But at this moment, a person jumped out and said to the domestic Binzhi: "I am your brother!" Our last three generations are the same, that American version of HR-V is no longer your brother. "So will the next generation of domestic Binzhi be the tough look of the American version of HR-V, or the look of returning to the Japanese rules?" Let's make a bold guess and argue carefully.
Trace the roots
HR-V and US version of HR-V
Before guessing the shape of the next generation of domestic Binzhi, it is necessary to understand clearly that domestic Binzhi and HR-V are actually the same thing, and the new HR-V we see now is the American version of HR-V.
1999 Honda HR-V three-door edition
2000 Five-door edition
After a gap of 7 years, the second-generation HR-V reappeared, and this time the HR-V was transformed into Honda's global model and given a new name, "Vezel". As the second-generation HR-V unveiled by Vezel, this time it was built on the Fit platform that was already famous at that time, and the same as the first generation was also launched as Honda's smallest SUV.
In February 2021, the third generation of HR-V (the second generation Vezel) was unveiled in Japan, and it is worth mentioning that the third generation of HR-V also clearly stated that it will be divided into two different models corresponding to different markets, of which the global model with the word "RV" is the one that will be introduced to the global market in 2021.
The third generation of HR-V corresponding to the North American market, although it still adopts the name of HR-V, the American version of HR-V based on the eleventh generation Civic is not the same model as the third generation of HR-V of the global model, it is larger than the size of the third generation HR-V, and it can better meet the needs of the US market in terms of space.
Bold guess one
The next generation of domestic Binzhi uses japanese standard modeling
Through the development of the above models, we also know that HR-V and Binzhi are actually the same thing, but the corresponding market and the names used are different. Therefore, there is also our bold guess that the next generation of domestic Binzhi will use the upcoming Japanese standard modeling.
So in fact, the next generation of domestic Binzhi has actually quietly come to us, but it is not a pure fuel or hybrid version, but an electric version that realizes the electrification strategy earlier.
In addition, as mentioned earlier, HR-V was born to be a model positioned in a small SUV, after the transformation into a global model, this positioning has not changed, compared to this third-generation HR-V that follows the teachings, the AMERICAN version of HR-V itself is an "accident", so it is very possible for the domestic Binzhi to use the Japanese standard style for the same small SUV, and there is another possibility without the AMERICAN version of the model.
Bold guess two
In the future, Binzhi will be sold with HR-V class models
Manufacturers sell cars, always to make money, not to mention the Binzhi and hot small SUV level. Taking 2021 as an example, the total annual sales of domestic Binzhi reached 173,870 units, except for July, the rest of the monthly sales were more than 10,000 units, and the only loss was its sister model XR-V.
According to the previous conjecture, if the next generation of domestic Binzhi uses the shape of the American version of HR-V, then it is bound to be upgraded in terms of level, after all, the current Binzhi is on the same platform as Fit, and the American version of HR-V is shared with the eleventh generation of Civic.
Therefore, using the American version of HR-V, then the entire size of the domestic Binzhi will be closer to the compact SUV, and more critically, its price is bound to rise, but in this small SUV market, the price is a sensitive word, with more excellent strength is a good thing, but to replace this model that is at the top of the domestic sales, it is really unwise.
In other words, directly following the AMERICAN version of the HR-V modeling means that Hiromoto/Dongben will directly abandon the small SUV market, leaving more expensive models in the small SUV market, if this is the case, then let alone the joint venture competitors, the independent brand alone has already blossomed.
Therefore, we think that another possibility is to retain the level of domestic Binzhi and introduce and domestic HR-V, a high-level SUV model. In the current situation of compact SUVs such as CR-V getting bigger and bigger, HR-V with the eleventh generation Civic sharing platform can provide a role in filling the gap, between small SUVs and compact SUVs, and can form an SUV matrix with domestic Binzhi /XR-V, CR-V/Haoying, UR-V/Crown Road.
Since the American version of HR-V has been introduced and produced domestically, it is more likely that the domestic Binzhi will adopt the Japanese standard style. And as early as March this year, before the release of the US version of HR-V, there were rumors on the Internet that camouflage cars that were highly similar to the US version of HR-V were photographed in China.
brief summary:
The makeover of the American version of HR-V allows us to see the hope of the domestic Binzhi replacement, and the replacement of the third generation of HR-V has brought more exquisite interiors and personalized and trendy shapes, and also made this small SUV shine again. At a time when the global ban on the sale of fuel vehicles is getting louder and louder, Honda has basically determined that it will basically achieve electrification in China by 2030, and before this "big limit" comes, we may also have the opportunity to see a more diversified display of honda's SUV family. (Text: Pacific Auto Network Gao Zijian)