Review - Honda HR-V

Going up against the likes of the Mazda CX-30, Toyota C-HR, Hyundai Kona and the Ford Puma, the Honda HR-V aims to win over buyers with hefty equipment lists paired with attractive drive-away prices, all backed by Honda’s famous reliability. 

Let’s take a closer look at the HR-V lineup and see how it stacks up in terms of value, driving comfort, safety, practicality and fuel efficiency. 

Starting Price: $31,300

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Honda HR-V (VTi-LX) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Honda HR-V car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

The Honda HR-V lineup kicks off from $31,300 for the entry-level HR-V VTi, while the VTi-S is priced at $35,100. Stepping up to the HR-V RS comes at a cost of $38,500, while the flagship HR-V VTi-LX is priced at $41,000. 

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change, but are drive-away numbers that do include on-road costs. 

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What Features Does the Honda HR-V Have?

The entry-level Honda HR-V comes riding on a set of 16-inch alloys, and receives LED daytime running lamps, a chrome front grille, magic seats, single-zone climate control, a reversing camera, metallic paint finish and a 7.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto. 

Stepping up to the VTi-S adds a set of 17-inch alloys, as well as LED headlights and LED fog lights, as well as keyless entry & start, roof rails, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear lever, rear parking sensors and interior upgrades. 

Opting for the HR-V RS variant adds 18-inch alloys, as well as an RS body-kit, leather upholstery, as well as heated front seats, sports pedals and dark chrome highlights. 

Finally, the range-topping VTi-LX comes packaged with front-mounted parking sensors, a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, powered front seats, chrome door handles and some added safety equipment that we’ll cover later in this review. 

Range Features: 

• 16-inch alloys 

• LED daytime running lamps 

• Chrome front grille 

• Single-zone climate control 

• Magic Seats 

• Reversing camera 

• Cruise control 

• 7.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto 

• 17-inch alloys (VTi-S)

• LED headlights & fog lights (VTi-S)

• Keyless entry & start (VTi-S)

• Roof rails (VTi-S)

• Leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear lever (VTi-S)

• 18-inch alloys (RS)

• RS bodykit (RS)

• Leather upholstery (RS)

• Heated front seats (RS)

• Panoramic sunroof (VTi-LX)

• Front parking sensors (VTi-LX)

• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror (VTi-LX)

Honda HR-V Colours 

The Honda HR-V is available in a range of colours, including Lunar Silver, Modern Steel, Crystal Black, Phoenix Orange, Taffeta White, Platinum White, Brilliant Sporty Blue and Passion Red. 

Is it Comfortable to Drive? 

Stepping behind the wheel of the Honda HR-V is a refreshing reminder of just how simple motoring around a town or city can actually be. 

Designed primarily as a commuter for the urban jungle, the Honda HR-V feels perky, agile and remains exceptionally easy to drive and park thanks to its compact proportions. 

Power is supplied by a 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol that produces 105kW of power and 172Nm of torque, with power put to the wheels via a CVT automatic. The amount of power available is modest, but in the compact proportions of the HR-V, it feels perky enough for short bursts of overtaking or taking off from a set of lights without an issue. The CVT transmission is also perfectly suited for the city, behaving as though you’ve got access to a long, linear gear that provides you with momentum. 

The suspension is also perfectly suited to the city, making light work of small and medium-sized bumps while providing some added stability in the corners, making for a zippy city car experience.

Better still, the HR-V’s compact turning circle and extremely lightweight steering rack makes the process of squeezing in and out of tight spaces a simple task, giving the driver some added confidence while navigating the urban jungle. 

On the open road, the HR-V remains a strong performer, although its short wheelbase platform means that it is more prone to feeling the bumps on a bumpy country B-road. Having said that, though, the chassis and suspension are supportive enough that the HR-V is still a good commuter option for those living in the countryside. 

All up, the HR-V is a great example of how easy motoring can really be, and is the perfect companion for daily commutes in and around town. 

Is it Practical and Spacious? 

The Honda HR-V sits below the CR-V in the lineup, meaning you’ll have to adjust your expectations in-line with its shorter wheelbase platform when it comes to space and comfort for the family.  

Having said that, though, the HR-V can indeed meet the needs of a growing family thanks to its segment-leading practical features, so long as your kids aren’t too tall. 

Up front, the driver and front passenger are treated to a simple yet sleek cabin design that offers a great view out of the front windscreen and a heap of headroom even for tall drivers. The seat and driving position are adjustable, and the HR-V positions the driver with some added ride height for better visibility around town. 

The infotainment system is housed in the dashboard, and in its latest generation, Honda has updated the system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto support, which is a big move considering its predecessors missed out. 

Up front, there’s some neat storage designs, with some storage trays either side of the transmission tunnel and a large flat area below, a pair of cupholders, storage inside the folding armrest and a large set of door bins either side of the cabin. 

Moving to the second row, the HR-V is packaged with what Honda calls ‘Magic Seats’, which add a huge amount of flexibility to the cabin. These seats can fold up to accommodate bulky objects in the second row of the cabin, or fold completely flat to squeeze long objects into the boot, and feature two ISOFIX anchors and three top tether points for child seats. 

In terms of its people-carrying potential, the HR-V offers significantly more space in the second row than the majority of its competitors, making for one of the most practical and family-friendly compact SUVs on the market. There’s enough legroom for an adult in the second row, and while headroom is impacted by the sloping roof design, it’s perfectly comfortable for short to medium trips around town. 

Moving to the HR-V’s boot, you’ll find 437L of cargo storage in the rear, which is class-leading for the compact SUV segment. Better still, this increases to 1462L with the rear seats folded down, giving the HR-V some serious practicality chops. 

Is it Safe? 

The Honda HR-V has been awarded ANCAP’s maximum five-star safety rating, with all variants receiving autonomous emergency braking as standard. 

Unfortunately, key safety features like blind-spot monitoring, collision and lane-departure warnings, even parking sensors are offered only on mid and high-spec variants. 

Is it Fuel Efficient?

The Honda HR-V’s fuel economy depends on which variant you’ve opted for, with fuel economy figures ranging from 6.6L/100km in the entry-level VTi up to 6.9L/100km in the range-topping VTi-LX. 

All up, this fuel economy is pretty much on par for the segment, although these figures will rise when you’re driving in stop-start traffic around town. 

Our Verdict: Is the Honda HR-V Worth it?

Typically compact SUVs require buyers to make some pretty considerable sacrifices in terms of interior space and practicality that limit their abilities when it comes to accommodating young and growing families. 

Surprisingly, Honda’s clever packaging designs have created the leading option when it comes to space and comfort within the compact SUV segment, so if you’re interested by the design of compact SUVs, be sure to consider the HR-V. 

On that note, if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925 

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited KM warranty 

2. 12-month/10,000km service intervals 

3. Five-star ANCAP safety rating 

4. Magic Seats as standard across the range 

5. 6.6-6.9L/100km fuel economy 

Pros 

• Segment-leading cabin space and practicality features 

• Smooth and relaxing to drive around town

• Large boot 

Cons

• Limited rear visibility due to blindspots 

• Lackluster engine 

• Short service intervals

OnlineAuto Rating: 9/10

Honda HR-V Competition