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Small SUVs are big business now.
The growing kindergarten of soft-roader toddlers has taken over the sandpit where hatchbacks used to play and, in the process, has taken on a variety of customers, ranging from first-time new car buyers, growing families and empty-nesters.
The Honda HR-V was an early pioneer of this segment, first arriving in 1999 as a high-riding three-door with a sporty and youthful character that borrowed its underpinnings from the Civic of the time.
The original HR-V had a kind of cheeky appeal about it that has made it somewhat of a cult classic today. But now, in its third generation, the HR-V has matured and, following the demise of the Jazz hatchback, is now the entry point to Honda’s SUV-centred range.
So, here are seven things we love about the latest Honda HR-V.
1. Quality
You could easily claim the Honda HR-V is a premium player in the compact SUV segment just because of its price.
But the proof is actually in the pudding when it comes to the quality of engineering and manufacturing, as the HR-V is right up there with the best in the business in terms of all the attributes you want from a car: comfort, safety, reliability and performance.
Sure, it’s not overly flashy – inside or out – but it feels meticulously well built, to the point where it can justify its premium over cheaper alternatives, particularly those from newer brands.
The Honda HR-V is available in three model grades, starting with the entry-level petrol-powered Vi X that’s priced at $34,900 drive-away, then two hybrid options in the e:HEV X ($39,900 drive-away) and the flagship e:HEV L we’re testing here, priced at $42,900 drive-away.
2. Standard equipment
All three model variants come with a decent list of standard equipment that includes:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- LED headlights
- Keyless entry with push-button start
- Power windows
- Climate control
- 7.0-inch digital instrument display
- 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Embedded satellite navigation
- DAB+ digital radio
- Wireless Apple CarPlay
- Wired Android Auto with Google Assistant
- Honda Connect smartphone app accessibility
- Wireless phone charger
However, the range-topping L adds more luxurious features to the equation, such as leather interior trim, heated front seats and steering wheel, dual-zone climate control with rear air vents, six-speaker audio system, two additional USB-C power outlets for rear seat occupants, a power-operated tailgate and more.
The cabin design is simple yet classy, with soft-touch materials used throughout, physical controls for the ventilation system and good small-item storage space.
The front seats are comfortable, supportive, and provide plenty of adjustment to suit myriad of drivers, who are provided with a commanding view of the road thanks to great all-round vision and decent headroom.
3. Magic rear seats
But it’s the HR-V’s back seats that truly set this car apart in its class.
Okay, first of all, it must be noted that the HR-V is only a four-seater with room for just two in the rear, which might rule it out for some.
But, for its size, the HR-V offers more space in the rear than most small SUVs, with generous legroom, more supportive side bolsters than you’d typically find on a bench seat, a fold-down armrest with two additional cupholders, rear air vents, and USB-C power outlets (in the e:HEV L).
It’s a genuinely comfortable place to be – even for a couple of adults – which is not the case in many of its rivals.
However, beyond its ability to carry people, the HR-V also has what Honda calls Magic Seats, which can be configured in 18 different ways to provide amazing flexibility when loading large items.
In its standard layout, the HR-V’s boot offers 304 litres of cargo capacity, which is already pretty decent for such a small car. With the 60:40-split rear seatback folded flat, that space expands to a cavernous 1274L.
Ingeniously, the rear seat cushions can also flip upwards and create room to stow taller items as well, making the HR-V remarkably flexible.
4. Seamless hybrid
Under the bonnet, the Honda HR-V e:HEV is powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that houses an electric motor and drives the front wheels.
The powertrain produces maximum combined outputs of 96kW of power and 253Nm of torque, and has a claimed combined fuel consumption of just 4.3L/100km.
While none of those figures set new benchmarks for the class, it is among the best when it comes to performing so naturally and seamlessly in the real world.
It certainly feels more spritely than its numbers suggest, with instant acceleration at any speed thanks to the immediate injection of torque from the electric motor. It also uses the e-motor to shut down the petrol engine for short bursts when cruising. And yet it is so refined and seamless when switching between the two that you barely notice.
Naturally, with only a small-capacity lithium-ion battery (Honda does not provide an official figure), it uses the stored energy quite quickly. But the battery management system is extremely smart and you’re never left short of electrons when you need them, as it uses either the engine or regenerative braking to constantly replenish power on the move.
5. Comfortable driving experience
Speaking of which, the Honda’s regenerative braking system feels more natural than other hybrid systems too, which can tend to deliver a wooden feel through their brake pedals under initial deceleration when switching from electric to mechanical retardation.
That’s not the case in the HR-V, where there is consistent brake pedal feel across the spectrum, which is also reflective of the rest of the HR-V’s driving character.
In short, the HR-V is almost peerless when it comes to being comfortable and easy to drive. The suspension is beautifully balanced, offering excellent ride comfort and surefooted handling and body control, and light yet positive steering – and it’s quiet at highway speeds.
If anything, it’s testament to Honda’s engineering expertise that even its most affordable model isn’t compromised by its price or positioning.
6. Safety that isn’t annoying
The same sentiment applies to its comprehensive suite of advanced safety systems, which work effectively but without being annoying.
And that is saying something in this day and age, when similar systems in many other cars are so overzealous that you’d rather de-activate them every time you start the car than live with them.
Instead, functions in the HR-V like its lane keeping assistance and speed sign recognition are so well calibrated that they feel like a help rather than a hindrance, which is the way it should be.
All variants of the HR-V share the following Honda Sensing safety systems:
- Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Adaptive cruise control
- Forward collision warning
- Lane keeping assistance
- Traffic sign recognition
- Traffic jam assist
- Automated high beams
- Tyre pressure monitoring
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Reverse parking display
- Six airbags
Both of the Hybrid variants (e:HEV X and e:HEV L) also add blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive high-beam and an intelligent speed-limiter.
The Honda HR-V was awarded a four-star ANCAP safety rating under 2022 protocols.
7. Affordable to maintain
While the flagship HR-V e:HEV L might cost a bit more than other small SUVs to buy, it is one of the most affordable vehicles in its class to run.
Not only does the hybrid powertrain keep fuel costs down, but Honda offers a capped price service plan that costs just $199 for each visit over the first five years, with service intervals being every 12 months or 10,000km, whichever comes first.
That’s on top of a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty with free roadside assistance, which can be extended to eight years if the vehicle is maintained according to its prescribed schedule and meets certain criteria at the end of the standard warranty period.
CarExpert’s Take
The Honda HR-V e:HEV L is a classic case of you get what you pay for.
And what you get here is an extremely well engineered and comfortable small SUV that you can rely on, while also being affordable to run and maintain, and ideally suited to young urbanites or empty-nesters in equal measure.