Honda's stylish third-generation HR-V is its best yet. A great all-round package. But is it a game-changer in a stacked SUV market? We find out...
Like Toyota, Honda has been around for what feels like forever, producing household nameplates like the Accord, Ballade, Civic and Jazz over the decades. Many people also fell in love with the brand with the Type R range of performance cars launched in the early to late 90s.
Over the years, the Japanese brand has slowly transitioned from their once (and still) supreme high-revving, small-capacity engines to moving with the times and building offerings customers seek. Browse any automaker's line-up, and you'll struggle to find a bevvy of performance options compared to SUVs.
It needs no repetition that SUVs are what the people want, and Honda has duly obliged with a slew of models, each catering to the consumer's pocket. This review focuses on the current generation HR-V launched locally in 2022 and slots above the WR-V and BR-V but below the CR-V.
The model as a whole was first introduced to the South African market in 2002 but now is drastically improved with a bold design, more comfort and safety features.
Top of the range Elegance
While only two trims are on offer – Comfort and Elegance – both come well-equipped. The derivative we had on the test was the range-topping Elegance, and it came with just about every single comfort feature you could think of.
Standard features on the Comfort trim include 8-inch touchscreen infotainment (Apple CarPlay & Android Auto compatible), automatic air conditioning, rear parking camera, electric side mirrors, LED headlights, rear parking sensors, smart keyless entry and hill descent control.
The Elegance gets even more with the addition of Honda's Sensing Suite, electric seat adjustment (driver), hands-free power tailgate, rear USB charger, wireless charger and half-frame auto-dimming rearview mirror. In our opinion, any modern vehicle must have more than two USB ports, and the HR-V doesn't disappoint. There are two USB ports at the front and two USBs in the rear to charge devices.
The 'Sensing Suite' package includes comprehensive driver assistance technology like collision-mitigation braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist and road-departure mitigation. The Elegance also has six airbags, whereas the Comfort derivative has four.
It also comes with 18-inch alloy wheels (Comfort has 17-inch alloys), leather upholstery (Comfort has fabric seats), a colour-coded front grille and a fixed panoramic glass roof, which is a neat touch. Customers can also choose between four body colours - Opal White, Coffee Cherry Red, Brilliant Sporty Blue and Meteoroid Grey. We prefer automakers that don't have a massive colour palette to choose from, as they keep everything simple and exclusive.
Engine and driveability
The HR-V is equipped with a 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC petrol engine with power figures of 89kW at 6600rpm and 145Nm at 4300rpm, mated to a CVT transmission that sends power to the front wheels. In the past, customers had a choice between engine options.
The same gripe we had in the BR-V is present in the HR-V, which is the noise of the CVT transmission. The higher the revs climb, the noisier it gets, which is not an altogether pleasant sound, but it certainly makes up for it by returning healthy fuel consumption numbers.
The Japanese firm claims a fuel consumption figure of just 6.0 litres per 100km, though the best overall figure we could manage during the review was 7.2 litres. At one point, we brought down the figure below the claimed figure by driving efficiently and in Eco mode.
From a performance perspective, the engine feels like it probably needs a turbocharger or even the power unit used in the current generation Civic. While costs are always a concern, we doubt this change would have increased the price as the engine is already mass-produced and in use.
Looks can be deceiving
The HR-V epitomises a modern crossover with a sleek, compact rear section and generous ground clearance. Based on exterior proportions, you'd think interior space is compromised, but that is definitely not the case. I used the HR-V to load large boxes in the boot, which is not the biggest with 304 litres, but when the seats are folded flat, that figure increases to a capacity of 1,274 litres. So spacious is the rear that five people can be seated comfortably, as Honda claims.
The assumption is that SUVs should be bulky and long to offer the advertised space, but the HR-V has sporty looks – akin to a sports compact crossover – and the interior dimensions to back it up.
There is also no loss of pulling power when pulling a heavy load, largely thanks to the CVT, where the revs can be manipulated. An ordinary automatic or manual transmission would have been detrimental here.
Rivals
From a direct pricing perspective, the HR-V sits in quite a stacked department and is much cheaper locally than most of its direct competitors. It also comes with an excellent after-sales warranty, often pivotal to potential buyers.
Jeep Renegade - priced from R510 900
Hyundai Kona - priced from R509 900
Volkswagen Taigo - priced from R467 400
Opel Mokka - priced from R489 900
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross - priced from R509 990
Spec, pricing and aftersales
Comfort – R499 900
Elegance – R599 900
Both derivatives come standard with a five-year or 200 000km mechanical warranty and a four-year or 60 000km service plan, including three-year roadside assistance.
Summary
Honda should really be selling more vehicles in SA, and their cars are on par with Toyota in terms of reliability. The HR-V might not be the cheapest thing on the market or in the range, but that's why Honda's SUV range is packed with other excellent offerings to keep foot traffic within a Honda dealership.
All in all, the latest HR-V is Honda's best version yet. A stylish and modern all-rounder packed with thoughtful touches to add to its practicality. Sure, the engine noise under acceleration might become tiresome, and the boot space could be more practical, but is worth considering for small families or those looking to upgrade from a smaller Honda.
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