Second-generation Honda Vezel/HR-V - 2025MY minor change

The second-generation Honda Vezel, known across the Belt and Road Initiative as the HR-V, gained a minor change for the 2025 model year, keeping this best-seller fresh and perky having been on the road for three years.

2025 Honda Vezel

Starting at ¥2,648,800 plus additional costs, the facelifted second-generation Vezel saw some revisions to keep Honda's best-selling crossover ready for more, whatever the reason. 

2025 Honda Vezel

2025 Honda Vezel

Beginning on the outside, the facelift saw a revised front grille and bumper, resulting in an additional 10mm in length and a new rear taillight design. In addition to the normal Vezel, it can be kitted with two optional packages such as the PLaY Package which comes with a two-tone roof, blue accents on the side, and a tri-color accent on the right side of the revised grille, and the new HuNT Package which features copper accents at the front bumper.

2025 Honda Vezel interior

The interior is slightly revised for this minor change as demonstrated by the new front seat center console and that's about it. Apart from the black interior color offered on the normal Vezel, the PLaY Package features a Greige interior color as well as blue accents on the dashboard and door covers. In contrast, the HuNT Package features a Khaki x Navy interior color with FABTECT, a water and oilproof seat material. Good call.

2025 Honda Vezel

Like the pre-facelift, the Vezel features the 1.5L L15Z petrol engine, now exclusive to the 4WD variant, and the 1.5L e:HEV powertrain where the 1.5L LEC i-VTEC Atkinson Cycle engine is bolted to a 96kW H5 electric motor. Thanks to some minor recalibrations to the hybrid powertrain, the fuel economy has improved by 1km/L compared to the pre-facelift model, meaning it's got 26km/L based on WLTC Mode standards. The normal 1.5L petrol engine, available only in the G variant, is good for 15km/L.

Although the driving feel remains the same as the previous one, the new Vezel features an improved Honda Sensing suite of safety features ranging from CMBS, ACC, LKAS, Traffic Jam Assist, Sudden Acceleration Suppression Function, and Adaptive Driving Beam.

The second-generation Vezel is no doubt the best-selling Honda in the age of the new normal and with this minor change, there's more work to be done.

Photo: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Second-generation Honda Vezel/HR-V

The previous Honda Vezel is a sharp-looking urban crossover that feels so engaging to drive but it's got a lot of issues in store, probably because those who bought the hybrid variant are experiencing some upsets with the gearbox despite the fact that it's more engaging than a CVT-powered hybrid vehicle. As compact crossovers are getting a lot of love in Japan, the Honda Vezel (known in the world market as the HR-V) is now on its second generation and it uses the same bits and bobs as last year's Honda Fit, including the controversially new e:HEV dual-motor hybrid powertrain. Let's observe.

2022 Honda Vezel

The all-new, second-generation Vezel, starting at 2,279,200 Japanese Yen, has arrived with its friendly new design, minimalist interior, the e:HEV hybrid powertrain, and the added tech that promises to a step above from the previous model, well sort of because with the new model features the same bits and bobs as today's Honda Fit, it feels like it eschews its fun-to-drive character in favour of a simpler, nice guy attitude that feels a bit above average.

2022 Honda Vezel

First, let's get to know the styling of the new Vezel and this new design is no longer sharper than the previous model it replaces because the designers behind it wanted the new Vezel to be more friendly to the people's eyes, in tune with the times, and more importantly, as quintessentially Japanese as possible. Come to think of it, while the new design is a step through the simpler times, it can be downright mistaken for a Mazda CX-30 with the back of a Cupra Formentor, if you know what I mean.

2022 Honda Vezel interior

Come inside and you will be greeted by its new minimalist interior that still works just like every other car should. On the driver's side, it feels somewhat driver-focused compared to the previous model but with the touch-screen sat-nav with Honda CONNECT onboard, you might spend a few minutes toying around with its apps, especially when you let your smartphone be part of it and toy around for more. Also, there are knobs for climate control, the steering wheel with lots of buttons to learn, the available paddle shifters for those who want something engaging, and more. That's something.

