Part function and part adventure
Honda HR-V meets her needs, from commuting to the office to hiking trips outside the city
It’s been more than a decade since Lisa Robinson, a senior manager of change management for Scotiabank, moved to Toronto from Halifax. When she first moved into her neighbourhood at Yonge and Eglinton, she would commute via TTC to her Scarborough office. But the bus wasn’t always dependable.
“I knew I wanted a Honda because I grew up with Hondas in my family and know that they’re reliable,” said Robinson, who leased her first Civic through Formula Honda in 2013. After researching available models, Robinson picked up a 2021 Honda HR-V in June from the same dealership.
“The reason why I went with leasing is because I had a poor experience with a non-Honda car I purchased in Halifax. It fell apart and I just kept putting money into it, so I said never again,” Robinson said.
“I was also attracted to the fact that I can trade it in and get a new car every few years, and I didn’t have to worry about things breaking down or any of that sort of thing.”
Despite not driving as much these days due to working from home, Robinson says: “My lease was up so I thought you know what? Let me go in and take care of this. Plus, the air conditioner in my 2017 Civic had died, and even though the warranty had expired, Honda took care of the repairs because other Civics were having the same issue.
“While at the dealership, I went to talk to the salesperson I always deal with. I literally walked in, dropped my car off to get it fixed, and I was leaving with a new car that I was going to pick up a few days later.
“I’ve always leased through Formula Honda in Scarborough. Their customer service has always been amazing, and this is my third car with them. The first two were Civics, but I decided to go with the Honda HR-V because my last Civic was super low — it seemed even lower than previous models and I have osteoarthritis in my hip.
“For me, getting in and out of the car was challenging, so I thought, ‘OK, let’s get something a little higher up,’ ” Robinson said. “The height and being, I guess, higher (I’m short) above the ground so that I could see when I’m driving was also key for me.
“I was really contemplating between the CR-V and the HR-V. I did a lot of research online looking at their differ- ences and people’s reviews. Ultimately what it came down to was the price, and that there’s a little bit more leg space and comfier seats for passengers in the CR-V.
“The HR-V was more compact, and the seats recline differently, so I was interested in that for my dog, Nika (she’s a four-year-old boxer). We go on a lot of hikes and travel outside of the city, so I wanted to give her some more space in the car.”
This article was edited for space and clarity. Want to be featured in Why I Love My Vehicle? email us at wheels@thestar.ca. Robinson likes how the back seats fully recline to accommodate Nika, with or without another rear-seat passenger.