Paris Motor Show 2014: Honda resurrects the HR-V

Honda has launched the new generation of the HR-V, a small crossover to rival cars like the Nissan Juke. Sales start in Summer 2015.

The HR-V is already available in Japan, where it is called the Vezel. It is based on the same platform at the upcoming new Honda Jazz and is powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine with 131PS, or as a hybrid with the same engine, plus a 30PS electric motor. The car at Paris is labelled a 'European Prototype' but this is essentially the car that will be launched in the UK next year.

The Japanese market car is offered with front or all-wheel drive and a CVT automatic transmission, which you can expect to see in the UK – although final UK specific specifications are to be announced.

Like the Jazz, the HR-V gets ‘Magic Seats’, which can be configured in a number of ways to maximise space – the seat bases in the rear row can be folded up for loading tall objects, plus there is storage under the rear row and it can be folded completely flat for maximum load volume.