2023 (73) Honda HR-V 1.5 eHEV Advance 5dr CVT

Honda's third generation HR-V compact crossover gets a mid-term wash 'n brush-up yet still retains its practical virtues. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Review

This 'RV'-era MK3 Honda HR-V is part of an e:HEV generation of efficient Honda SUVs and here has been subtly updated. As before, it uses a self charging full-Hybrid with a fiendishly clever powertrain. And there's a sophisticated interior that retains the brand's trademark 'Magic' folding seats. In short, there's lots to like here. A large number of HR-V owners buy another and this updated third generation model aims to keep them loyal.

Background

Here, Honda's third generation HR-V small e:Hybrid SUV gets a mid-term wash 'n brush-up, yet still retains its practical virtues. Here, we're going to take a closer look. You could argue - and Honda does - that the HR-V was the originator of today's over-populated segment for compact SUVs. It certainly wasn't a generally recognised genre when the first generation GH-series model was launched back in 1999, marketed by the brand as 'the joy machine'. But production petered out in 2005 and amazingly, there was no replacement until the second generation RU-series model came along in 2013, by which time Honda had missed the boat for volume sales in this segment. Second prize was to claw back some profit by positioning the HR-V as a slightly 'premium' choice in its sector, which was the task assigned to this third generation RV-series design which first arrived back in 2021. Its major headline was an exclusive focus on Honda's e:HEV full-Hybrid technology which the brand hoped would justify a slight move up-market in terms of both size - and price. Sales veered on the steady side of slow prior to the arrival of this lightly facelifted model in Autumn 2024. Should it factor in your class deliberations?

Driving Experience

This MK3 HR-V shares both its 'Global Small Car' platform and its 1.5-litre four-cylinder Hybrid petrol engine with the current Jazz supermini. As there, a pair of electric motors, based alongside the engine, are at lower speeds responsible for most of the propulsion, the petrol powerplant serving mostly as a generator. Only at high speeds does the engine take over, with an output of 131PS - slightly more than the Jazz because of the HR-V's larger size. The powertrain works in either of three selectable drive modes - 'Eco', 'Normal' and 'Sport' - all of which offer different levels of electric-combustion input. The powertrain itself automatically switches between three settings as you drive - 'Electric Drive', 'Hybrid Drive' and 'Engine Drive' - to maximise efficiency. When driving at a constant high-speed, such as on the highway, the system operates in 'Engine Drive' form, as that is most efficient for cruising. If further acceleration is required, such as when overtaking, the car will switch to 'Hybrid Drive' to gain the necessary extra performance boost. Despite a bigger battery pack than that used on the Jazz - 60 cells rather than 48 - the car can't drive very far in all-electric form. Instead, it's all about how efficiently the electric power can be provided - and then deployed for as much city driving as possible. There's 253Nm of torque and 62mph from rest takes 10.6s.

Design and Build

The exterior changes made to this updated model are uber-subtle. If you're interested, all grades feature a new, sharper front bumper and revised grille design with a crystal black upper moulding and darkened headlight internals. The sculpted front bumper features more pronounced character lines, complimented by revised lower trim sections finished in high-gloss black and smarter headlight units featuring revised internals with a more prominent DRL signature, encased in a darker finish. At the rear, the full-width LED lightbar features a revised internal design. As before, there's a rakish profile, a straight-edged shoulder line and large 18-inch wheels feature. Inside, the updates might be equally hard to spot. The lower central dash and centre console have been reprofiled to make access to the wireless charging mat easier from both the passenger and driver's seats. And trimmed in high-gloss piano black, the centre console is flatter and more ergonomic in design. As before, the cabin's been designed to maximise the feeling of spaciousness, aided by the same minimalist design language first used in the little Honda e. The dashboard incorporates a 9-inch centre touchscreen and a 7-inch TFT display in the instrument cluster. Interestingly, in place of traditional dashboard air vents, there are instead two L-shaped outlets by the A-pillars - Honda's 'Air Diffusion System' - which directs air down the inside of the windows and provides a curtain of air to cool or warm passengers. With this generation model, we were pleased to see that the brand has retained its 'Magic Seat' system at the rear, which allows the seat bases to flip up like cinema chairs. The compactness of the new hybrid drivetrain has released an extra 35mm of legroom at the back and the backrests recline by an extra 2-degrees. There's a decently-sized 335-litre boot too: Honda says that two adult mountain bikes could be carried if their front wheels were removed.

