The HR-V is a crucial car for Honda dealers in the UK and Automotive Management recently took delivery of one for a long-term test.
Over the next few months this premium-grade SUV will be put through its paces to better understand the oppotunity this new car offers for the Honda dealer network and its customers.
Currently Honda is enticing customers with a £1,000 off limited time ‘Honda Dream Bigger Event Discount’, which means the HR-V range starts at £31,250 for the entry Elegance grade..
On top of that, a £2,500 deposit contribution for PCP finance gives car buyers an extra reason to contact their local Honda showroom.
The model we’re testing is an Advance grade HR-V, which sits just above Elegance and offers comforts such as heated steering wheel and front seats, power tailgate, artificial leather upholstery and USB charging ports for front and rear occupants.
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What are the Honda HR-V’s key selling points?
This SUV suits buyers who aren’t ready for a plug-in car, as beneath its skin is Honda’s efficient e:HEV hybrid powertrain. That is a self-charging combination of a 1.5-litre petrol engine and a dual electric motor with a lithium ion battery and a fixed gear transmission, and it manages to deliver 52mpg fuel economy on the WLTP combined cycle test.
Honda’s intelligent power control unit manages the powertrain to ensure an optimal balance of economy, emissions and performance. It constantly and automatically cycles between electric drive, hybrid drive or engine drive depending on which is the most fuel-efficient mode at that specific situation, so that when the car is cruising at a constant speed it uses the engine but if extra acceleration is needed for an overtake it’ll bring in hybrid mode.
The HR-V also suits buyers who want comfort, ease-of-use and high perceived quality. This is not a large family car, nevertheless the interior space is superb and rear passengers will never want for legroom. The compromise is a relatively modest 319-litre boot, capable of holding two large suitcases, but it’s a compromise many customers will be happy to make.
That ease-of-use is probably best illustrated by the selection of buttons and knobs on the dashboard, accompanying its touchscreen which I find is small by 2026 standards.
This gives it away that this car was launched in 2021, and revised in 2024, but the HR-V is no poorer for it in a growing climate of push back against buttonless, distracting control systems.
There are more than adequate storage pockets and cubbyholes for the phones, keys, drinks etc that are never far from my family’s fingertips.
Overall, it’s a sensible interior for sensible people who like what Honda stands for – sensibility.
What does it drive like?
The HR-V is a comfortable cruiser. In my first few weeks living with this SUV I’ve done a couple of long distance trips and arrived unruffled.
Forward visibility is excellent, the seating position is good and the ADAS devices such as blind spot warning and steering assist are not particularly intrusive.
It’s no performance SUV, however. Honda cites an official 0-62mph sprint of 10.7 seconds.
When pushed hard, or when the HR-V comes to an uphill stretch, thanks to the eCVT transmission the engine noise outweighs the perception of actual progress being achieved.
Tech spec – Honda HR-V Advance
- Price £34,070
- Powertrain: Hybrid 1.5-litre petrol and dual electric motor, eCVT transmission, front-wheel drive
- Performance: 0-62mph in 10.7 seconds, maximum speed 106mph
- Efficiency: 52.3mpg, 122g/km CO2 (WLTP combined cycle)