Japan Is Getting All The HR-V Upgrades That We Want

Hybrid subcompact crossovers don't fit either bill. Yet, here we are, looking at the Japanese version of the American Honda HR-V, which is called the ZR-V over there, and wishing we had it here.

Not only does Japan get a more powerful hybrid version, but it's about to be offered in more fun and more capable variations.

On The Street Or The Trails, There Will Be An HR-V For You

According to an automotive blog in Japan called Creative Trend, Honda is about to add two new trims for the subcompact SUV, specifically for the hybrid version. One will be a TrailSport version, which the automaker actually previewed at the Tokyo Auto Salon this year. An HR-V (we'll be referring to it by its American name for the rest of this story) was decked out with bright orange accents, matte black decals, and extra plastic body cladding. It also had all-terrain tires for extra capability.

We wouldn't be surprised if the production model looks similar and is equipped similarly. In fact, the Honda CR-V TrailSport has basically the same bare bones upgrade list consisting of styling changes and all-terrain tires. An Honda HR-V TrailSport would also a natural expansion of the TrailSport brand beyond the Passport, Ridgeline, Pilot, and CR-V, offering both a version with wider global reach, and a lower price of entry. As we already mentioned, the report says it will only be offered with the hybrid powertrain, another thing it has in common with the CR-V TrailSport.

The other new trim will be aimed at on-road sportiness called RS. This trim appears on a variety of Japanese-market Hondas, and it denotes a model with a more stylish exterior, plus a few extra comfort and convenience features. Its closest equivalent would probably be the Sport Touring trims on the American-market Civic, CR-V, and others, though the American ones don't get a big red RS badge.

This one is a particularly natural fit for the hybrid, since it makes 204 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque, the same that you'll get in the Civic and CR-V hybrids, plus the Prelude. The Prelude is also important to bring up, because the Creative Trend report says that both the RS and the TrailSport will get the S+ Shift mode first introduced on the sports coupe. It allows the hybrid powertrain to simulate an 8-speed automatic transmission, and allows for manual shifting through the virtual gears. It doesn't make the car faster, but it does offer a bit more engagement, which makes sense for a sporty model like an RS variant of the HR-V.