Overview A city-friendly crossover with family values
Pros Economy/performance balance, crisp handling, LaneWatch
Cons Tacky carpeting, flimsy rear cargo cover
Value for money Good
What would I change? Replace the carpeting and make LaneWatch universal on all HR-Vs!
The hottest segment in the business right now is the crossover market. Not wanting to miss out on a prime opportunity, Honda has released a running-mate for its well-respected CR-V — the new Fit-based HR-V. It joins a new niche that’s set to include the Mazda CX-3. In simple terms, if you are shopping for flexible versatility in a city-friendly package the HR-V fits (pun intended) the bill.
The first impression of the new crossover is one of substance and style. In this regard it takes a marked step forward for Honda, a company that’s typically overly conservative when it comes to looks. In this case, it is the front-end and side profile that grabs the onlooker’s eye — specifically, the way the expressive lines catch and play with the light.
Step inside and the departure is equally evident. The cabin is very polished, especially the EX-L Navi tested. It arrives with very rich materials and Honda’s typical attention to detail. The exception proved to be the recycled-pop-bottle look of the carpeting (it is very cheesy!). That aside, the front seats are very comfortable, the gauge package is uncluttered and there’s a large seven-inch touch-sensitive screen that looks after everything except climate — those controls sit neatly below and are, likewise, touch-sensitive. The top-line tester also arrived with all the desirable toys, including a power moonroof, navigation and a host of high-end technology including forward collision and lane departure warnings.
First Drive: 2016 Mazda CX-3
The real upside, however, proved to be Honda’s LaneWatch. Now this thing is very clever and simply because it uses a mirror-mounted camera to put the view of the right side of the car closer to the driver in the centrally-mounted screen. It is much easier (and quicker) to glance at the screen than the mirror, which means your eyes spend less time away from the road ahead. It is a technology I would mandate for all cars if I were given the power for a day!
Slide rearward and the back seat has surprising legroom, enough headroom for someone 6-foot-2 and just enough width to accommodate three adults (said somewhat tongue in cheek). As with all crossovers, the HR-V has split/folding rear seats. Seats upright it delivers 657 litres of space and 1,583 L when folded flat. In this position the floor is flat and the area is nicely squared off so just about all of the space is functional.
The ace up the HR-V’s sleeve is the ability to lift the rear seat bases up and lock them upright against the seat back. This opens up a large cargo area that allows a larger/taller box to be carried inside the HR-V with the liftgate closed. It’s a handy extension that adds a great deal to the overall versatility.
The HR-V is powered by a 1.8-litre i-VTEC four-cylinder that’s good for 141 horsepower. It is a smooth operator that loves to rev, which is just as well because the 127 pound-feet of peak torque does not arrive until 4,300 rpm. It powered the HR-V from rest to 100 kilometres an hour in 10.8 seconds and ran the 80 to 120 km/h passing move in 7.7 seconds. Neither seems very quick as read, but, in practice, the HR-V feels faster than the stopwatch says — it has ample pulling power off the line and on through the mid-range.
Don’t miss: 2016 Honda HR-V priced at $20,690 in Canada
The engine was married to a CVT. Normally, I would launch into a rant about the vagaries of the CVT and the annoying motor boating that deafens the riders whenever the driver takes a deep stab at the gas and holds it there. In this case, Honda’s CVT proved to be, well, surprisingly good at all it did. It slipped through its near-infinite number of ratios smoothly and it had manual and sport modes. The seven pre-determined manual ratios work seamlessly (and cut all signs of motor boating!). They also brought engine braking into play at a tug of the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifter. In the end, I would take Honda’s CVT over the truculent nine-speed ZF automatic many manufacturers are adopting — Honda included.
2016 Honda HR-V
Graeme Fletcher, Driving
The bonus is the powertrain returned pretty good fuel economy during the test — an average of 8.2 litres per 100 kilometres in mostly suburban driving. That came as a pleasant surprise.
The HR-V’s other likable trait is the manner in which it drives its way through a corner. Unlike many crossovers, which tend to favour the ride side too much, the HR-V’s suspension and steering makes it feel more like a Fit than a CR-V relative. As such, the amount of body roll is limited to a handful of degrees and the steering delivers decent feedback, and once everything takes a set it holds to the driver’s line nicely. This made a mundane drive a lot more fun than is the case with some of its peers — think Nissan Juke.
Also read: Top 10 small cars with the biggest interiors
The HR-V is a city-friendly crossover with more than its fair share of comfort, convenience and versatility. It has, if you will, family values. So much so the road test left me wondering how it will affect CR-V sales in the short-term. Simply, the HR-V does everything almost as well as its larger sibling, but it delivers better fuel economy at a more affordable price point.
2016 Honda HR-V
Graeme Fletcher, Driving
The Specs
Type of vehicle Compact all-wheel-drive crossover
Engine 1.8L iVTEC inline four
Power 141 hp @ 6,500 rpm; 127 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4,300 rpm
Transmission CVT with paddle shifters
Brakes Four-wheel disc with ABS
Tires P215/55R17
Price (base/as tested) $20,690/$29,990
Destination charge $1,695
Natural Resources Canada fuel economy (L/100 km) 8.8 city, 7.2 highway
Standard features Dual-zone climate control with filtration, power windows, locks and mirrors, power moonroof, cruise control, tilt/telescopic steering, leather seating, heated front seats, 180-watt AM/FM/CD/satellite radio with six speakers, 7-inch touchscreen, two USB inputs and steering wheel-mounted controls, Navigation, Bluetooth, smart key with push-button start, rearview camera, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, LaneWatch, auto-dimming rearview mirror, rear wiper/washer, fog lights and more
Notable options None
The HR-V is powered by a 1.8-litre i-VTEC four-cylinder that’s good for 141 horsepower and 127 pound-feet of torque.
Graeme Fletcher, Driving
