2021 Honda Vezel: 2nd generation (RV series)
Japan’s 2021 Honda Vezel is a genuinely new-generation compact SUV, not a light refresh of the earlier model. Its redesign emphasized simple surfaces, a more expansive cabin feel and an available e:HEV hybrid system. This matters because some export-market Honda HR-V listings use the same name family without sharing identical 2021 generations or mechanical specifications.
Which 2021 vehicle is this?
Honda announced the second-generation Vezel for sale from 23 April 2021 in Japan. The launch included a 1.5-liter gasoline G grade and an e:HEV gasoline-electric hybrid lineup, with drivetrain configurations depending on grade. Buyers should keep the 2021 Japanese model separate from the first-generation HR-V still sold in some territories and from the Vezel updated in 2024.
This profile applies to Japan and identifies a vehicle offered during calendar 2021. Registrations, facelifts and equipment in other jurisdictions are not interchangeable. A specification mentioned below applies only to the named version; optional equipment and later software or homologation changes need separate documentation.
Documented 2021 powertrain and specifications
JP — Japan-market G 1.5 petrol and e:HEV hybrid from April 2021. Manufacturer data are reproduced with their original units and testing context; no independent road-test results are claimed.
Powertrain: 1.5-liter DOHC gasoline inline-four, or 1.5-liter e:HEV two-motor hybrid system
Transmission: Petrol continuously variable transmission; hybrid electronic transmission
Driven wheels: FWD and real-time AWD variants, grade dependent
Japanese commercial launch: 23 April 2021
Generation change: Full second-generation model replacing older Vezel
Powertrain distinction: Pure petrol G and e:HEV hybrid, not a 2021 plug-in
Efficiency/range protocol: Japan WLTC if quoted by certified trim; no single blended international range claimed
What matters in everyday ownership
The Vezel targets drivers who want an adaptable rear cabin in a city-friendly body while avoiding the bulk of a larger SUV. Its hybrid system is particularly suited to repeated stop-and-start use, whereas the gasoline G model is a separate proposition. Roominess, visibility and cabin finish deserve evaluation in person, not inference from dimensions alone.
Used-buying checks in 2026
Check the model designation and production date to ensure the car belongs to the second-generation RV series. Confirm petrol versus e:HEV and FWD versus AWD, plus the exact Japanese-market safety equipment. Hybrid electrical warnings require qualified assessment; routine inspection should also review brakes, suspension, tires and documented service. Imported Japanese units may need special attention to infotainment language and parts supply.
Alternatives and limits
A 2021 Toyota Corolla Cross Japan-market hybrid and Toyota C-HR are close alternatives, while Nissan Kicks e-POWER offers a different series-hybrid implementation. A later HR-V from Europe or North America may share branding but should not be presented as mechanically interchangeable with this Japanese Vezel.