Market and Model

Prices start from around £31,500 for the entry-level 'Elegance' variant. To build on the previous plusher trim levels ('Advance' and 'Advance Style'), Honda has added an 'Advance Plus' variant. This version features an exclusive extended paint finish, with the lower bumpers, arches, and lower door garnishes colour co-ordinated with the main body and offset by a Crystal Black grille. That model also comes with a unique set of alloy wheels and, as with the 'Advance Style' derivative, the 'Advance Plus' model gets a premium audio system, a 2-tone exterior paint finish and orange detailing in the cabin. Standard features fitted across the range include LED headlights, heated front seats, 18-inch alloy wheels and media connectivity through a 9-inch centre dash touchscreen with 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring. Infotainment and connectivity on all HR-Vs benefit from an intuitive voice command system, the Honda 'Personal Assistant', first seen on the little Honda e. This can respond to multiple commands: for instance "OK Honda, find me an Indian restaurant with WiFi and free parking". All variants are equipped with the 'Honda Sensing' package of safety technology and driver aids. Plus there's Hill Descent Control that'll help you on steep slopes and low grip surfaces. With this car, Honda is also offering its Honda+ smartphone app, which includes remote vehicle locking and unlocking, plus 'intelligent geofencing', which alerts an owner if the vehicle breaches a pre-set 'geofence' zone. Plus there's the ability to send journey information from the app to the car's navigation system.

Cost of Ownership

In our original test of this third generation model, we were disappointed to find that all of Honda's bafflingly clever e:HEV Hybrid technology didn't actually amount to much in terms of frugality statistics. The claimed figures (which haven't changed with this facelift) are up to 52.3mpg on the combined cycle and 122g/km of CO2 emissions. These aren't the stats we'd expect from a full-Hybrid in this class; to give an example of the segment standard, a Hyundai Kona Hybrid manages up to 60.1mpg and 106g/km. Instead, they replicate the figures you'd get from simplistic mild hybrid technology - they're almost identical to what you'd get from a mild hybrid Ford Puma for instance. Still, Honda claims that its quoted figures are more real-world-achievable than those of rivals - and we suspect they might be right. Both times we've tried this RV-series design, we've found its frugality closer to the stated figures than is usually the case with cars of this kind. And, to be fair, it's not that far away from what you'd get from a Toyota Yaris Cross, which has significantly less power. Obviously, you'll need to regularly engage the selectable 'Econ' drive mode to get near to the stated stats and reach close to the theoretical 460 mile range figure possible from the 40-litre fuel tank. You'll also need to maximise regenerative braking, either via the steering wheel paddles and/or by engaging the gearstick's 'B' drive position. Many customers will want to budget ahead for scheduled maintenance with fixed-price scheme called 'Five'. It includes five years' worth of maintenance, an extended warranty for this period and roadside assistance breakdown cover should the unexpected happen. This can be transferred to a new owner if you sell the car before the service plan has expired. Residual values are expected to be significantly better than most other small SUV segment rivals. And the three year 90,000 mile warranty is better than the package you get from many competitors too. In addition, surface corrosion is covered for three years, exhaust corrosion is covered for five years, chassis corrosion is covered for ten years and structural corrosion for twelve years. Insurance is 30A for the 'Elegance' and 31A for the other models.

Summary

This MK3 HR-V has a level of sophistication that still makes many current small SUV rivals look rather old-fashioned. But you pay a price for that; it'll be interesting to see how many segment customers are prepared to front up for it. Those that are will get themselves one of the most advanced and practical small crossovers on the market. With something old (the clever rear 'Magic' seats) and quite a lot that's still feels quite new (the Hybrid powertrain and the minimalist dash). If you didn't already want an HR-V, this mid-term update won't persuade you otherwise. But if you're open to its charms, then we'd suggest that this Honda's definitely now worth a second look. After trying this car, you might decide that its quality feel, real-world efficiency and clever practicality is worth a bit more spend. And/or makes more sense than choosing an SUV of this kind with a premium badge. Should that be your conclusion, we wouldn't argue.