Honda’s tight lipped on 2016 HR-V North America release date

Yeah, we know. The Australian Press has already written less than glowing reviews of the HR-V as to off-road and aggressive-drive road handling. We’re pretty darn sure mud-bogging isn't what Honda has in mind for 2016 HR-V. As to a U.S. market release date...

Last year readers expressed high expectations as to 2016 HR-V; but it wasn’t due to Honda’s latest crossover’s off-road capabilities. With maybe 7+ inches of ground clearance, you’re not going to be climbing rocks or claiming Baja 1,000 class victories with HR-V. Based on the Honda Fit world-car platform, HR-V is Fit, with an interior, exterior styling injection and AWD thrown in for good measure; nice looking!

That’s what Torque News believes is Honda’s intended purpose for 2016 HR-V

A good looking, transformable, urbane-shopping-assault vehicle with foul weather capabilities. Simply put, 2016 Honda HR-V is an exceptionally good looking 5 door hatchback. Featuring a sports-coupe-like interior, wide track stance, relatively low body profile and roofline, while sporting more horsepower and torque than 2015 Honda Fit; HR-V expands Honda’s portal-vehicle demographic without breaking the bank.
Is it better than the competition? We've yet to identify a like for like competitor.

Honda center fuel tank design preserves 2nd row “magic seat” transformability

While we’re (not yet) convinced that 2016 HR-V will be Honda’s next best seller, we do like what we've seen of HR-V to date. The Los Angeles Auto Show crowd loved HR-V. It’s a little tough to categorize Honda’s newest crossover. As American Honda’s v.p and g.m. Jeff Conrad stated in L.A.: ‘There’s nothing else like 2016 HR-V on the road today’, or something along those lines; looking at the competition, most seeing HR-V for the first time agree.

Best fuel economy in class

That’s a start. We won’t quote EPA, MPG again for fear of being attacked by a Honda-Statistician or two, O.K., you can read it here. Setting exceptional fuel economy aside, one would be hard pressed to find a better looking offering, sporting the standard features of 2016 HR-V for under $30,000.

We have no idea as to U.S. dealership release date, price or final specifications; we’re not in Japan, or Australia. HR-V may be similar in specification, Honda’s not saying!

Price prediction: Somewhere south of $20,000 for the base trimmed front wheel HR-V and $28,500-ish (Guesstimate) for a well equipped AWD HR-V with Tech; but, we’ll have to wait a few days before we have the hard price, specifications and release date in hand.

Torque News is reporting from Miami, Florida this week with breaking 2016 HR-V news and photos. As to the 2016 Honda HR-V release date, you’ll know when we know