AutoWeek Test – Honda HR-V

What exactly is the Honda HR-V for a car?

The abbreviation HR-V is said to stand for ‘Hi-rider Revolutionary Vehicle’. That ‘riding high’ naturally refers to the crossover character of the car. The fact is that Honda is pretty much the inventor of the compact crossover, because the first HR-V appeared in 1998. A striking appearance, with a straight back and standing taillights à la Volvo 850/V70. The HR-V was initially only sold as a three-door, but a five-door version soon followed. The fact that the car was also supplied with only front-wheel drive was still exceptional among the so-called softroaders at the time.

Perhaps that very first HR-V was a bit too far ahead of its time, because the success of this kind only came in 2010 with the Nissan Juke. Together with the Toyota C-HR, which was introduced in 2016, these cars provided the ultimate proof that also a remarkably shaped model can be successful in the Netherlands.

After the very first generation of Honda’s compact SUV, which quietly disappeared from the scene in 2005, the abbreviation HR-V was revived in 2013. In contrast to its angular predecessor, the new model caught the eye with convex shapes, a sloping roofline and ‘hidden’ rear doors, the handles of which were incorporated into the C-pillar. In 2015, the car was welcomed by the Dutch Honda dealers, but they did not sell much more than 2,000 copies in total.

And now the third-generation Honda HR-V is making a bid for buyer recognition. The new model has a length of 4.34 meters and a wheelbase of 2.61 meters. This makes it slightly shorter than the Toyota C-HR. Honda has chosen to offer the new HR-V only with a hybrid powertrain. That keeps the options clear. The equipment variation is also limited: there are four different levels. Four-wheel drive is no longer an option.

Is the Honda HR-V suitable as a family car?

Unlike the Toyota C-HR, for example, the new Honda HR-V is short and tall in shape. The fairly straight-lined, sleekly stylized carriage pays for itself in a spacious interior. Especially in the back, the HR-V is remarkably spacious. A lot of light comes in through the large windows and it is nice for the (grand) children to look outside.

Compared to the Toyota C-HR, the HR-V has a fairly tight luggage space of 320 liters (compared to 377 l), but it counters that with a well-known Honda trick: ‘Magic Seats’. This feature is standard on every equipment variant. You can fold the seat of the rear seat upright against the backrest, creating a decent load space in front of the seat. The petrol tank is not under the rear seat, but is placed under the front seats. This increases the usability of the space, especially when you want to transport higher items. However, the position of the tank also has a disadvantage: the front seats are quite high in the car, so that the driver and co-driver sit a bit ‘on the trestle’. Not everyone appreciates that.

Another more important disadvantage is that the HR-V is not prepared for mounting a towbar. If you regularly want to take a small caravan, a light trailer or a bicycle carrier, you have come to the wrong place with the Honda. And that immediately makes the HR-V a lot less suitable for young families or active retirees who regularly set out on their (electric) touring bikes. Unfortunately, the Honda dealer sees a lot of customers leaving for colleagues from Kia (Niro Hybrid: 1300 kilos with brakes), Toyota (C-HR: 725 kg) or Renault (Captur E-Tech Hybrid 145: 750 kg).

Is the Honda HR-V an economical car?

As mentioned: like all other models without a fully electric drive unit (the E) or extremely sporty character (new Civic Type R), Honda only supplies the new HR-V as a hybrid. According to the website of the Japanese brand, its electrified powertrain is inspired by the power source from Max Verstappen’s Red Bull F1 car. The technology is very similar to that of the Jazz Hybrid, although it has a bit more power with 131 hp. The basic design is the same for all Honda hybrids: a remarkably powerful electric motor drives the front wheels, with power from a small battery and/or from the 1.5-litre petrol engine. At speed, the motor can also drive the wheels directly, via a fixed transmission. In practice this means a CVT-like handling, but the ‘sliding’ sounds of the Honda engine remain neatly in the background.

Acceleration is very smooth. We can’t catch the HR-V’s drivetrain on shocks. However, you should not expect really fast performance from the car: it can reach 100 km/h in 9.5 seconds, which is 1.1 seconds faster than the manufacturer’s specification. The HR-V has a top speed of 170 km/h. Consumption is much more important. The Honda HR-V is certainly not a new benchmark in this respect, because during the test we achieved no more than an average of 1 in 14.9 – good for an unimpressive range of 596 kilometers. In comparison: with the Toyota C-HR, a consumption of 1 in 20 is within reach.

How does the Honda HR-V drive?

The ease of driving starts with the operation. The Honda HR-V has a super sleek and well-arranged dashboard, in which the buttons and switches are beautiful and of a high quality. The orange-red console around the transmission selector lever (exclusive to the Advance Style) provides a colorful contrast to the black and white dashboard of the test car. Honda has the facilities of the infotainment system in good order. The largely digital instrumentation looks very modern and is pleasantly clear.

The optically fused ventilation grilles are a funny detail. Honda says that the outer vents can create a kind of ‘air curtain’ along the windows. This should improve the temperature on board, but in practice it provides little noticeable benefit. During the fresh test week, in our opinion, often just too cold air flows from the top of the dashboard, while warm air is supplied at the bottom. The rings around the climate control knobs turn red when the temperature rises, and blue when it gets cooler.

Honda has an excellent reputation to uphold when it comes to handling characteristics. And the HR-V does not disappoint in this. The car is stable on the road and cannot be disturbed by a pothole or bump that has been taken too hard. The steering is pleasantly balanced and beautifully precise. Partly because it is wonderfully quiet – which is remarkable, given the gigantic wing mirrors that catch a lot of wind – the Honda makes a very mature impression as a total picture.

What is standard on the Honda HR-V?

A Honda is rarely cheap and so is the HR-V. A starting price of more than 35,000 euros is quite sturdy for a B-segment SUV. But the good news is that the Honda has a very generous standard equipment. Seat heating, LED headlights, navigation, parking sensors all around, a reversing camera and ‘keyless’ boarding and starting are available ex-factory. In addition, the Japanese make no distinction for safety equipment between the entry-level model (Elegance) and the most complete variant (Advance Style). Regardless of the HR-V you order, you get adaptive cruise control, an excellent active lane assistant, blind spot warning with parking monitor, an autonomously responding emergency braking assistant at the front and rear and traffic sign recognition. The more expensive versions have an electrically operated tailgate, more USB chargers, a heated steering wheel, nicer materials and more speakers, but there is no need to save up for a more luxurious version.

The choice of AutoWeek test coordinator Marco Gorter

Honda does not offer much choice, there is only a hybrid powertrain and there are three trim levels. In fact, the basic version already offers everything you could possibly need. So the choice was made quickly in this case.