Honda HR-V Hybrid Review & Prices

If you’re looking for a hybrid SUV that’s relaxing to drive and has a practical interior, the Honda HR-V is a compelling option. It also has an imposing design with its upright front end and unique grille that’s sure to turn heads.

It joins a long list of stylish family SUVs you might also consider, such as the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage and Volkswagen T-Roc, though it’s the only one of that bunch that’s hybrid-only.

The latest HR-V now has a slightly squarer design, but also has a very modern look to help it stand out from the crowd. The sleek headlights, hexagonal grille and simple front design look smart, while the ‘Premium Sunlight White’ paint will mean you won’t lose it in a hurry. Add to that the 18-inch alloy wheels that are standard across all versions of the HR-V, and you have a stylish SUV.

The cabin is super spacious as the fuel tank has been cleverly packaged to allow for more interior space. The HR-V also comes with the magic seats usually seen in the Jazz so when you’re not using the back seats, you have lots of storage space.

The design is also very tidy inside, with the 9.0-inch touchscreen mounted high on the dash and a mix of virtual and analogue dials behind the steering wheel. The Advance Style model comes with a more colourful cabin, thanks to orange detailing and lighter upholstery.

Group Test: Honda HR-V v Hyundai Tucson v Kia Sportage v Nissan Qashqai

The boot is quite small considering the car’s size, and although the shape is good and you can find a small additional space under the floor, it’s a bit disappointing.

You'll find 319 litres to work with. But compared to the alternative Toyota C-HR (443 litres) and Volkswagen T-Roc (445 litres), the HR-V can't match them.

Under the bonnet, the HR-V receives the same ‘e:Hev’ setup from the Jazz, which uses a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine paired to two electric motors. To cope with the larger HR-V, it’s been uprated to create a combined 131hp and 253Nm. The battery pack size has also been increased to help with the electric range when in EV mode.

Performance isn’t the point of the HR-V, which is clear given the 0-60mph time is 10.6 seconds, the HR-V certainly feels punchier than that. When switching from electric to petrol power at normal speeds, the switch is near-seamless. But when pressing the throttle hard, the engine sounds very strained and is quite noisy.

Where you may want a hybrid over a conventionally-powered car is for fuel efficiency, and during the time we had it, the HR-V achieved 48.5mpg across different conditions and road types. That’s a bit lower than the official 52.3mpg, but with more time spent in town that would be achievable.

As a family wagon, the HR-V’s setup is more comfort-focused than sporty, and you certainly feel that. Even with the 18-inch wheels, the ride is good, and when cruising on the motorway it feels very comfortable.

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At first glance, the price list for the Honda HR-V makes it look like this SUV is quite a bit pricier than rivals like the Volkswagen T-Roc or Skoda Karoq. However, look a bit closer and you find that even the Elegance model that kicks off the range is packed with loads of kit. Bringing most of the cars that compete for your attention up to the same level would increase their prices to the same ballpark as the HR-V.

If you want more kit, Honda doesn’t do optional extras for the HR-V other than paint, so you need to move up a trim level, which costs around £2400 to go from Elegance to Advance, and around £3000 to jump from Advance to Advance Style.

Comfort and ease of use are the guiding principles for how the Honda HR-V drives and it does both very well, though the engine is noisy under hard acceleration

In town

The Honda HR-V is a natural choice for those who spend a lot of time driving in town, as the hybrid power offers good economy and lower emissions than a pure petrol or diesel SUV. It’s a good bet thanks to the large windows that afford fine visibility to the front and sides, and even the small rear screen doesn’t hamper your lines of sight when changing lanes or parking. Every HR-V comes with front and rear parking sensors to remove any concerns on this front, anyway.

Adjusting the driving position is easy-peasy thanks to the quick seat controls, and there’s more than enough height movement for drivers of all heights to get it right. The steering wheel moves for height and how far out it can be moved, so again it makes it a doddle to hone to your preferred settings. The seat is quite a simple design, yet there’s good padding and support, so it’s all good news for the driver.