On the passenger side, the new interior's nicer to live with than the old Vezel and it's got slightly improved dimensions as well. With the rear seats present, you can store as many as four big suitcases on the back but with them folded, you can store as much as you want. That's practicality in a nutshell.

2022 Honda Vezel

The new Vezel features two powertrains to choose from such as the conventional 1.5L L15Z petrol engine with 118PS of power, 142Nm of torque, mated to a CVT, and a fuel economy of up to 17kmpl based on WLTC Mode standards, and the 1.5L e:HEV powertrain.

The 1.5L e:HEV powertrain consists of a 106PS 1.5L petrol engine bolted to Honda's dual-motor hybrid system that churns out 96kW of power and a Li-ion battery. Mated to a CVT, which makes the new Vezel more boring to drive than the previous model it replaces, fuel economy has been jumped to 25kmpl based on WLTC mode standards. At such a rate, it's more efficient than the previous Vezel Hybrid.

Like the new Fit, the Vezel jettisons its fun-to-drive attitude in favour of a simpler and nicer way to drive from home to whatever destination you've set to. Even the addition of paddle shifters and setting the car to a more engaging Sport Mode wouldn't help. Probably because despite being a new model, the new Vezel still runs on a normal suspension setup consists of front McPherson struts, front torsion bar stabilizers, and an independent rear suspension for FWD or De Dion for 4WD models, as well as ventilated disc brakes, and Rack and Pinion Electric Power Steering. It might feel regular but being regular is what the new Vezel does best.

Speaking of regular, the new Vezel comes with Honda Sensing for the first time, featuring a wide range of safety features Pedestrian Collision Mitigation Steering System, Collision Mitigation Brake System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Information, Cross Traffic Monitor, and more. Again, that's something.

Love it or hate it, the new Honda Vezel is a coupe crossover that prefers to go regular rather than most fancy compact crossovers do. Yes, the e:HEV powertrain with CVT really feels like a demotion from the previous hybrid model but the simpler design, interior, and tech really mean business and whether you want one or not, the new Vezel could be the first car for those who got a driver's license for the first time. Thank you, Honda.

Photo: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Once again...another recall problems for Honda hybrids...

2014 Honda Vezel

2014 Honda Fit Hybrid

Another day...another problematic recall for Honda regarding their hybrid models equipped with the 7-speed double clutch gearbox. Typical... This whole 7DCT problems keeps getting on and on and now, the latest chapter of the "I-got-problems-with-my-Honda-hybrid-with-the -7-speed-double-clutch-gearbox" issue involves...

Hmmm...Interesting...unintended acceleration. Yes. Unintended acceleration, just like what Toyota faced a few years ago. Over 175k units of Honda hybrids such as the Fit and the Vezel were recalled for such potential problems due to a software glitch at the ECU, which could lead to unintended acceleration. Honda received 11 reports of accidents from December through April due to the problem but no deaths occurred.

Source: Autoc-one.jp, Jalopnik

Honda Vezel

2014 Honda Vezel

Honda, once a car that makes the enthusiast-focused cars now a carmaker that makes cars that disappoint us...sort of. Once, they were cool, but now, they have lost their luster. The Integra is long gone and its name was used for their motorcycle, the Civic is long dead now three years ago, the Type R is dead and never come back in the JDM empire, and we have to wait until the next two years for their new NSX as well as their revival of the Beat kei roadster. Now, they've been focused on making too much eco-boxes but ever since the implementation of Honda's SPORT HYBRID powertrain, Honda tries to turn the tables around in the fast ever-changing world around us.

The Accord Hybrid was proven to be more efficient than the Insight, the latest Honda Fit Hybrid had a double clutch that is more responsive to drive than the CVT gearbox most hybrids had, they're really are a game changer in its own right...well, as a theory.

