Honda HR-V gets AWD for the NZ market
Honda New Zealand has added an all-wheel drive model to its fleet of HR-V small SUVs - the only Honda distributor outside of Japan to do so.
The HR-V 4WD is powered by the same 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine as that aboard the Jazz RS, and the allwheel drive system is similar to the Real Time AWD that is aboard the larger CR-V.
The vehicle joins the existing fleet of front-wheel drive HR-Vs available in New Zealand, which are built in Thailand and all powered by a 1.8-litre engine.
Honda New Zealand’s marketing manager Nadine Bell says New Zealand is the only country outside of Japan to get the AWD model.
‘‘We successfully negotiated to be able to get the model out of the factory in Japan. It’ll allow us to broaden our compact SUV offering in the New Zealand market,’’ she says.
Powering this vehicle is Honda’s EarthDreams direct injected DOHC i-VTEC 1.5-litre petrol engine which produces 96kW at 6600 rpm, and torque of 155Nm at 4600rpm.
A feature of the vehicle’s suspension is that it has what are known as amplitude reactive dampers which essentially offer two damper rates in one.
The dampers have a main damping piston and a second piston. When there are smaller suspension inputs during normal driving conditions, only the main piston works. But when the ride gets rougher or the driving more enthusiastic, the second piston operates to provide additional damping force,
This technology was developed by German company ZF Sachs for the Acura in the USA, which makes high-end vehicles.
Like the other members of the HR-V range, which are built on a stretched version of the Jazz hatchback, the new vehicle has a unique centre-mounted fuel tank which allows it to boast a so-called ‘Magic’ seats configuration which can be folded completely flat into the floor.
The HR-V AWD is available in eight colours, with three of them - Misty Green Pearl, Cinnamon
Bronze and Premium Crystal Red - exclusive to the model.
Price is $35,600.