Yahoo Autos Honda HR-V Sport Has a Turbo, a Six-Speed Manual, and a Red Interior, but Only in Europe
We've always thought the Honda HR-V crossover could be a lot more entertaining if it had the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder from the Civic-and it appears Honda's European division was listening. A new Sport variant of the HR-V for the Europe market seems to live up to its name with that 1.5T engine, a six-speed manual transmission, chassis tweaks, and several visual upgrades inside and out.
The 1.5T in this application seems to be the same uprated version used in the Civic Sport hatchback, with 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque routed through a standard six-speed manual transmission (a continuously variable automatic, or CVT, is offered, too, which reduces torque to 162 lb-ft). Honda doesn't mention all-wheel drive, so it seems the Sport is front-wheel-drive only, like all other Europe-market HR-Vs.
In addition to the extra grunt, the HR-V Sport has 18-inch wheels, variable-ratio steering, and its own, sportier suspension tune. It also has more interesting visuals including a body kit, black trim pieces, dual exhaust tips, a rear spoiler, LED headlights, and a honeycomb front grille treatment. Inside, black and red upholstery helps spice up the cabin atmosphere.
This package is a whole lot more enticing than the U.S.-market HR-V, which added a Sport trim level with its 2019 refresh but still uses the same underpowered 1.8-liter four-cylinder with 141 horsepower. Honda also dropped the HR-V's previously standard six-speed manual transmission in the United States for 2019, leaving a CVT as the only transmission choice and removing any shred of the small SUV's enthusiast cred. But Honda won't comment on this Euro HR-V's chances of making it here-and it seems unlikely, as there's unfortunately little demand for turbocharged stick-shift tiny crossovers. And, admittedly, the 10Best-winning Civic Sport hatchback already fills this niche on our shores. Even still, we wouldn't mind seeing a hotted-up HR-V like this in America. Are you listening, Honda?
('You Might Also Like',)