Question now is...how come Honda came up with their own answer against Nissan's Juke? It all started back at the 2013 NAIAS in Detroit when Honda previews their answer to the Nissan Juke. It was the Urban SUV concept that spirals the critics into questioning about what would it be when this crossover was based on the new generation Honda Fit. Now that there's a new Honda Fit, it only took moments before Honda pulled out the wraps for their production version of the Urban SUV Concept and gave it the name...VEZEL.

What's in the name VEZEL? It's a portmanteau for the words "Vehicle" and "Bezel" and Honda says that this crossover's worth a charm and multi-faceted like a jewel that changes its looks depending on the angle. That's seems a bit dry to me but judging by the looks of it...it doesn't quite as bad as a Nissan Juke but if you managed to turn up in one of these, it won't win you friends.

2014 Honda Vezel

But still, even though it's not quite a head-turner, the Vezel's design does inherited from the concept model. Almost 90% of the looks were retained and from every angle, this city crossover should sure use some eau de pomme here should this crossover is ready to go wandering to the streets of Tokyo.

The Vezel offers two types of powertrain available such as a 1.5L L15B petrol engine which generates 132PS of power and 155Nm of torque while mated with a CVT gearbox and the main feature for this car is this...the same 1.5L petrol engine but this time connected to a 22kW electric motor and a Lithium-ion Battery, the same as what you expect from today's Fit Hybrid, which in my opinion, is the better hybrid car ever offered because of a certain gearbox I find it worth noticing...a 7-speed double clutch gearbox. Yummy.

Even though I find the 7-speed DCT to be quite too shabby, it's still more responsive than the CVT gearbox and because this 7-speed gearbox implemented on a hybrid car as part of the SPORT HYBRID powertrain, I can expect this to be a bit more fuel efficient than the competition...and it does. 27.0kmpl as calculated in Japan's JC08 Mode standards, scaling that up, that's almost 5kmpl more than the Toyota Harrier Hybrid. Quite surprising but not expecting for the most fuel-efficient hybrid SUV in the market.

2014 Honda Vezel

Because this is just a crossover that looks like a hatchback, the Vezel still handles like a hatchback rather than being an SUV. It feels fine on the city streets but when you show it to the corner, the Vezel's not quite in a mood for the handling department and oh, if you push the SPORT button, the dials have gone red and the suspension's gone harder but still you can expect a fair bit of understeer. No matter how hard you're cornering this, it won't cut a mustard. The theory is that when the suspension's getting harder, the more cornering cars would be but for the Vezel, even with the SPORT Mode on, it's just another theory bites the rust. You got to be more careful than that but if you give the Vezel the optional 4WD system, it's a little bit more promising than the FF model. Promising but still comes the understeer so you may want to watch out for that.

2014 Honda Vezel interior

2014 Honda Vezel interior

Well, even though the handling is just one of the complaints for the new Vezel, I still find the interior to be a bit more comfortable. It can seat up to five people, has 393-liters of max cargo if you're interested for space, and for some circumstances, I can have a sat-nav with smartphone integration. What makes me bizarre on the Vezel is the available Electronic Parking Brake which eliminates the handbrake for some reason, making driving tests a bit more confusing, and then the City Brake Active System which uses a radar to detect incoming vehicles at about 30kph or less and in some cases...brakes automatically but not at all. There's even an EMERGENCY STOP SIGNAL, which is now a norm for all Hondas, which triggers hazard lights when drivers behind you are approaching and in the case of sudden braking when the vehicle is moving.

Question is...would you go for this rather than the Nissan Juke? But first, the starting price for the Vezel is 1,870,000 Japanese Yen for the entry level 1.5 G model, a 180,550 Yen more than the entry-level Nissan Juke 1.5RS Type V. However, the normal petrol Vezel has a fuel economy of 20.6kmpl, so it's 2.6kmpl more than the Juke even though both of them come with an engine stop-start system.

Available Colors: White Orchid Pearl, Alabaster Silver Metallic, Tinted Silver Metallic, Rousset Black Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Morpho Blue Pearl. Premium Deep Rosso Pearl, and Misty Green Pearl.

Photo: Honda Motor Co. Ltd.