New Honda HR-V Launches In China, And It’s Very Different From Ours

As one of its most popular nameplates, it's unsurprising to see Honda continue offering the HR-V across many markets worldwide. However, recent developments in China saw the Japanese automaker taking said nameplate in a slightly different direction.

What you see pictured here is the new version of the Honda HR-V that’s been especially developed for the Chinese market. Launched in said republic this week, this model will be sold through its Dongfeng Honda joint venture. Unlike the HR-V model you may be familiar with, this latest version is indeed very different.

In China, what we come to know as the HR-V is sold as the ZR-V through the Japanese brand’s other joint venture there – GAC Honda. This new HR-V badged model sold through the Dongfeng Honda partnership differs from that as it is a much bigger car – it’s closer in size to the Toyota Corolla Cross, in fact.

Compared to the GAC ZR-V – and our version of the HR-V – model, this new Dongfeng HR-V model is longer (4,569 MM vs 4,330 MM), wider (1,840 MM vs 1,790 MM), and slightly taller (1,621 MM vs 1,590 MM). The new Dongfeng offering is also riding on a longer wheelbase (2,655 MM) than the GAC ZR-V (2,610 MM).

 Malaysia-spec Honda HR-V 1.5RS e-HEV (top, left) and HR-V 1.5V (top, right) and the new Honda Dongfeng HR-V (below). Can you see the difference in design?

Matching the larger size too is a distinctively different design featuring a large upright grille and front bumper with slim intakes mounted at its corners. The Dongfeng HR-V also gets a unique LED DRL configuration that spans across the front through the grille, additional lower body black trim cladding, plus a full-width taillight with more prominent reflectors integrated in the lower apron.

No interior images were released, but we can expect this new Dongfeng HR-V to sport a cabin mirroring the GAC ZR-V, albeit with minor differences in trim and cabin colour motif.

According to Chinese media reports, the Dongfeng HR-V employs a range of powertrains that features the choice between a 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo mill with 180 HP, and the Honda e:HEV hybrid setup (2.0-litre 4-cyl with i-MMD that employs both a 2.0-litre 4-cyl engine and an e-motor.

If you’re unfamiliar with the regulations in China, foreign automakers are required to form two joint ventures with local companies before being allowed to produce and sell vehicles in said republic. This explains why we often see different model variations from major automakers like Honda, Toyota, and Volkswagen – perhaps this is one of the quirks of what is currently the world’s single largest cars market.