Before the all-new Proton X50 comes rushing out of the gates, Honda Malaysia strikes first with its new 2025 Honda HR-V facelift, bringing along a refreshed design, updated equipment list, and a slightly tweaked price list, with the two higher-end variants getting a RM2,000 price bump. But is that enough to ward off the national crossover?
Changes on the outside are minor but noticeable, including the new wider grille, reprofiled bumpers, and a new horizontally styled full-width tail lights. All variants also now get 18-inch two-tone wheels as standard, with the S and E variants going up by one size.
The biggest update outside is reserved for the RS variant, which now gets the matrix-style projector LED headlamps with adaptive driving beams and active turning light functions.
It’s also a mild update to the interior, but one that would result in significant quality of life improvements inside. The dashboard has now been restyled into a more horizontal layout, freeing up the bottom of the centre console for more storage cubbies and a wireless charging pad on the range-topping RS variant.
The eight-inch touchscreen head unit, standard across the range, also now supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, alongside new USB-C ports. Otherwise, the interior is largely unchanged from before, with all variants still equipped with the signature multi-utility (or ULTRA) seats.
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Ditto the powertrain, with the same three options on offer across the four variants. The entry-level S variant is the only one equipped with the 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated inline-four engine, which is paired to a CVT gearbox to send 121 hp and 145 Nm to the front wheels.
The E and V variants tacks on a turbocharger to the 1.5-litre mill, bringing outputs up to 181 hp and 240 Nm. Equipped with the same CVT gearbox, the turbocharged variants can reach 100 km/h from a standstill at 8.7 and 8.8 seconds respectively, compared to 12.1 seconds on the S.
The highlight, as before, is the e:HEV hybrid powertrain found in the RS variant, which pairs a 1.5-litre Atkinson-cycle petrol engine to two electric motors, one of which the Traction motor that drives the wheels primarily, making 131 hp and 253 Nm of torque. The engine is only mechanically connected to the front wheels via a lock-up clutch when cruising on the highways for better fuel efficiency.
Pricing for the 2025 Honda HR-V starts from RM115,900 for the entry-level variant. Each purchase is covered by a standard five-year unlimited mileage warranty, alongside five-times free labour charge for services in the first five years. Additionally, the RS variant come with an eight-year unlimited mileage warranty for the battery.
Honda HR-V 1.5L S – RM115,900
Honda HR-V 1.5L E – RM130,900
Honda HR-V 1.5L V – RM137,900
Honda HR-V 1.5L RS e:HEV – RM143,900
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