Honda Vezel Becomes HR-V In USA

by Derek Kreindler

April 7th, 2014 12:36 AM

Automotive News is reporting that Honda is reviving an old, but unused moniker for their new small crossover.

Honda fansite Temple of VTEC originally reported that Honda will ditch the “Vezel” name for North America, instead dubbing their new B-segment CUV the “HR-V”. This finding seems to be confirmed by AN, which found trademark filings for the moniker.

Like the Vezel, the original HR-V was positioned below the CR-V, though it never was exported to North America. For a Honda, its design was fairly progressive, though it was likely too small and too slow to succeed in the size-obsessed North American market in the early 2000’s.

This time, things are different. Crossovers, not SUVs, are the hot new thing, displacing sales of more traditional B, C and D segments. Honda will produce the HR-V at its new Mexican plant, which is set up to build both the Fit and the HR-V. And with the B-segment crossover space heating up, the HR-V is a well timed move for Honda.

#Crossover #Cuv #Honda #HondaHr-v #SmallCrossover

Comments

Join the conversation

11 of 37 comments

Invisible on Apr 07, 2014

I'm willing to bet this will sell more than the new FIT. If this has the new 1.5 turbo, yeehaw

Like Reply
Flybrian on Apr 07, 2014

My question - has the CR-V actually grown that much to necessitate this vehicle?

Like Reply
- Corey Lewis on Apr 07, 2014
  
  Competes with Juke?
  
  Like
Calgarytek on Apr 07, 2014

Meh, the Vezel has been part of Honda's line up for a while. Its customer base will be 99% women and domesticated men. It's a good lower cost, lower size substitute. It mainly competes with the Nissan Joke. As for the CR-V, it's grown bigger, which is sad. I've driven the new one, and while it drives ok, it's still fat and don't got front double wishbones. I'm just about to close a deal on a 2000 4WD CR-V with a standard transmission. I need the ground clearance. Getting it properly 'winterized' would be a good side project during the summer. Too bad Honda doesn't offer their 4WD fit 'Hybrid' in North America. I'd love to take the batteries out and disable the front wheel drive portion. http://www.honda.co.jp/Fit/webcatalog/performance/?from=FIT-header

Like Reply
- See 4 previous
- Drzhivago138 on Apr 07, 2014
  
  "Its [sic] customer base will be 99% women and domesticated men." I don't want to start too much of a debate here, but why should "domesticated" man be set apart from just "man"? Is it because he's not a "real" man? Or less of a man, just because he drives a certain type of vehicle?
  
  Like
- Corey Lewis on Apr 07, 2014
  
  @Drzhivago138 I thought it was an absurd thing to say as well, just didn't mention it.
  
  Like
- Calgarytek on Apr 07, 2014
  
  @Drzhivago138 I suppose it's open to interpretation. To me, a domesticated man is a man who will purchase, in whole or in part a Honda 'Vezel', a Nissan Juke/Cube, or a 'crossover/cuv/cute ute' without having any input into the decision making that commited him (in whole or in part) to the purchase of the vehicle. Nothing I have said implies to any degree that a domesticated man is set apart from a 'man'. Though, I can tell you that as a non-domesticated man, my purchase of a 2000 Honda CRV was made with no 'external' influence. It will only be used by me and because I value the superiority of front double wishbones/hydraulic power steering/manual transmission vis a vis regular macpherson struts/automatic/cvt/a backup camera/electric power steering/tampon dispenser. Have yourself an excellent day :)
  
  Like
- Drzhivago138 on Apr 07, 2014
  
  @calgarytek Aaaand there we go. I had a feeling from the manner in which you presented yourself in your original comment that you would be articulate, composed, and thoroughly correct in your rebuttal, and I'm glad to see my feeling was correct. For what it's worth, anyone who buys a vehicle solely for its outward looks is a fool. As the driver, you will not even see most of what attracted you to it in the first place! I'm sorry if I came across as accusatory or offensive; that was never my intention. I agree with you wholeheartedly, that any man (or woman!) worth his (or her!) salt will not allow other people's needs/input to override his (or her!) own when it comes to such an important purchase as a vehicle, especially as the expected retention of said vehicle will only increase from here. Furthermore, I am glad that we didn't have to blow this up into an uncivil exchange. You have yourself a great day too. It's beautiful here today, and it's gonna be even better on Wednesday.
  
  Like
- Doublechili on Apr 07, 2014
  
  @Drzhivago138 "For what it’s worth, anyone who buys a vehicle solely for its outward looks is a fool. As the driver, you will not even see most of what attracted you to it in the first place!" Great! When discussing the merits of a car's appearance, I like to say, "I can't see it when I'm driving it". "[A]ny man (or woman!) worth his (or her!) salt will not allow other people’s needs/input to override his (or her!) own when it comes to such an important purchase as a vehicle...." Well said! Now excuse me while I go listen to some music on my 4" decor-blending, bass-light cube speakers while my old thumping vinyl-clad monsters collect dust in the attic.
  
  Like
Slavuta on Apr 07, 2014

If you name one well-built, reliable car that came off any Mexican assembly plant, I will stop saying that I will not buy it because it is built in Mexico. Hello Juke Nismo. Made in Japan.

Like Reply
- Victor on Apr 07, 2014
  
  Down here se get the mexican CRV, and I know people who wouldn't trade in their now over seven years old nipponese import for a brand-new car.
  
  Like