New Honda HR-V efficient, practical and fun
2016 Honda compact SUV also fuel-frugal
The hottest segment in the business right now is the crossover market. Not wanting to miss out on a prime opportunity, Honda has released a running mate for its well-respected CR-V — the new Fit-based HR-V. It joins a new niche that’s set to include the Mazda CX-3. In simple terms, if you are shopping for flexible versatility in a city-friendly package, the HR-V fits the bill.
The first impression of the new crossover is one of substance and style — this from Honda, a company that’s typically overly conservative when it comes to looks. But here, the front end and side profile grab the eye, specifically, the way the expressive lines catch and play with the light.
That step forward is equally evident inside. The cabin is very polished, especially in the EX-L Navi model tested. It arrives with rich materials and Honda’s typical attention to detail. The exception was the recycled-pop-bottle look of the carpeting. That aside, the front seats are comfortable, the gauge package is uncluttered and there’s a large seven-inch touch-sensitive screen that looks after everything except climate — those controls sit neatly below and are also touch-sensitive. The top-line tester also arrived with all the desirable toys, including a power moonroof, navigation and a host of high-end technology, including forward-collision and lane-departure warnings.
The real upside is Honda’s Lane Watch. Now this thing is clever and should be on all cars, simply because it uses a mirror-mounted camera to put the view of the right side of the car closer to the driver in the centrally mounted screen. It is much easier (and quicker) to glance at the screen than the mirror, which means your eyes spend less time away from the road ahead.
Slide rearward and the back seat has a surprising amount of leg room, enough head room for someone 6-foot-2 and just enough width to accommodate three adults (maybe). As with all crossovers, the HR-V has split/ folding rear seats. With the seats upright, it delivers 657 litres of cargo space and 1,583 L when folded flat. In this position, the floor is flat and the area nicely squared off.
The ace up the HR-V’s sleeve is the ability to lift the rear-seat bases up and lock them upright against the rear-seat back. This opens up a central tall cargo area that adds a great deal to the overall versatility.
The HR-V is powered by a 1.8-litre i-VTEC fourcylinder engine that’s good for 141 horsepower. It’s a smooth operator that loves to rev, which is just as well because the full 127 poundfeet of torque does not arrive until 4,300 rpm. It powered the HR-V from rest to 100 kilometres an hour in 10.8 seconds and ran the 80 to 120 km/h passing move in 7.7 seconds. Neither seems very quick as read, but in practice the HR-V feels faster than the stopwatch says. It has ample pulling power off the line and on through the mid-range.
The engine was married to a continuously variable transmission. Normally, I would launch into a rant about the vagaries of the CVT and the annoying motorboating that deafens the riders whenever the driver takes a deep, long stab at the gas. In this case, however, Honda’s CVT proved surprisingly good at all it did. It slipped through its near-infinite number of ratios smoothly and it had manual and sport modes. The seven pre-determined manual ratios work seamlessly. They also brought engine braking into play at a tug of the steering wheelmounted paddle shifter. In the end, I would take Honda’s CVT over the truculent ninespeed ZF automatic many manufacturers are adopting — Honda included.
The bonus is the powertrain returned pretty good fuel economy during the test — an average of 8.2 litres per 100 kilometres in mostly suburban driving.
The HR-V’s other likable trait is how it corners. Unlike many crossovers, which tend to favour ride comfort too much, the HR-V’s suspension and steering makes it feel more like a Fit. As such, the amount of body roll is limited and the steering delivers decent feedback. This made a mundane drive a lot more fun than is the case with some of its peers.
The HR-V is a city-friendly crossover with more than its fair share of comfort, convenience and versatility. It has, if you will, family values. The HR-V does everything almost as well as its larger CR-V sibling, but delivers better fuel economy at a more affordable price.