Believe it or not, the Honda HR-V in its current form is already three years old. First introduced as the second-generation Vezel in Japan, it was released in other parts of the world shortly thereafter.
Given Honda’s product cycles, 2024 would be the year that the subcompact crossover receives a minor model change. Over in Japan, that’s exactly what has happened.
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For the 2024 model year, the Vezel gets a few tweaks inside and out. On top of that, there are a few tech and powertrain updates, as well as a new variant for the Japanese market.
The most noticeable change to the exterior is the grille. It’s noticeably wider than the pre-facelift model with most variants sporting a slatted look. Because of that, a few tweaks were made to the front bumper to accommodate that.
As far as we can tell, wheel options remain the same. However, we did notice the tail light clusters sporting a new layout. More colors have also been added to the options list, along with a new HuNT Package that, according to Honda, adds an ‘outdoor flavor’ to the crossover.
You’ll need a good eye to spot what’s new inside. For this update, Honda redesigned the center stack and center console to free up more space. The adjustment also adds a larger cubby hole located just below the climate control dials. New interior color combinations are also part of the ’24 update.
Moving to safety features, the Vezel’s Honda Sensing advanced driver assist system gains more features. The three additions to the crossover’s safety package are traffic jam assist, sudden acceleration suppression function, and adaptive headlights.
In Japan, powertrain options remain the same. The entry-level models use the familiar 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine, although the home market version makes 117hp and 142Nm of torque mated to a CVT. The other is the 1.5-liter e:HEV hybrid with 129hp and 253Nm of torque.
That said, there are some improvements made to the hybrid drive system. Its energy management control has been updated to make for a smoother and quieter driving experience. Honda also claims that throttle response picks up better because of the tweaks.
Given that the Philippine-market Honda HR-V is based on the Japanese and European model, there’s a good chance that we’ll be seeing this facelift in the country eventually. There is no set debut date for the Southeast Asian version just yet, but it will likely make its premiere in Thailand first before it’s shown in other ASEAN countries.
