NEW YORK MOTOR SHOW: Honda rebirths HR-V

Honda will resurrect the HR-V nameplate – seen only briefly in Australia between 1999 and 2001 – for its all-new Jazz-based city-crossover in North America.

The born-again HR-V name, which could also grace Australia’s version when it arrives here next year, was confirmed at the New York motor show today.

“Both Fit (Jazz) and HR-V demonstrate how great things can come in small packages, and no-one does this better than Honda,” said Jeff Conrad, the Senior Vice-President and General Manager of American Honda.

North America’s version of Honda’s all-new baby SUV, which is called the Vezel in Japan, will be produced at Celaya in Mexico, in the company’s newest US manufacturing plant.

Honda Australia is yet to confirm details of its version, which is likely to be produced in either Japan or Thailand.

In its native land, the compact SUV is available with front- and all-wheel drive and a choice of petrol or petrol-electric hybrid propulsion.

Honda Australia has not yet confirmed which variants will be available locally, but company director Stephen Collins previously told motoring.com.au that we will only receive a front-drive option.

Expect the HR-V to be priced from under $25,000 in Australia, where it will be Honda’s first direct rival for the Holden Trax, Ford EcoSport, Peugeot 2008, Suzuki S-Cross and Nissan JUKE.