After a short tease, Honda has finally pulled the wraps off the all-new 2022 HR-V. Like the Japanese market Fit, the third-generation HR-V takes on a human-centric design approach, hoping that it’ll meet the expectations of its would-be owners.

Honda will unveil the latest generation of its popular HR-V compact crossover in February this year. The small SUV will feature the company’s advanced two-motor e:HEV powertrain technology as standard for the first time (it is unknown yet whether Honda will still offer a normally-aspirated or turbocharged version). Honda’s innovative hybrid set-up combines high efficiency with refined, fun-to-drive performance.

The almost back-to-back arrivals of the 2021 Toyota Corolla Cross and 2021 Ford Territory have re-ignited the compact crossover segment. Once a niche market cornered by the Honda HR-V and Subaru XV, it’s now getting crowded with at least half a dozen choices out there.

Maybe it’s age (I just turned the big 4-0), but I’m starting to wish the local Honda HR-V offered an interior in this stunning shade of crimson.

Honda Cars Philippines is gearing up for the re-start of its dealership operations nationwide with their “One With You On This Journey” promo. Running from today until June 30, 2020, get Honda Cars’s line-up with special low cash-out, low monthly payments, and even free one-month amortization. Some highlights include:

Honda Access, the genuine accessory line of Honda has been making look-fast parts for various Honda vehicles for quite some time now under the Modulo brand. But now, they’re ready to take the next step with the new Modulo X line.

With the Seltos, Kia Philippines thinks they have one of the hottest rides around and who could blame them? The sub-compact crossover segment is absolutely lit with choices and everyone, and we mean everyone wants a piece of the action—including Chinese brands you probably haven’t even heard of.

As carmakers continue to churn out more and more crossovers, segment overlaps and increasingly niche positionings become inevitable. Sometimes, a crossover once deemed alright may find itself falling through the cracks as the market pie keeps on getting smaller and smaller. This is a story about one of them: the 2019 Honda HR-V 1.8 E.

In recent years, there has been a steady growth in the subcompact and compact crossover category. The potential is real, with brands like Subaru coming out with the XV, Mazda introducing the CX-3, and even Jeep coveting a piece of the pie with the Renegade. One of the first players in this segment, Honda saw to it that the HR-V gets updated for 2019 with this one: the sportier-looking 1.8 RS CVT. And spending more than a week with it, it’s clear that the HR-V still has what it takes to standout of this crowded segment.

The US-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or IIHS just released their 2018 headlight evaluation and things are looking dim, literally, for owners of the Civic, Fit (our market Jazz), and HR-V. These three Honda models are among the 40 other models tested by the IIHS to score a “poor” when it comes to their headlights.

This may look like a normal Honda HR-V, but look closely and you’ll notice a very subtle difference: it’s got not one, but two tailpipes coming out the back. If you’re guessing that this is a turbocharged HR-V and you’re right on the money.

The HR-V has managed to play the in-between card very well. It appeals to buyers who don’t want a big, lumbering SUV or a compact sedan with a low seating position. Above all, it’s a sub-compact crossover in label alone. With its mix of funky styling, a capacious and flexible interior, and commendable real-world performance, it’s got the goods to help it punch well above its class.

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. introduces the refreshed 2018 HR-V which goes on sale August 24. Building upon the nameplate’s flexible utility and convenience elements, the updated HR-V features a modern, sporty style and advanced technology features including the availability of a RS variant for the first time.

After selling almost 5,000 examples during its three-year run, Honda Cars Philippines is poised to introduce the refreshed 2018 HR-V compact crossover by the end of the month.

Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. certainly sprung a surprise at MIAS when they decided to launch the Kona sub-compact crossover for the Philippine market. While some people are understandably upset that the Creta is MIA, the Kona is still a much-needed boost to HARI’s SUV offering in the country.

Objectively, Honda created the sub-compact crossover segment in the Philippines back in 1999. At first, buyers didn’t warm up to something smaller than a compact crossover, but fast forward to today and they’re considered vogue. They’re a foil to the diesel-powered SUVs, providing more style, driving fun, and urban maneuverability while still giving that added ground clearance that people crave nowadays. More than anything, they’re now seen as the compact sedan’s more fashionable alternative. And while you can buy a Honda Civic or Mazda3 for this sort of money, one can argue that going for either HR-V and the CX-3 is a visible sign that you’ve finally made it. The question is: which one is the fashion leader and which is the fashion follower?

The Manila International Auto Show marks the final show in the Philippines for HCPI President and General Manager, Toshio Kuwahara as he prepares for his upcoming move to a new country of assignment. And in true form, he leaves it with a legacy. Honda showcased a dynamic vehicle display that easily defined the brand’s core concept, “Joy in Motion.” The line-up takes a look back at the brand’s days on the racetrack, with sporty designs and accessories.

In the span of a week, two new sub-compact crossovers have entered the Philippine market, the 2016 Nissan Juke and the 2016 Chevrolet Trax. Now, how do these two sub-million peso offerings fare against the current segment leader, the Ford EcoSport? How does it do (theoretically) against the Mazda CX-3 and of course, the in-between sized Honda HR-V.

Wonder no more as we have our usual comparative chart after the break.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

The urban crossover genre, it seems is the next big thing. Judging by how many carmakers want to get into the act, it’s the newest fashion must-have. A stroll through the Ateneo de Manila campus reveals the unshakable truth: compact sedans and sub-compact hatchbacks are so baduy. They’re probably your dad’s or older sibling’s choice. Today it’s all about crossovers because parking on unpaved lots is so hassle and going through floods during rainy season is so nakaka-burat. And so, Honda’s done the right thing and dived straight into the deep end with the HR-V.

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) announces that its newly launched All-New HR-V 1.8 EL variant was given a 5-star rating in the crash test conducted by the ASEAN NCAP (ASEAN New Car Assessment Program) last July 16, 2015 at the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS). The result further emphasizes Honda’s commitment for both safety to its customers and for overall road safety.