Honda HR-V AWD
A great value, clever, compact SUV, the new HR-V enjoys being hustled around winding roads while barely using fuel. Flip the magic seats, pack the gear and head for the hills.
The all-new Honda HR-V AWD might be compact, but a clever use of interior space means loading up the gear and heading away is easy. And inexpensive...
It rains a lot where I live and I’m always spinning wheels and making that stability control icon on the dash go crazy when I pull out into traffic. I really regret selling my all-wheel-drive (AWD) car a while back and buying a two-wheel-drive wagon. Driving the all-new Honda HR-V AWD for a few days had me seriously thinking about a trip to the dealer.
A day after I picked up the HR-V I tried to accelerate with my foot to the floor during a deluge, and the little SUV just gripped and sped away like it was dry. This is why having drive to all four wheels is such a plus: it’s not only about mud and snow and sand; just getting to work or taking the kids to school in non-slip safety during or after a downpour is something we all need to consider.
After a ten year hiatus the HR-V has been reintroduced, and it’s such an improvement the new vehicle probably shouldn’t share the name. The first generation, produced from 1998 to 2006, wasn’t a massive seller here in New Zealand, but I reckon this latest incarnation will be. It really is a great value all-rounder – if you’re after a hatch, a station wagon or an SUV and are not quite sure which would suit you, then consider this little beauty, because it’s all three.
Most regular hatchbacks are limited in luggage capacity, so it’s worth noting that the HR-V – if you don’t mind comparing apples with pears for a moment – offers so much more. The ‘Magic Seats’ add superior versatility: their ability to instantly fold completely flat means throwing plenty of gear in is simple. The roomy rear seats also lift up and away from the floor completely, allowing
a full height load space for the likes of bikes or small horses or whatever else you need to cart around. Honda has cleverly located the fuel tank in the centre of the vehicle to allow this, and there’s no transmission tunnel – that hump in the floor at the back – to get in the way, either.
And even with a load packed in I reckon fuel economy would be startlingly good. The HR-V sips 5.3 litres of 91 octane per 100km, which means you could fill the 40-litre tank and drive happily from Wellington to Whakapapa and back for a skiing weekend without stopping for gas. As long as you’re driving economically, of course, which the HR-V will help you do: it comes with an ECON button that maximises fuel economy, and the speedo surround glows bright green when you’re being careful and white when you’re not. The Honda VTEC engine, while a little underpowered at 1.5-litres, also helps with fuel consumption, but I would love the opportunity to drive the 1.8-litre version available in other markets. I’d also love to see the new Honda Civic’s 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo under the hood of this compact SUV just for a bit of extra spark. Still, the continuously variable transmission (CVT) gearbox does help the driver stay in the engine’s power band for longer, operating kind of like a sports mode in other automatics and meaning it doesn’t lose any power or speed when you hit a hill or need to overtake that Mazda3 you didn’t buy.
And if (when?) you do want to have a bit of fun whipping along winding country roads, the HR-V really comes into its own. Handling and cornering are precise thanks to a lightweight, rigid chassis and some clever
German suspension engineering Honda has called Amplitude Reactive Dampers. To you and me this means that the shock absorbers ‘make rough roads more comfortable and spirited driving firmer’. And they’re right: two separate damping pistons react to your driving, a primary for normal driving with a secondary coming into play to give a more sporty ride and firmer handling dynamics. It works really well and it’s easy to forget you’re in an SUV.
Having AWD capability means rough gravel roads are dealt with efficiently, and I couldn’t help thinking the HR-V would make a good base for a rally-type racer – perhaps with that turbo I mentioned earlier. Its suspension is an effective compromise for onand off-road driving, and stability control keeps things safe. I kind of threw it around winding metal roads and it didn’t seem to notice the loose surface at all, just drifting a bit when you wanted it to and biting when needed. Good times.
Inside, the HR-V is simple, stylish and comfortable, with loads of features that belie the moderate price tag of $35,600. There are three infotainment options, allowing the owner to choose between two high quality Pioneer systems (one with smartphone connectivity) or a Honda system with Sat-nav. There are also USB and HDMI ports and Bluetooth. One of my favourite little touches is that the rear windscreen wiper comes on automatically when you’re in reverse (as long as the front ones are on), so if you’re not watching the wide-angle rearview camera you get great vision out the back window in the rain.
I enjoyed my time in the new Honda. Heading out of Auckland for some quiet, scenic beach time despite the rain was well worth it.
Anyone after a stylish, capable compact SUV should seriously take this for a spin. It’s a great size for urban dwellers and will get you and the family exploring. It’s humble, versatile and dynamic and, most of all, it’s exceptional value for money.
❝I kind of threw it around winding metal roads and it didn’t seem to notice the loose surface at all.❞