Daily Freeman (Kingston, NY)

Honda HR-V continues the commuter tradition

Economy is and has always been Honda’s strong point

- By Marc Grasso Grasso’s Garage is here for you! Are you in the market for a new car? I would be happy to provide my honest input. All you have to do is email me at marc. grasso@bostonhera­ld.com.

In 2023, with gas prices elevated and interest rates still rising, vehicles are certainly a monthly conversati­on as the cost to drive continues to go up and up.

For Honda, though, the mindset has not changed. Produce affordable vehicles that last a long time, meet or exceed the expectatio­n of the typical commuter all while looking good and having easy usability. Clearly, many Honda vehicles fall in that footprint like the ever-popular Civic or Accord, but now in the SUV market it’s all the HRV. Last year, we tested Toyota’s version, which was nice but did not offer the attention to detail we are accustomed to.

This week’s tester, the 2023 Honda HR-V AWD EXL, is a five-door commuter SUV that’s fit for small families,

daily commuters or economical transporta­tion. Our Nordic Forest exterior showed a great color and a beefed-up exterior presence over prior generation­s combined to be a really nice vehicle.

On the inside, it’s a typical Honda with its easy-touse, nine-inch color touchscree­n infotainme­nt system and rear camera standard. Super comfortabl­e, great legroom for the class, and excellent sightlines make this a top choice in Grasso’s Garage. Both exteriorwi­se and interior-wise, the HR-V has seen drastic updates, all for the good.

Recently, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety granted the Top Safety Pick + Rating to the HR-V confirming “superior” status in all crashworth­iness categories for front crash prevention ratings.

The Honda HR-V has many uses. Not only is it a great commuter vehicle, but it’s a good first car, a great vehicle for downsizing, and an excellent choice for new families.

For some, vehicles are just sources of transporta­tion and this one really surfaces in Grasso’s Garage. For an MSRP that is under $30K, the HR-V is really a show-stopper. It’s so good that we have declared it Grasso’s Garage Economical SUV of the Year. Great job, Honda. I wouldn’t expect any less.

 ?? PHOTO BY MARC GRASSO ?? 2023 Honda HR-V.
PHOTO BY MARC GRASSO 2023 Honda HR-V.

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