The 2018 Honda Vezel (2018 Honda HR-V) is now on sale in Japan. The mid-life refresh brings minor design revisions and equipment changes to the mini-SUV. The 2018 Honda Vezel Hybrid includes the identical design features. Assume the powertrain, anything else is just about the exact same. This small crossover features a quite eye-catching styling, which completely practices the most up-to-date design vocabulary of the brand. It makes use of a lot of design options from larger CR-V and Pilot models, but nevertheless, has something of its individual. In contrast to other models of the class, it provides benefits to supply.
Aside from desirable design and Honda’s exceptional standing, this crossover also comes along with a quite roomy cabin. It is the most compact crossover in company’s lineup, but certainly one of the most huge in class. Additionally, it features well-known Miracle Seats, which enable rear seats to retract toned. This is an ideal feature that contributes a big dosage of flexibility to the previously incredibly sensible subcompact crossover.
Main Specification:
Interior Design:
Honda has changed the shape of the front seats to improve comfort and introduced a new 7-inch HD touchscreen infotainment system that features not only navigation and voice control, but also Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Honda Sensing, previously unavailable in the basic grades, is now standard. False Backward Start Prevention and Auto High Beam, which are available even in the tiny Honda N-Box, are still excluded from the list of functions of the Honda Vezel’s Honda Sensing safety suite, though.
The 2018 Honda Vezel is available with 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol and 1.5-litre i-VTEC (petrol+electric) hybrid engines carried over from the old model. The maximum power and maximum torque figures have remained unchanged, but Honda has made changes to make the drive more comfortable and efficient.
In the hybrid model, the company has retuned the Sport Hybrid i-DCD system to provide smoother acceleration and smoothed out the brake feel. In the petrol model, it has added vibration damping material and reviewed the fuel pump inside the engine to make the cabin quieter. Reduced cam chain friction has increased the fuel economy (JC08 mode) from 20.6 km/l to 21.2 km/l. Lastly, the 4WD system now offers a more reliable and better quality ride when turning on snow and climbing uphill.
Honda Vezel: Engine and Transmission:
Now, even though it shares a lot with its sibling, the Vezel also offers some unique features. The potential buyers are able to choose between two powertrains. The conventional model is using a 1.5-liter direct-injection DOHC i-VTEC inline-four engine, while you can also get the Vezel Hybrid, which is paired with a sport hybrid i-DCD system. Unofficially, the 2018 Honda Vezel will feature some changes beneath the hood. The manufacturer will reportedly add a 1.8-liter four unit. The engine will deliver 141 horsepower, running either front- or all four wheels via a CVT gearbox. Still, the buyers will be able to get an optional six-speed manual transmission as well.
Styling changes and new Features:
The 2018 Vezel will keep its exterior styling almost unchanged. Though, the manufacturer may add a couple of new exterior paint and new, larger, 17-inch wheels. The sporty look might be boosted with a pair of new headlights and perhaps refreshed grille, but everything else will stay unchanged from the outside. Inside, however, the crossover SUV is getting a refreshed dashboard along with more standard equipment including backup camera, Bluetooth. Plus, the car manufacturer might add some active safety features like Honda’s LaneWatch, forward-collision warning, and blind-spot monitoring. In addition, the new infotainment will rely on a 7.0-inch touchscreen, which should be paired with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration functions.
Since it’s not going to switch the existing platform, the Vezel will keep the current footprint unchanged. However, bearing in mind how great is the crossover inside we dare to say that there is no reason to change anything at all. The model offers class-leading space for both front- and rear-seat passengers, and plenty of cargo space. Plus, seats flip and fold in numerous ways, so the cargo can be easily increased when is needed.
Honda Vezel features a more upright upper grille that flows into the new LED headlamps, sharper bumper, new fog light housing and revised lower grille. The new front-end looks a little more dynamic, mainly because of the revisions to the headlamps and the bumper, but there are no drastic changes. At the rear, a thin chrome strip connects the tail lamps.