Japanese carmaker, Honda has officially announced to reveal the next generation Vezel SUV on February 18, 2021. The new 2021 Honda Vezel will be called the new Honda HR-V in select international markets including India. Honda has also released couple of teaser images, which reveal interesting details about the next-gen Honda Vezel/HR-V.
Honda has also discontinued the current HR-V from UK, which suggests that the new model is coming soon. It is expected that the new model will be launched by mid-2021, around May-June. If reports are to be believed, the new-gen Honda Vezel for Japan will look slightly different from the European-spec HR-V. The new HR-V will have slightly different front grille and lighting system. However, the overall profile will remain the same.
The second generation Honda HR-V has already been spotted testing multiple times in Japan as well as in Europe. It comes with all-new styling, which is a major depature from the previous model in terms of design. It gets a bolder, prominent front fascia, which resembles the next-gen Civic Prototype.
The 2021 Honda Vezel will have a wider front grille and flatter headlamps, which is sleeker and has LED DRLs (Daytime Running Lamps). The spotted model has an evolutionary front bumper with a mesh intake and LED fog lamps. The front profile has broad face and flatter hood. The new model will have less aggressive lines and creases. The spotted model shows flatter beltline. It retains the familiar rear door handles and ORVMs with integrated blinkers are mounted on the doors. The new model will have usable roof-rails, sloping roofline, roof-integrated spoiler and big black-colour alloys.
The biggest change is made to the rear profile, which has a rakish rear window and an angular C-pillar. The SUV comes with a crossover coupe-like profile. The teaser image shows that the rear has flatter body, featuring flush bumper and LED tail-lights that are slimmer than before.
The wheelbase of the new HR-V is expected to remain the same; however, the overall length and width will be increased to create more space inside the cabin. If reports are to be believed, the SUV will measure around 4.4 meters in length. This makes it significantly bigger than the outgoing model. It will be positioned against the Jeep Compass, Hyundai Tucson and the Toyota Corolla Cross.
The teaser images reveal that the 2021 Honda Vezel will come with a freestanding touchscreen infotainment system, connected car technology, physical buttons for climate control, factory-fitted sunroof, etc. The new model is expected to be based on the new Honda Architecture and feature engines sourced from the upcoming Civic. However, few reports suggest that the SUV could use the updated version of the existing platform that also underpins the new-gen Fit hatch. The platform has been updated to achieve higher stiffness and reduced weight.
The teaser also confirms that the new Honda HR-V/Vezel will receive a strong hybrid system, called e:HEV. This powertrain has a 1.5L petrol engine and two electric motors. This system also powers the new-gen City and the City hybrid, which will soon be introduced in India. The hatchback achieves up to 80kmph with the use of the electric motor. For greater power, the petrol engine starts to work to transmit the rotation to the second electric motor, which is called the generation engine.
2021 Honda Vezel/HR-V India Launch
If reports are to be believed, the second generation Honda HR-V is expected to be launched in the Indian market in the end of 2021. The new model is likely to be produced at Honda’s Tapukara plant. It will be positioned against the VW T-ROC, Skoda Karoq and the Jeep Compass.
