HONDA’S 2017 HR-V
As cheap cars go, this is a great one
With the HR-V, Honda proves that you don’t have to sacrifice quality for affordability.
“Whump.”
There's a satisfying sound that a 50-lb sack of dirt makes when it lands, and on this morning, I was hauling four of them, plus four sacks of compost/manure, a couple bags of mulch, and several flats of tomato, zucchini and pepper plants, plus a nice assortment of flowers. of that did not begin to fill the cavernous rear end of the smallest SUV that Honda builds, the diminutive HR-V, which overcomes its small stature with some nice engineering and design work, which is all screwed together well, thanks to Honda's typical attention to craftsmanship.
In the immediate instance, what was at work was a unique center-mounted fuel tank layout that enables what Honda calls the 2nd-Row Magic Seat® to fold completely flat into the floor. (Don't worry, Honda, I covered the back with a plastic tarp before heading out to the garden store).
All it took was the flip of a pair of levers to turn the rear into something akin to a pickup's bed. When it came time to reverse, everything snapped right back into place. The rear seats, like the front, are ample enough to hold an adult and—thanks to wide doors—ingress and egress are likewise felicitous for big people like me.
The old saying in the car business is that no one builds a good, cheap car. Honda seems to have challenged that with an inexpensive but handsome little SUV filled with pleasant surprises and tons of capability. DRIVING
The HR-V attains some of the best fuel economy ratings in the segment, thanks to a 141 hp, 1.8-L in-line four cylinder engine. That's not a lot of power, and 9.7 seconds to get from 0 to 60 is on the slow side. Running through hills, the CVT seems constantly to be in search of a comfortable setting.
On the plus side, the HR-V has surprisingly good ride and handling. An electric steering system is dialed in well, and has an easy and confident feel. Twenty-seven percent of the body is composed of advanced ultrahigh strength steel for improved rigidity that enhances collision protection, handling response and ride quality.
Also pleasant is the HR-V's high seating position that affords excellent visibility.
On the negative side, gear shifts under full throttle bring vibrations, which feel like they are centered in the middle of the vehicle. I once had a loose catalytic converter that produced that effect. That turned out to be the beginning of an expensive episode. Back on point, several other critics have noticed this flaw and it is surprising that Honda has yet to correct it. COMFORT
Though the HR-V rides well, the front seats feel as though they were designed for younger spines and body type than yours truly. The seats are narrow and could use more lumbar support; especially since the 102.8-inch
wheelbase results in a choppy ride inherent in short wheelbase vehicles.
A run out to Doc's Fish and Steak in Garland City, Ark., was enough to remind us how great the food there is, and that the HR-V probably would not make our list of top 10 cars to take on a lengthy road trip. This is a vehicle designed for a younger clientele.
INTERIOR
The HRV's cabin is attractively designed and feels like it belongs in a much more expensive vehicle. Materials have a quality feel and fit and finish show attention to detail. It's as handsome inside and out.
Even on the base LX, the list of standard equipment is long: power windows and door locks, cruise control, illuminated steering-wheel mounted controls for cruise, audio and phone, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, map lights and cargo lamps, 5-inch color LCED screen, Bluetooth streaming audio
Move up to the EX and you get push button start, heated seats, power moonroof, heated side mirrors, automatic climate control and Honda's Lane Watch, which displays the right side of the car via a mirror mounted camera any time the right turn signal is activated
The EX and EX-L Navi come with an upgraded, 180-watt, six-speaker sound system. The base model has 160 watts and four speakers. The top two trims also move up to a 7-inch display.
TECHNOLOGY
The EX-L Navi features Honda's satellite-linked Nav system with voice recognition—one of the easiest to use on the market—plus digital traffic updates. Like most reviewers, we find Honda's audio controls to be fussy. Best to set your stations and equalizer before leaving the driveway
SAFETY
Though the HR-V comes with a long list of standard safety features, such as stability assist with traction control, ABS, and tire pressure monitoring, Honda suite of safety software is not offered on this vehicle. On other models, Honda charges a reasonable price of $1,000 for dynamic cruise control, front collision braking and lane-keep assist.
Not only are these applications life savers, they also make driving much more comfortable by maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle in front. Knowing that if the car in front slows to a stop the car one is in will do the same provides a sense of well-being.
My position? I wouldn't sign a contract for a new vehicle that doesn't have state-of-art safety technology.
BOTTOM LINE
There is much to like about this car, which will likely have one of the lowest cost-of-ownership calculation. Still, the unmanaged vibrations and absence of a safety suite suggest one might be better off with a slightly USED, but larger Honda C-RV or Toyota RAV-4.