Style, comfort and elegance

It was SA golfer Gary Player who once said: “The more I practise the luckier I get.” Well, with nine Majors to his name, along with countless other titles, he has obviously practised a lot, as his name will go down as one of the all-time legends of the game.

But that simple throwaway line may also apply to so many facets of life. Basically, according to Player, the harder one works at something, the more the results will come.

In fact, it can even apply to the motor industry. Take Honda as an example.

Back in the nineties the whole crossover genre was still in its infancy, but the Japanese manufacturer had already put in years of planning and development for this particular segment with the CR-V (1995) and HR-V (1999) making their debuts.

Scepticism may have greeted their initial offerings, but the company had the vision to build and continually improve on these vehicles and the results today are plain to see.

World SUV of the Year title in 2015 is just one of the awards the CR-V has received over time.

The main difference between the CR-V and HR-V is down to size, the former being the bigger (and more expensive) of the two while the more recently added BR-V sits at the bottom of the tier.

Last week it was the 1.8 HR-V Elegance we had on test — a vehicle that underwent a significant upgrade late last year.

The HR-V is a “crossover” in every sense of the word. Styling elements from a coupe come through in the front and rear; the layout of the interior and accommodating boot (393l) supports the versatility of an MPV, while a reasonable ground clearance (170mm), high driving position and some additional cladding provide elements often associated with an SUV.

Changes made to the front of the vehicle include an all-new front bumper, new bonnet, redesigned LED headlights and daytime running lights. Carried over, though, is Honda’s signature V-shaped grille.

There are also new 17-inch alloy wheels while roof rails and rear door handles concealed just behind the window complement the overall appearance.

Honda is known for equipping its vehicles with a healthy number of features and the HR-V follows this practice.

A few of the active and passive safety features include six airbags, ABS brakes, rearview camera, parking sensors, electronic brake-force distribution and vehicle stability assist in case things go pear-shaped.

And being primarily marketed as a family vehicle, the obligatory ISOfix child seat anchor points are also provided.

The engine in the HR-V is the same as previously — a 1,799cc four-cylinder powerplant providing 105kW and 172Nm.

While the engine feels willing enough I felt it is let down by the CVT (continuously variable transmission) gearbox, particularly on hills and the highway.

How I wished at times the vehicle was equipped with a traditional automatic box, or even a six-speed manual box for that matter, as the driving experience is affected.

The use of CVT technology is obviously to keep the fuel economy down (a claimed 6.8l/100km) and reduce emissions, but it’s a pity because if you can overlook this one particular element, you quickly realise here is a vehicle that provides a pleasant mix of style, comfort and technology.

The interior, complete with heated leather seats, piano black and chrome accents, softtouch materials on the dashboard and centre console, is pretty classy.

The dashboard presentation is attractive and fuss-free with a new 6.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system (previously 5-inch) taking centre stage.

The HR-V also provides a feature called the Magic Seat system (also found in the Jazz). Basically you can configure the seating in a variety of positions depending on your requirements.

Need to fit in a mountain bike? No problem. With the push of a button you suddenly have 1,003 litres at your disposal.

Battling to squeeze in your golf clubs? Fold all the seats on the passenger side and suddenly, problem solved.

While the Nissan Qashqai and Mazda CX-3 dominate this segment, the HR-V is an excellent alternative and worth serious consideration, thanks to its long list of standard features and Honda’s excellent reputation.

All those years of development and refinement (apart from that darn gearbox!) are definitely paying off. Prices: Honda HR-V 1.8 Elegance — R419,900