WASHINGTON — The subcompact crossover market is growing and it’s getting larger, it seems, every month. It includes Buick, Nissan, Chevrolet, Jeep and now Honda is throwing its new offering into the market.
The 2016 Honda HR-V is built for city driving and its small size is an asset when parking in those tight spaces. Yet, it still has the ability to handle four adults and a few things in the rear cargo area. The starting price is under $20,000 and the fully loaded AWD model is under $27,000. This new HR-V is a priced well in this new class.
The HR-V has a good look. I really like the front-end styling and think it looks better than the redesigned CR-V. It has a sportier look and stance — more coupe-like styling with a swooping rear end like an Acura. Honda has spent some time lately on exterior. So much so that I think this new HR-V will deliver when it comes time to sell with its stand out look.
The interior is also mostly as good as the outside styling. Though for me, the front seats — even the top-of-the-line EX-L trim level with leather — weren’t the most comfortable after an hour of driving. Drive the car for a bit — it could be just fine for you. The rest of the interior is nice for this segment, with heated leather seats and materials that seem a step above some of the competition I’ve recently driven. The rear seat space is pretty good and there’s a cutout for some extra headroom in the rear allowing people over 5-feet-8-inches to fit. If you don’t need those extra seats, just fold them flat for more cargo space. The radio and the climate controls are touch screen — people buying this car won’t even notice, most likely.
Driving the Honda HR-V is the normal Honda experience with a good feeling of a solid ride that’s a bit on the sporty side. It’s not going to be the go-to car on back roads, but it doesn’t float or feel uneasy. Only on the highway in winds or when a big truck passes do you notice that it’s a smaller crossover. You also won’t be a speed demon on the road with 141hp from the four-cylinder engine. But we will call it adequate power enough for the city. I didn’t have much of a problem keeping up with traffic once I got up to speed. The CVT transmission might not be the enthusiast’s choice, but it helps with fuel economy with 27 mpg city/32 mpg highway and 29 mpg combined. After a week, I managed 27.6 mpg. I even saw 34 mpg on a highway trip and this was a new vehicle.
The 2016 Honda HR-V isn’t the very first subcompact crossover on the market, but it comes offering a good value for your buying dollars. With the ability to offer a small package with available AWD, leather, NAV and sunroof and for under $27,000, it’s going to be a tough act to beat. Honda is lining up to be the king of this new segment right out of the box.
Mike Parris is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association. The vehicles are provided by STI, FMI or Event Solutions for the purpose of this review.
