Honda HR-V
MODEL TESTED: Honda HR-V 1.6 I-DTEC S PRICE: £20,445 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 118bhp
THE second-generation Honda HR-V made its debut last year, nearly a decade after the original version disappeared from price lists. Slotting into the increasingly popular compact crossover class, the British-built machine gets bold looks, a versatile interior and a top-quality finish. However, all this comes at a price, with the entry-level 1.6 I-DTEC S tested here weighing in at a hefty £20,445, although the car in our pictures is a flagship EX.
Styling 3.9/5
WHILE the original HR-V looked like a jacked-up estate car, the current model is a much sleeker affair. In fact, Honda claims it blends the best bits of an SUV and a coupé, which means you get a raised ride height and tough-looking body cladding combined with a sloping roofline and handles hidden in the C-pillars.
The overall effect is much more dynamic than the refreshed Mokka, although to many eyes, the HR-V ’s design will be a little fussy. At the front, there’s Honda’s trademark swept-back headlamps and gloss-black grille, while looking down the sides reveals a bold crease that runs from the middle of the front door and sweeps up to the C-pillar.
Unfortunately, the S-spec car we tested does without the eye-catching LED lamps, privacy glass and roof rails of the model in our pictures, but it does get chrome-finished front door handles, a tailgate spoiler and 16-inch alloy wheels.
Climb aboard and it’s immediately clear the HR-V matches the Peugeot for bold styling. The wraparound dashboard and high-set transmission tunnel cocoon the driver, while ahead of the front passenger is a trio of air vents.
The car in our pictures gets Honda’s seven-inch CONNECT infotainment system that includes Internet browsing and an app store, but the S has a simpler and smaller set-up, although it does include Bluetooth, a DAB radio and a USB connection.
The S also goes without little luxuries such as a leather steering wheel, although it’s generally well equipped. For instance, cruise and climate control are included, as are automatic headlamps.
Yet while the HR-V lacks a few items of kit compared with its rivals, there’s no faulting the build quality. Not only is the cabin robustly finished, there are plenty of classy materials, such as the gloss-black trim used on the centre console.
Driving 4.0/5
ON paper, our trio are evenly matched, particularly the Honda and Peugeot, which share identical 118bhp power and 300Nm torque outputs. Yet when we hooked up our timing equipment, it was the HR-V that proved to be the fastest car. It completed the sprint from 0-60mph in 9.9 seconds, which was two-tenths quicker than the Peugeot, and then extended its lead during our in-gear tests.
Part of the Honda’s advantage is down to its six-speed gearbox, which gets well chosen ratios and a slick,
precise shift action. The HR-V’S 1.6 I-DTEC diesel also responds eagerly and is keener to rev than the similarly sized units of its rivals.
However, while the Honda’s engine delivers feisty performance, its refinement leaves a little to be desired. Not only does it clatter noisily at idle, it’s gruff and intrusive when worked hard. It settles down at a cruise, but it’s not as well isolated from the cabin as the Vauxhall’s less powerful unit.
The HR-V also suffers from the worst low-speed ride, as its stiff suspension causes the car to follow bumps, ridges and potholes that the 2008 smooths out more effectively. Matters improve as you go faster, with the Honda’s ride mellowing out over smoother surfaces – although there’s a fair amount of tyre noise over coarse roads such as concrete.
The trade-off for this firm ride is decent body control through a series of bends. There’s less roll than in the 2008, plus mid-corner bumps fail to knock it off line. The steering is a little slow, but it’s accurate enough and there’s more front-end grip than in the Mokka. Elsewhere, the high-set driving position and decent visibility allow you to place the Honda on the road with confidence. You’d struggle to call the car fun, but it benefits from composed and predictable handling.
Ownership 3.9/5
HONDA has always prided itself on building desirable cars and maintaining a loyal customer base. Yet its 20th place finish in Driver Power 2016 shows that there’s work to do for the brand.
That said, owners rated their cars fifth overall for reliability, while the firm’s dealer network also came in for praise, finishing eighth out of 31 manufacturers in the same poll.
The HR-V should be as dependable as other models in the range, as many of its components have been tried and tested in different cars. For instance, the 1.6-litre diesel features in both the Civic hatchback and CR-V SUV. Safety is another area where the Honda scores highly, and it was awarded a five-star Euro NCAP rating when it was tested last year. The Vauxhall and Peugeot were assessed under the much less rigourous 2013 criteria.
Safety kit for the HR-V extends to six airbags, stability control and whiplash-reducing headrests. It’s also the only car here to get autonomous emergency braking as standard.
Running costs 3.7/5
AT £20,445, the HR-V is the most expensive car here, while its predicted residuals of 42.5 per cent are only marginally stronger than the Mokka’s. Business users will also pay more to run the Honda, as the combination of 104g/km CO2 emissions and a high P11D price results in the biggest Benefit-in-kind bills.
Honda offers a five-year maintenance plan for the HR-V, which weighs in at £995. However, while that looks good on paper, each individual service works out more costly than on the 2008’s pay-monthly scheme. A test fuel return of 46.1mpg was over 10mpg down on rivals, although the Honda attracted the cheapest insurance quote for our sample driver, at £500.
Practicality 4.2/5
IF you’re frequently using your compact crossover to ferry around people and their things, then the Honda just has the edge in this contest. Its wheelbase is the longest here, which means that occupants sitting in the rear get the most legroom.
Yet it’s the HR-V ’s vast 431-litre boot that’s the star of the show, as it boasts 71 litres more capacity than the Peugeot’s. It also benefits from a deep underfloor storage area. Like the 2008, the rear bench folds flat in one movement, while the Magic Seat function allows you to fold up the seatbases to create a large load through area behind the front seats.