Facelifted 2018 Honda HR-V (2018 Honda Vezel) leaked

The MY2018 update will bring a minor refresh to the small SUV in Japan this year.

The 2018 Honda HR-V features subtle changes at the front. The facelift brings a more upright and bigger grille bar, a bigger 'H' logo, sharper bumper, wider lower air intake, bigger fog lamp housing and new LED headlamps to the Honda HR-V. At the rear, Japanese reports say that the new model will feature a chrome tailgate garnish connecting the tail lamps. Inside, not much new is expected except fresh trim and upholstery and the latest infotainment system with satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The current Honda HR-V is available with 1.5L i-VTEC petrol, 1.8-litre i-VTEC petrol, 1.6L i-DTEC diesel and 1.5L i-DTEC+i-DCD hybrid (petrol-electric) engines. New introductions or upgrades for the current engines, if planned, are currently unknown. Honda could roll out the hybrid option that was introduced in Japan in 2016 in more markets with the mid-life update.

The 2018 Honda Vezel is said to go on sale in Japan in February. Honda should start selling the new model in the overseas markets within a couple months from the Japanese launch.