Honda also keeps it simple when it comes to engine choice for the HR-V as there’s only one, and that’s your lot. It’s a 1.5-litre petrol engine that works alongside two electric motors. However, despite the HR-V’s SUV styling, all of these motors drive only the front wheels.

The petrol and electric motors combine to give 130bhp, which doesn’t sound like a lot compared to most rivals, but it’s enough in town for the HR-V to feel nippy off the mark. With the e:HEV system, you can drive in town on electric power alone for reasonable distances and it will only switch to petrol power at around 40mph, as long as you’re gentle with the accelerator pedal.

Give the pedal more of a prod to get out of a junction quickly and the petrol engine comes into play earlier. Keep your foot hard on the pedal and the petrol motor soon becomes quite noisy, as the Honda uses a CVT automatic gearbox, which means it spins the engine up to peak revs until it’s up to speed.

There are three driving modes to help you get the best from the car. They are Econ, Normal, and Sport. Around town, Econ is ideal and the automatic gearbox takes the hassle for stop-start driving. You also have a host of safety aids in the HR-V, such as lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition. However, the Elegance trim doesn’t come with blind spot and cross traffic monitors to let you know if there’s a car approaching that you might not be able to see from the driver’s seat.

On the motorway

Getting up to speed in the HR-V can be a bit of an assault on your ears. This is due to the CVT automatic gearbox, which causes the engine to rev as hard as possible until the car is up to speed. It’s different to a standard auto where the engine builds revs and works through a set of gears. However, when you reach your desired speed, the engine settles to a quiet hum and there’s little wind noise.

Where the HR-V lets itself down a bit is the whump you hear every time the suspension meets a bump. The Honda is smooth at dealing with imperfections, it’s just that you hear it, and that’s a bit annoying on a lumpy road.

On a twisty road

The Honda HR-V is not billed as a sporty car by any means, yet it can get from 0-60mph in around 8.7 seconds, which is quite a bit quicker than Honda’s official figure. You’ll hear the engine whirring away if you drive like this, and it will also drain the battery quite quickly. Even so, the Honda handles well and feels very stable in bends with good steering feel.

It’s a pity the CVT automatic gearbox discourages you from having more fun on twisty roads as it makes the engine rev hard when it doesn’t really need to. Switching to the Sport drive mode makes the accelerator pedal react a bit more quickly and adds some weight to the steering, but it definitely doesn’t turn the HR-V into a hot hatch rival.

Honda plays it safe and simple for the HR-V’s cabin, which is just right as it delivers a cleanly designed, spacious interior, although the boot space isn’t up with the best

 The Honda HR-V’s cabin feels very airy compared to most other small SUVs. It helps that the Honda has large side windows, even if the windscreen and rear screen appear smaller than you might think they should be for an SUV. Still, all-round vision is excellent from the driver’s seat.

Finding the right driving position is a slice of cake in the Honda. It uses manual adjustment for moving the seat back and forth, and for height, in all three trim levels. The ratchet to alter the height offers plenty of up and down to suit any height of driver. With the seat back adjustment, you pull the lever and the seat moves on a spring so it meets your back where you want it rather than having to turn a handle for ages. Clever thinking, Honda.

As you’d expect, the steering wheel can be moved for height and reach, so it further adds to the tailored feel of the HR-V’s driving position. You also get lots of room for elbows, shoulders, legs and head.

When it comes to stashing away all of your kit and caboodle in the HR-V, it’s above average. The door bins cope with a large water bottle no bother, and there’s a big glovebox to hide your valuables in.

Two cupholders sit behind the gear lever and, further back, there’s a cubby with a lid that’s bigger than most found in other SUVs. In front of the gear lever, you’ll find a small tray to hold your phone and it’s also where there are USB and 12-volt chargers.

Space in the back seats

Anyone with long legs is going to love sitting in the back of the Honda HR-V. It has loads of room for knees and feet. It’s just a shame there isn’t the same generosity of space for rear seat passengers’ heads, as even an average-sized adult will find it a little snug for their craniums.

