New Honda HR-V Facelift Launched In Thailand – Adds LaneWatch And AEB

The new facelifted Honda HR-V is now on sale in Thailand. The updated five-seater crossover can be differentiated from its predecessor by the new front bumper, and new grille. A new Civic-style reflector-type LED headlamp also replaces the previous model’s projector-type LED units.

The tube-pattern LED tail lights are different from the ones we have here on our Malaysia-assembled HR-V but note that this tail light was already available in Thailand as an optional item since the pre-facelift HR-V. The new facelift model’s merely adds an ornamental material on the housing.

Highlights of the new model are the addition of LaneWatch camera-based blind spot monitoring system, autonomous emergency braking (AEB, or City Brake Active System as Honda calls it), and the introduction of a new RS variant, which adds a sporty bodykit and different design 17-inch wheels.

LaneWatch was previously only available on the CR-V and Accord. It works only on the passenger-side and uses a camera located under the left-side wing mirror to feed video stream of the rear-left section of the vehicle, the area most susceptible to blind spot, into the infotainment display screen every time the left-side indicator is used.

City Brake Assist is a simpler, lower cost version of the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) feature used by the CR-V and Accord’s Honda Sensing suite of driving assistance features. It works on a similar principle as CMBS, but at lower speed ranges of below 30 km/h. It also prevents the car from lurching forward to an obstacle in front due to pedal misapplication.

The Thailand-market HR-V also comes with a panoramic sunroof but this feature was already available in higher range variants of the pre-facelift HR-V.

The powertrain is unchanged, with the same 1.8-litre SOHC i-VTEC naturally aspirated petrol four-cylinder petrol engine driving the front wheels via a CVT-type automatic transmission.

There are three variants on offer, with prices ranging from THB 949,000 to THB 1,059,000.