• Existence of VTEC Turbo-powered 2022 Honda HR-V confirmed by Indonesian tax office
• 2022 Honda HR-V RS with VTEC Turbo to make world debut on 17-February
• Indonesia to offer both 1.5 NA and 1.5 VTEC Turbo, Malaysia to add e:HEV hybrid

Indonesia will be hosting the world debut of the 2022 Honda HR-V RS powered by a 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo next month, ahead of the Indonesia International Motor Show’s (IIMS) opening on 17-February.

Currently, the 2022 Honda HR-V (chassis code RV) is only available with two engine options – naturally aspired 1.5-litre i-VTEC and petrol-electric 1.5-litre e:HEV two-motor full-hybrid.

Honda Motor has yet to make any announcement on the matter but a public disclosure by Indonesia’s tax office, for its latest Motor Vehicle Sales Value includes an entry for Honda HR-V RS 1.5T CVT. The suffix ‘T’ is of course reference to its turbocharged engine.

Aside from the RS variant, three other naturally aspirated 1.5-litre i-VTEC variants are also listed – E, S, and SE.

In other words, Indonesia’s forthcoming 2022 Honda HR-V can be had with either a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre i-VTEC or forced induction 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo.

Sources familiar with the matter say that an announcement for the 2022 Honda HR-V with VTEC Turbo will be made a few days ahead of the Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS)’s press day on 17-February, where the car will be making its global debut.

This latest development lends credence to WapCar.my’s earlier scoop, saying that the Malaysia-market 2022 Honda HR-V will one-up the Toyota Corolla Cross, by offering three engine options – 1.5-litre i-VTEC, 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo, and 1.5-litre e:HEV.

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

The Toyota Corolla Cross is currently available only with two engine options – 1.8-litre naturally aspirated Dual VVT-i and 1.8-litre hybrid, priced from RM 123,000 to RM 136,650

There’s also a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated Dynamic Force, AWD variant but that model is only available in North America (USA and Canada).

Also read: Selling fast in Malaysia, Toyota Corolla Cross debuts in the USA - 2.0 Dynamic Force engine, AWD available!

The Honda HR-V RS with a 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo will share its powertrain with the Honda Civic, Honda Accord, and Honda CR-V, with a different state of tune of course.

Output will most likely be lower than the racy-character Civic and higher range Accord and CR-V, likely to be around circa 170 PS, in the interest of lower fuel consumption and smoother driving over a broader range of engine speed, things that the HR-V’s target customers will appreciate more than peak power output.

The 2022 Honda HR-V is expected to be launched in Malaysia in the second half of 2022. It might still make it here by June to take advantage of the final month of the current sales tax exemption for locally-assembled passenger cars, but considering the current parts supply shortage, its chances are slim.

For now, the Toyota Corolla Cross will continue to solidify its position as the most recommended SUV on the market.

Also read: Pros and Cons: Almost perfect, the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is why good is good enough