Honda HR-V review: A comfy crossover with plenty of panache
This is the new Honda HR-V, and there are a few design features that leapt out at me when I first saw it in the flesh.
Firstly, there's that large, distinctive grille which dominates the front, and then there's the crease that runs throughout the length of the car to the sporty rear, with its sharply-angled coupe-like tailgate.
There's other nice details, too. I like the subtle red line below the four doors, and the three coloured bars almost hidden in the grille. I've no idea what they represent, but they give the front a bit of a lift.
From the side profile, it's definitely attractive, but it's another of those shapes that's conforming to a trend. Blending a coupe with a soft-roader. Honda certainly isn't breaking from the norm here.
And that's almost a shame, because the original HR-V, the one launched back in the late 1990s, was something a bit different, and arguably very cool. I'm not sure you'd label the new HR-V as cool, but it's quite distinctive, especially in the right colour.
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Under the bonnet, though, it's got Honda's trick e:HEV system, so it's a petrol hybrid, which offers 129bhp but, importantly, can keep you in electric mode far longer than most hybrids without you having to plug it in to recharge. It makes for some rather impressive MPG figures, and it's one of the car's best features. But there are other things to be impressed by.
The interior, for example, has a welcome air of simplicity, thanks to a traditional layout and plenty of manual controls that aren't hidden away in a touch screen.
There's a chunky steering wheel, a conventional gear stick, some rather nice seats for the driver and passenger, and a fairly large infotainment screen. This, unfortunately, is the weak link. By modern standards it feels a tad low-tech. Wireless Android Auto and Apple Car Play shouldn't be missing from a new car in this day and age, but they are. Shame.
The rear seats are fairly spacious, but the trendy sloping roofline does cut into the headroom quite significantly. And it's made all the worse in the almost pointless middle seat by a protruding seatbelt in the roof that seems to be in just the wrong place.
The 319-litre boot in the HR-V isn't the biggest in its class, but it does have "magic seats", which fold away so simply to create a fabulously flat floor. So it can be a great load-lugger.
There's little to report from the driving experience. It drives as every car should in this sector. Ride is fine, steering is fine, power is adequate, and it's nice and comfortable. In fact, the hybrid system makes you feel like you're in an EV a lot of the time and, out on a motorway, the engine is assisted by the motors, so it's the perfect blend of punchy and efficient.
The entry price for the new HR-V is a shade over £30,000, which is quite reasonable considering the base model gets heated front seats, advanced safety features and that large touch-screen.
There's only one free colour, and it's a weird khaki that I can't see many people opting for. And it looks a bit rubbish on the standard wheels. So take the £30k base price with a pinch of salt and budget for some tasteful upgrades.
But after you've finished having a play with the configurator, you'll have a very nice-looking car. It might not be a break from the norm, but it doesn't blend in either. It has its own style, and I quite like it.
It also has that excellent e:HEV system, which is basically the best hybrid system I've tested.
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This all leaves you with the feeling that there's little to dislike about the HR-V. Will it tempt people away from the trendier brands? It should, but it probably won't. But, seriously, don't overlook it. It's a great package.
THE FACTS
Model tested: Honda HR-V 1.5i-MMD Advance Style
Price: from £36,295
0-60mph: 10.7 seconds
Power: 129bhp
Economy: 52.3mpg
CO2: 122g/km
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