Honda Australia has announced the arrival of a ‘sporty’ RS grade for the HR-V as well as autonomous emergency braking standard across the entire refreshed HR-V range.

THE REFRESHED HONDA HR-V will arrive Down Under soon with Honda announcing the refreshed range will see a new model added to the line-up, the HR-V RS – pictured above. Like Ford’s recent Escape ST-Line announcement, the HR-V RS will feature tweaked suspension and front stabiliser bars for improved turn-in, it also offers 18-inch alloys, piano-black bodykit including mirror caps, leather-wrapped sports steering wheel, and new design heated (driver and passenger) leather seats. A Phoenix Orange Pearlescent paint option will be exclusive to the HR-V RS.

While Honda isn’t revealing everything about the refreshed HR-V it has said there’ll be tweaks to the steering with the addition of Variable Gear Ratio steering with is like the set-up in both the Civic and CR-V. In terms of safety, the updated HR-V will add a city-based autonomous emergency braking across the range; this system operates at speeds up to 30km/h. The updated HR-V will stuck with its current engine which offers 105kW and 172Nm of torque.

Honda Australia Director, Stephen Collins, said, “With our iconic Honda Civic and CR-V performing strongly, particularly with private buyers, our focus now shifts to HR-V. It’s been a consistent Top 3 seller with private buyers since its launch, and with the new car offering more style and more safety, we expect this trend to continue,” he said. Since the current model was launched 2015, the company has sold more than 36,000 HR-Vs and it has become a firm favourite among Small SUV buyers.

“Since HR-V arrived in 2015, we’ve built a very loyal group of owners who have very specific requirements built around space, versatility, and reliability,” he said.

“HR-V’s versatility really shines in its ability to nail ‘life admin’ tasks during the week, plus easily fit your mates and gear to get out there on the weekend. So the brief for the new HR-V was clear; keep what customers love, like the 18-way ‘Magic Seats’ and versatile roomy interior, and add some newfound style, sportiness, plus AEB across the range.”