• Honda Malaysia is expected to launch all-new 2022 Honda HR-V in July
• Prices expected to go up by at least 7 to 15 percent, before SST
• Likely to be offered with 3 engine options, including e:HEV hybrid and VTEC Turbo

The all-new 2022 Honda HR-V is now already on sale in Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore. Previously, we’ve already reported that Honda Malaysia is expected to launch the next generation Honda HR-V in the second half of 2022.

We have now learned that Honda Malaysia will be launching the all-new 2022 Honda HR-V in July, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The July also timing also means that it will miss out on sales tax exemption for locally-assembled (CKD) passenger cars.

Also read: 2022 Honda HR-V has 3 engine options: e:HEV, i-VTEC, VTEC Turbo, which is best for Malaysia?

The outgoing generation Honda HR-V is still being sold at the following SST-exempted prices, until 30-June 2022:

• HR-V 1.8E: RM 104,000 (earlier SST-inclusive price RM 108,800)
• HR-V 1.8 SE: RM 105,363
• HR-V 1.8V: RM 113,421 (earlier SST-inclusive price RM 118,800)
• HR-V 1.5 i-DCD Sport Hybrid: RM 113,954
• HR-V 1.8 RS: RM 118,581 (earlier SST-inclusive price RM 124,800)

What's the estimated price for the all-new 2022 Honda HR-V?

This is a little bit difficult to estimate because our tax structure is based on engine capacity while our neighbours, including Indonesia, have already moved on to CO2 emission-based tax.

The all-new Honda HR-V is available in 3 engine options, all 1.5-litre – naturally aspirated i-VTEC, e:HEV hybrid, and VTEC Turbo. From what we’ve gathered, all 3 engine options will be offered in Malaysia.

Also read: 2022 Honda HR-V to launch in Malaysia after June - VTEC Turbo, e:HEV hybrid hinted

The outgoing generation HR-V is using a larger 1.8-litre engine, which sits in a higher excise tax bracket. In theory, prices for the new 1.5-litre HR-V should be cheaper but not if the 1.5-litre engine is a more complex hybrid or turbocharged unit – which is the case for the 2022 Honda HR-V.

Also, the latest HR-V is a significantly more premium product, with cabin materials that are clearly more upmarket than the outgoing model’s, complete with side air vents that double as an air curtain for the front-side windows to keep the cabin cooler in our tropical climate.

One also can’t compare with HR-V prices in Thailand, where cars are taxed based on CO2 emissions and hybrids are taxed lower. In Thailand, the HR-V is only available as a hybrid.

Also read: All-new 2022 Honda HR-V launched in Thailand, hybrid only, from RM 123k

In Indonesia, there has been big a jump in prices, up by a massive 24 percent even for the cheapest 1.5-litre i-VTEC naturally aspirated S variant. For the most expensive 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo-powered RS variant, it’s now 28 percent more expensive than the previous highest specs variant.

However the increase is mostly due to adjustments to Indonesia’s value-added tax, which went up from 10 percent to 11 percent in 2021, as well as increase in luxury tax for cars, which is now calculated based on CO2 emissions, and had resulted in an increase in price for many models.

Regardless, an increase in price for the 2022 Honda HR-V is certain and considering the current increase in prices of raw materials, it’s reasonable to expect a circa 7 to 15 percent increase, excluding SST.

Also read: Post-SST: Car prices to increase more than before, higher than previous June 2020 price

Still, our sources tell us that estimated prices for the 2022 Honda HR-V will be competitive enough against the Toyota Corolla Cross, which is priced from RM 123,000 to RM 136,500 excluding SST. Whether will that be achieved at the expense of higher specifications is left to be seen.

As it is, all HR-V models sold in the ASEAN trade bloc region make do with a cheaper infotainment head unit, one that’s similar to the Toyota Corolla Cross’ CRT TV-like screen as opposed to the Japanese and European market HR-V’s floating screen.

Also read: Malaysia-bound 2022 Honda HR-V may get Corolla Cross-style CRT TV-like infotainment? Here’s why

Obviously the HR-V cannot exceed the Honda CR-V’s price, which ranged from RM 151,000 to RM 176,300 prior to price cuts during the SST exemption period, which was later followed by another round of price cuts by Honda Malaysia when the facelift model was launched in November 2020. How much can Honda Malaysia minimize the price increase post-SST resumption is still left to be seen.

Note the the US market’s HR-V is a completely different unrelated model. The North American market 2023 Honda HR-V is based on the 2022 Honda Civic FE while the HR-V sold elsewhere is based on a stretched version of the Honda City’s platform.

Also read: Bigger than yours, all-new Civic-based 2023 Honda HR-V's boot space shown in latest teaser for USA