Honda HR-V News

Honda Australia is going big on its end-of-year plate clearance campaign, with an offer for free servicing to eligible customers announced today. From November 2026 to the end of January 2027, new customers of 2026 Honda ZR-Vs, HR-Vs, CR-Vs, Civics and Accords can claim free servicing for the first five scheduled services with Honda dealers. In addition, the brand is offering gift cards up to $3000 to eligible customers until stock runs out “to celebrate their new car purchase”. Some models aren't included, such as the Civic Type R, MY27 Civic, MY27 Prelude and the Honda Super-One electric car. Honda Australia, while behind the curve in offering only a five-year warranty when many brands are shifting to seven or more, already has a pretty tempting servicing plan for customers. Honda’s standard $279 capped price for the first five services (every 10,000km or 12 months) is excellent, and applies across the range. That means even a Honda Civic Type R’s servicing costs less than many mass-market models. For Honda to offer free servicing is notably bold. On top of this, Honda is extending its usual five-year unlimited kilometre warranty and its five years of premium roadside assistance to eight years each as part of the offer, as long as cars are serviced at a Honda Centre. Honda Australia’s General Manager of Automotive Nick Parkington spoke to the weight the company is hoping customers will see the offer with. "We take pride in delivering an ownership experience that is every bit as rewarding as the vehicles we build," said Mr Parkington. "This offer makes it even easier to get behind the wheel of one of our  vehicles while enjoying the confidence and peace of mind that comes with five free scheduled services.”

Honda has released details of an updated version of its HR-V for the Japanese domestic market, where the small SUV is badged Vezel. Exterior cosmetic changes as well as new features inside have been added to internal-combustion engine (ICE) and ‘e:HEV’ hybrid models to freshen the car’s looks and enhance practicality. In Australia, the HR-V is offered across four model grades, all front-wheel drive; the entry-level, pure-combustion Vi X, with the e:HEV powertrain available in X, L and flagship RS form. Japanese buyers also have the choice of four models - one combustion (G) and three hybrid (X, Z & Z Play package) - however, all-wheel drive is standard on the base ICE car and an option on the hybrids. The Japanese market facelift sees the wheel arches and front, side, and rear bumper garnishes finished in the same colour as the body on the Z models, with additions to the base G’s spec list including: Rear ventilation Dual rear USB-C ports Black inner headlight lenses On top of that, the e:HEV X has picked up: Heated front seats As well as the exterior trim pieces finished in body colour, the e:HEV Z also gets the black inner headlight lens treatment, with the Z Play package adding 18-inch alloy rims with a dark clear finish. Colours not seen in Australia so far, include Seabed Blue Pearl and Premium Sunlight White Pearl. Already on sale, the updated Japanese HR-V is priced from ¥2.77 million, which, taking import and distribution costs into account translates to a number very close to the local HR-V Vi X’s current $32,900, drive-away price. The Japanese flagship e:HEV Z Play package sits at ¥3.66 million in FWD form, again close to its Australian RS equivalent at $44,400, drive-away on an import-adjusted basis. CarsGuide contacted Honda Australia for comment on the updated HR-V’s potential for local release and a spokesperson said, “We are unable to confirm at this stage whether the updated HR-V currently available in Japan will be introduced to the Australian market.”

Honda has added a sporty flagship RS grade to its local HR-V line-up, the e:HEV hybrid variant bringing a unique exterior cosmetic package, big rims and an interior makeover to the top of the compact SUV range. Priced at $44,400, drive-away, the newcomer adds a relatively modest $1500 premium on top of the previous top-spec HR-V e:HEV L. Carspotters should look for a ‘Bernina Black’ finish on the RS grille and exterior door mirrors, garnishes on the lower section of the doors and bumpers, 18-inch alloy rims filling the wheel arches and RS badgework. Powertrain outputs are unchanged at 96kW and 253Nm from the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and ‘2-Motor i-MMD’ hybrid system sending drive to the front wheels via a continuously variable auto transmission. The e:HEV RS is offered in the five main HR-V colours - ‘Platinum White’, ‘Premium White Silver’, ‘Slate Grey’, ‘Premium Crystal Red’ and ‘Botanical Green’ as well as the RS-exclusive ‘Crystal Black’. Introducing the new model Honda Australia Director of Automotive Robert Thorp said, “The introduction of the RS is another example of Honda’s focus on hybrid following the expansion of CR-V and Honda ZR-V hybrid ranges.  “We anticipate by the end of this year, more than 80 per cent of Honda sales will be hybrid,“ he said.  2027 Honda HR-V pricing  