The middle seat in the HR-V’s rear bench pushes its occupant even higher and closer to the ceiling and it’s quite a narrow perch to sit on. However, all three rear seats come with a triple-point seat belt, and the two outers have easily accessed ISOFIX points.

Kids will find the window line is quite high, but they will appreciate two USB chargers and a dedicated pocket to hold their phone while it charges up. There’s more storage in the seat pockets, and two cupholders are fitted into the dropdown central armrest.

Boot space

If all you want to do is chuck in a couple of cases or the week’s shopping bags, the Honda HR-V’s 319-litre boot is not as roomy as a Peugeot 2008’s (434 litres) or Skoda Karoq’s (479 litres). It’s well shaped and has a flush load sill, but it’s just not that large.

It is easy to fold the 60-40 split rear seats, though, and they create a completely flat floor when tipped down. Or, you can use Honda’s Magic Seat design to flip up the back seat bases while leaving the upper cushions in place. This creates a large space that you could stick a bike in while still retaining the boot for bags.

Another clever touch in the Honda is its boot load cover. When not in use, it folds up and is kept in a bag. When you need it, the cover springs back into shape like a pop-up tent and is quickly hooked into position. Neat.

The HR-V finally has a decent infotainment system that’s clear, quick and easy to use, but the dash display is an odd mix of digital and analogue

Honda has at last got on terms with the infotainment system in the HR-V. Where previous generation models had a fiddly set-up, this one is simple and logical.

The infotainment screen sits high in the centre of the dash as is usual for most of these systems in SUVs. It has a 9.0-inch colour touchscreen that uses familiar icons on the display so you can select which menu you want. The screen is reasonably quick to react to your finger’s touch, so you don’t have to linger over it as you drive.

The infotainment is easy to pair to your smartphone with Apple CarPlay, which it does wirelessly. However, for Android Auto you need to use a cable, which seems a little strange when other SUVs access both without the need for a physical attachment. Honda does provide a USB charger in the tray in front of the gear lever, where you can easily keep your phone as you drive.

Underneath the infotainment screen are simple rotary dials to operate the heating and ventilation. This is always a welcome set-up as it makes it so much easier to adjust the temperature or fan speed as you’re driving, rather than having to sift through on-screen menus. There’s also a diffused setting for the air vents if you don’t like having a direct blast of air.

In front of the driver, the main dials are a slightly curious mix of analogue and digital. The speedo is a traditional analogue clock and looks a little out of place next to the digital reading for how much battery power is being used. This dial can also be configured to show other information in its middle section using the steering wheel buttons.

One of the big attractions of a hybrid car is the lower emissions they deliver, and the Honda HR-V offers 122g/km of carbon dioxide output. That’s about 10g/km less than you would get from a similarly sized SUV with just a petrol engine. As a result, company car drivers will appreciate the savings the Honda offers when it comes to car tax.

Private drivers might be more interested in Honda’s official average fuel economy of 67.3mpg for the HR-V. That’s very good for this size of car and it’s achievable if you make the most of the battery power, though this does mean driving very gently to limit the amount of time the petrol motor is in use. Drive normally and the Honda can still easily top 50mpg.

If you choose the Elegance trim for the Honda HR-V, you don’t get Blind Spot Information and Cross Traffic Monitor. These will tell the driver if there’s a car approaching that you might not be able to see, but this function is standard on the upper two trims.

In every other respect, all three trims come with the same high level of safety kit as standard. So, you get six airbags, autonomous emergency braking and forward collision warning, and a lane keep assist setting with lane departure alert. There’s also traffic sign recognition, and active cruise control to maintain a safe distance to the car in front.

Honda is well known for its reliability record and there’s no reason to think this HR-V will do anything to upset that apple cart.

The latest HR-V has not had any recalls issued to date, and the feedback from owners is all very positive about how easy it is to live with.

The HR-V comes with Honda’s three-year, 90,000-mile warranty as standard. This can be extended by up to three more years for an additional cost and includes breakdown cover.