2022 Honda HR-V 1.5 S: Corolla Cross fighter undercuts it in price, not value

If you're dead-set on an SUV in Malaysia, the 'lower-end' of the price scale has long breached the RM 100k barrier, at least where foreign makes are concerned. The all-new 2022 Honda HR-V doesn't buck the trend; with its entry 1.5 S variant priced at RM 114,800.

The previous-generation HR-V 1.5 S was priced at RM 99,800 (back in 2015), and though today's pricing is quite a jump, you are getting a much more complete car for the money or a 'basic' model at that – as we'll show you in this variant highlight.

Exterior: Base, but not basic

For the money, the cheapest pathway into HR-V ownership buys you LED headlights up front and round the back (no foglights though), 17-inch wheels, and a black grille that apes the Japan-market car.

Also read: 2022 Honda HR-V launched in Malaysia - from RM 115k; up to 181 PS, choice of 1.5L NA, Turbo, or Hybrid; Sensing as standard

Arguably this grille looks better than what's on the 1.5 E, V, and RS e:HEV variants, but different folks, different strokes, as they say.

Differences round the rear need a closer eye: the lightbar LED tail lights unite every variant (except they're smoked on the RS), and this, being a naturally-aspirated variant, comes without any tell-tale 'Turbo' or 'e:HEV' badging.

Exhaust is single exit too, unlike the turbocharged 1.5 E and 1.5 V variants.

Interior: No-frills to the max

The interior lets on a bit of the...base-specness of things, because it loses some flair that's present in higher-end variants. Steering wheel and gear knobs are both urethane, and the silver trim that runs across the centre cubby and dashboard in other variants is absent too.

Also read: 1-year wait confirmed for all-new 2022 Honda HR-V; 20% hybrid, 75% turbo out of 20k bookings received

It's also the sole variant to get a fully-analogue instrument cluster, though it's welcome to see the 4.2-inch multi-info display now being in full colour instead of monochrome as it is in the Honda City.

Tying things together is the 8-inch infotainment touchscreen that's shared with other variants, also bundling in Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Speaker count tops out at four.

Also read: Honda Malaysia: Cost of raw materials rising but no increase in prices, for now

The seats are fabric all-around with manual adjustments only, and rear seat passengers lose out on a centre armrest.

At the back you still get Multi-Utility Seats – conceptually still Ultra Seats, just without Refresh mode, hence the name change.

Also read: Just how practical is the 2022 Honda HR-V? Let us show you in 22 photos

Fortunately you do not need to pay more for rear air-cond vents, nor the fancy Air Diffusion air-conditioning system.

The latter has a special mode in the vents – see it in action in the linked video – that forms an 'air curtain' that reduces heat poring in from the side windows.

Performance: Smaller, more efficient engine

This is the slightly touchy bit about the all-new HR-V. This S variant uses a new 1.5-litre, DOHC i-VTEC engine, which many see it as a 'downgrade' from the previous 1.8-litre mill.

In power figures yes, the new mill is lower: 121 PS and 145 Nm, versus the old SOHC i-VTEC's 142 PS  and 172 Nm. But power figures tell only half the story.

The previous 1.8-litre unit is an aging mill that's behind in efficiency, returning 6.5 litres/100 km. The newer, 1.5-litre engine trumps that with a claimed 5.9 litres/100 km, making it the second most-efficient variant behind the 4.9 litres/100 km RS e:HEV.

Also read: Review: 2022 Honda HR-V RS - Maybe you'd want to hold the Corolla Cross booking first...

The caveat to this is you lose out on 'Sport' mode, having to make do with the slightly muted 'Econ' or your regular 'Normal' drive modes.

Meanwhile, paired to the engine is a CVT-type automatic transmission, shared with the Honda City and City Hatchback models.

Safety: Not lacking with Sensing

Honda Malaysia has pulled out all the stops with the HR-V, and just like the old one this one has a standard electric parking brake (EPB).

Having an EPB means the HR-V is fully capable of adaptive cruise control (ACC) with stop-and-go capabilities, unlike, well, the footbrake-only Toyota Corolla Cross.

Also read: From foggy roads to congested cities, Honda Civic’s Sensing is one of the best

ACC with Low-Speed Follow (LSF) is part of the full-suite of Honda Sensing ADAS the HR-V 1.5 S gets, as below:

• Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
• Collision Mitigating Braking System (CMBS)
• Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
• Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
• Auto High Beam (AHB)
• Adaptive Cruise Control w/ Low Speed Follow (ACC, LSF)
• Lead Car Departure Notification (LCDN)

Conclusion: New value king? Possibly...

For RM 115k, there's little to fault the 2022 Honda HR-V 1.5 S. In more ways than one it looks like a new value king – this starting price is around RM 13,000 cheaper than the cheapest Corolla Cross 1.8 G – and it offers similar levels of kit.

Also read: Battle for Malaysia's king of SUVs: 2022 Honda HR-V vs Toyota Corolla Cross; NA or turbo power?

Interior trimmings do leave a little to be desired (remember the Proton X50 isn't priced too far off also), but there's some things that the HR-V, even in this guise, does better – it's hard to discount its practicality and complete safety suite.

Special thanks to Peringgit Sri Motor.