Honda rejects claims that it has abandoned the affordable end of the new-car market, suggesting that its smallest SUV now stands as the de-facto replacement for the Jazz light car discontinued in Australia back in 2021. Right now, the HR-V in base Vi X automatic petrol-powered grade is cheaper than the current-generation has ever been, dropping to $32,900 (all prices are drive-away). That’s $2000 below what it was when launched in Series II guise in September, 2024, which in turn was $1800 less than the pre-facelift version when that debuted as the all-new third-gen HR-V in early 2022 at a stiff $36,700. The Vi X is actually about $500 less expensive than what the Jazz equivalent was in its late-2000s heyday, when sales nudged 10,000 units annually. Back then, it started from around $21,000 ($33,400 adjusted for inflation in 2026) for the base GLi 1.3-litre auto, while the $23,555 Jazz VTi 1.5L auto cost about $37,500 in today’s money. According to Honda Australia Director Rob Thorp Australian consumers are now responding to the HR-V as a result of the lower pricing over the past 18 months. “The HR-V in particular plays an important role for us as an entry point into the brand,” he told CarsGuide. “And that in itself, for the last year or two, has been a hugely successful model for us, actually. And continues to sell well.” While steady this year, HR-V sales jumped 44 per cent in 2025 to (a still modest) 4817 units, running ahead of the small SUV segment’s 16 per cent growth year-on-year. In contrast, with the light-car class that the Jazz belonged to down by nearly 28 per cent last year, Thorp revealed that the numbers required to sustain the light hatchback would not add up, vindicating his company’s decision to drop it. “At times you have to make really hard business decisions,” he admitted. “Whilst the Jazz was a beloved brand name and was a volume vehicle for us, the reality was, economically, it was really hard. And we had to make a tough yet courageous decision to not continue with it “If you took the economics out of it, I agree. We would have loved to have kept it, but just unfortunately, it didn't work.” Making this worse, the current GR/GS-series Jazz that Australia misses out on would have switched to costlier Japanese-sourcing, since Thai production ceased with the discontinuation of the previous GK version at the beginning of this decade. That Honda has managed to cut the price of the HR-V Vi X by nearly $4000 since 2022 is all the more remarkable considering that it is also imported from Japan, rather than Thailand like its successful predecessor was from 2015. Plus, post-2024 facelift, the small SUV received more safety technology and improvements to the steering, suspension and refinement, making it a better and sharper proposition than before.

Honda's hybrid car plan to ride emissions law wave

Honda could add a cheaper, smaller model to sit under the HR-V as part of its plans for growth in Australia.

Honda is gearing up to add the first mainstream electric car into the New Zealand market.  The awkwardly-named e:Ny1 was the brand’s second electric car following the prototype-like 'e' city car that was not officially sold new in Australia (though there are grey import examples running around). 

Honda has moved to cut the starting prices of its popular SUV range, with entry-level CR-V, ZR-V and HR-V grades welcoming reductions of up to $2800, along with a few extra sweeteners.

It’s a year that will likely go down as an historical turning point for the Aussie new car market. With local manufacturing now a tiny spec in the rear view mirror, the long-predicted new wave of Chinese challenger brands built into an automotive tsunami in 2024.

The 2025 Honda HR-V has arrived with more safety equipment, revised interior design, more sound deadening and — rarely — a lower price.