it arrives in Malaysia later this year?