AN uprated version of the Honda HR-V SUV will be on the road in April and priced from £27,595.

The HR-V Sport is powered by Honda's turbocharged 1.5-litre VTEC petrol engine and can manage 0 to 60 in 7.8 seconds with a maximum of 134mph.

It develops 182ps - 52ps more than the regular HR-V - and manual models are rated at 47.9mpg with emissions of 135g/km.

CVT gearboxes are available as an option and cost from £28,245. Under the new WLTP fuel testing regime they are rated at 47.1mpg with a CO2 figure of 137g/km.

Both versions of the new HR-V have sports suspension and come with Honda's Agile Handling Assist technology to create more agile and engaging driving.

Exterior changes including a, high gloss black chrome trim and black honeycomb front grille, a slim front splitter, side skirts, wheel arch mouldings and a different rear bumper design with sharper lines.

LED headlights, indicators and daytime running lights are standard and the tail lights have a dark ‘smoked' effect and black inner bars.

Inside, the HR-V Sport has more supportive front seats finished in black and red part-leather and a black roof lining.

As with the rest of the HR-V range - which was updated in August last year - the Sport is fitted with several safety aids including a collision mitigation braking system, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition.

The Honda Connect with Garmin navigation, a seven-inch touchscreen display and Internet browsing capability is fitted as standard.