Should things go as planned, the next Japanese-make car that's launching in Malaysia will be the 2022 This is slated to happen sometime in the middle of this year (H2 2022), and under the new skin it's possible that we'll get up to three – turbo, naturally-aspirated (NA), and hybrid (HEV) – engine options.
The question is, which is best for Malaysia?
The powerful turbo
Indonesia debuted the most powerful version of the compact SUV in the ASEAN region yesterday, a title held by their HR-V RS that packs a turbocharged, 1.5-litre four-pot making 177 PS and 240 Nm. Every other variant below that runs on a 1.5-litre, naturally-aspirated (NA) engine making 121 PS and 145 Nm.
The HR-V RS, Indonesia's sole turbocharged option
This development lends further credence to our earlier scoop, saying that the Malaysia-market HR-V will one-up the Corolla Cross by slotting in a turbocharged mill (shared with the , , and ) in between two other engine options.
That said, it's safe to expect a milder state of tune than the Civic's 182 PS and 240 Nm (itself the most powerful in the region, higher than Thailand and Indonesia's 178 PS/240 Nm), in the interest of lower fuel consumption and smoother driving, things the HR-V's target customers will apperciate more than peak output.
The cheaper 1.5L naturally-aspirated i-VTEC
Indonesia's HR-V SE gets an NA engine
Joining the turbocharged mill will be a milder NA option, which should be the pick of the mix among more price-conscious customers. The caveat is it could be a little down on power.
In Indonesia, the NA engine makes 121 PS and 145 Nm, lesser than the 142 PS/172 Nm of the old 1.8, and the same could occur here as well.
However, the smaller capacity engine warrants 5 percent lower excise tax in Malaysia compared to the outgoing 1.8-litre engine, which could translate to more competitively-priced variants. And hey, cheaper road tax too.
The modern pick – i-MMD hybrid
Thai-spec HR-V RS
For what its worth this powertrain is essentially confirmed for Malaysia: though Honda dealers we've spoke to are not privy on further details on specs just yet, some have shared that their closed door preview sessions were done with an e:HEV RS variant.
The full-hybrid system is the only powertrain available in Thailand
In this set-up, the Atkinson cycle engine makes 106 PS and 127 Nm, while the two-motor e:HEV adds 131 PS / 253 Nm. 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 NA engine.
Thai-spec HR-V e:HEV engine bay
Having had good experiences with the similarly-powered , it's fair to expect a throughly refined drive in the HR-V e:HEV. The fuel savings is just a bonus.
Conclusion – ball's in your court, Corolla Cross
As it stands, UMWT offers three variants of the , two with a 1.8-litre naturally aspirated Dual VVT-i and a 1.8-litre hybrid, priced from RM 123,000 to RM 136,650. Being the newest product on the market (and a very competitive one too, if we may add), it's currently the most easily-recommendable SUV.
That said, having three powertrain options for the HR-V will present something for everyone. The turbocharged mill will appeal to those with a little pep in their step, while the hybrid choice might call to those who prioritise fuel savings more than outright output. The naturally-aspirated engine, being the cheapest of all, should result in more affordably-priced variants of the HR-V in Malaysia.
Keyword: 2022 Honda HR-V has 3 engine options: e:HEV, i-VTEC, VTEC Turbo, which is best for Malaysia?