Sibling rivalry: Honda XR-V versus Honda HR-V

The Honda HR-V is one of Honda Malaysia’s top selling models, as this compact SUV ticks all the right boxes for the average Malaysian buyer. With practicality, good looks, safety and value-for-money packed into an attractive package, it comes as no surprise that roughly 18,000 Malaysians have placed an order for one. But wait, the Honda HR-V has a distant cousin in the form of the Honda XR-V!

Primed for the Chinese market, the Honda XR-V is marketed as the sportier variant of the Honda Vezel. Strange as it may seem, both the Honda Vezel and Honda XR-V are sold in the Chinese market by Dongfeng Honda. Compared to the Honda Vezel, the Honda XR-V takes a more SUV-like approach, with a muscular front fascia which features a pair of redesigned headlights and double chrome strips on the grille.

The rear end of the Honda XR-V has also been reworked. Gone are the elegant lines of the Honda HR-V, now replaced with swooping curves and a number place holder that looks weirdly out of place. The rear foglight is centre mounted and features a Honda CR-V-like rear diffuser. The rear lights are new on the Honda XR-V, as it drops the rectangular shape of the Honda HR-V.

Inside, while the design of the dashboard is similar to the Honda HR-V, the aircon vents are not identical. The aircon vents on the Honda XR-V are circular, with a total of four individual air vents. Our local Honda HR-V, on the other hand, features a more unified design, with a total of five air vents. The high spec Honda XR-V VTi has similar touch-based aircon controls like our Honda HR-V V Spec.

Dongfeng Honda offers a 1.5-litre engine as well as a more powerful 1.8-litre engine for the Honda XR-V. Both engines can be mated to a six speed manual or a CVT. The 1.5-litre engine produces 96 kW at 6,600 rpm and 155 Nm of torque at 4,600 rpm, while the bigger 1.8-litre engine produces 100 kW at 6,500 rpm and 169 Nm of torque at 4,300 rpm. The higher end 1.8 variant gets Idle Stop and Econ mode as standard fitment.

Personally, I’d pick the Chinese market Honda XR-V with its quirkier rear end and muscular looks. Which one do you prefer out of these two cousins? Let us know in the comments below!

Honda XR-V photo credit: autohome.com.cn

Honda XR-V photo gallery