Malaysia-bound 2022 Honda HR-V may get Corolla Cross-style CRT TV-like infotainment? Here’s why
CY Foong · Mar 30, 2022 04:30 PM
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TH-spec shown
Despite the all-new 2022 Honda HR-V that is available in our neighbours across ASEANlooking like the Japan-spec Vezel, they are different on the inside. In particular, the infotainment head unit.
Could the exciting models be the HR-V and BR-V?
For Malaysians looking forward to get the all-new HR-V, the wait is nearly over as it along with the all-new BR-V are hinted to be among two new models that Honda Malaysia will launch in 2022. But what is indeed different about that head unit?
For starters, the infotainment unit shown in both the Thai- and Indo-spec HR-V feature a protrusion on the back, so it's not exactly a floating unit like the one offered in Japan and Europe.
This is reminiscence of an old CRT TV monitor and this treatment is also seen on the ASEAN-spec Toyota Corolla Cross which is, surprisingly, different from the rest of the world.
Besides, the size of the infotainment screen is also different between the ASEAN units and the Japanese/European ones. The Thai and Indonesian HR-V sport a smaller 8-inch screen compared to the Vezel/EU-spec HR-V's bigger 9-inch unit.
SG HR-V uses an Alpine-branded infotainment unit (Credit: AutoApp)
Though the Singapore-spec HR-V is fully-imported (CBU) from Japan, it too features a completely different infotainment unit. In fact, it uses an Alpine unit instead of a proprietary Honda one and thus, it looked very much like an aftermarket afterthought compared to the CRT monitor-like approach from its neighbours.
Even though the all-new HR-V isn't launched in Malaysia yet, the upcoming locally-assembled (CKD) crossover could be equipped with the same infotainment unit as the ones offered in Thailand and Indonesia.
Does this mean ASEAN markets are being short-changed in infotainment screens?
The Toyota Harrier is one example of the use of different infotainment units for different markets
Well, not quite. The reasons for the different designs are due to cost and regulation. As explained in our comparison between the Japan-spec and Malaysia-/Singapore-spec Toyota Harrier, the former has a limited FM frequency range.
As such, it would be more cost-effective for the other markets to use a more standard (i.e. smaller) unit than to develop another one with the larger size.
EU-spec HR-V shown
While North America and Europe’s FM radio frequency is wider than Japan, another reason for those markets to keep a similar design is due the availability of satellite radio and digital audio broadcasting (DAB). Hence, the software tweaks aren’t really as major as revamping the whole system for it to work for smaller markets.
Japanese Corolla Cross (above) vs ASEAN Corolla Cross (below)
This might also be the reason why the Corolla Cross sports a different infotainment head unit too from region to region. Still, if the functions are similar to one another, most buyers wouldn't really mind if the infotainment unit looks like a mini Sony Trinitron television set.
Then again, Honda Malaysia might pull off a surprise move by offering the larger 9-inch infotainment on the higher variants of the all-new HR-V. The local Civic FE, for instance, has a few features not available on the Thai-spec Civic.
As for the powertrains for the HR-V, there are currently three being offered overseas but which one of these will be offered here remains up in the air for now. The engines that power the all-new HR-V include:
1.5-litre i-MMD petrol-hybrid (106 PS/127 Nm) + e:HEV dual electric motor (131 PS/253 Nm)
Care to guess which engine powers this camouflaged HR-V?
We’ve already gone on about which of these engines will be introduced for the Malaysian market but for now we can only wait and see. So, watch out for this space.
Traded advertising for a career that fits his passion for cars. Enjoys spotting cars during his free time and has a soft spot for Japanese Kei cars but drives a thirsty manual sedan.
