Honda HR-V Hybrid Advance review

“The majority of drivers include
an SUV on their wishlists. Not the
drive-up-the-side-of-a-cliff kind,
but the civilised crossover-cum-
lifestyle-estate type that drives
as smooth as it looks...”

WE KNOW JUST THE ONE — Honda's comfortable and charismatic HR-V. Its major USP is the fact that it needs no plugging in because like its big sister SUV, the CR-V, its full hybrid drivetrain is self-charging. So — Woo-hoo! — NO charging shenanigans. And absolutely NO range anxiety.

Gone are the days when the first thing drivers wanted was to pop the bonnet and look at the engine although even in the 'good old days' it was usually only something like an exotic V8 or V12 that would generate a rush of excitement. These days no-one seems to care about the engine bay visuals.

Drivetrains, though, are another matter and the HR-V's cutting-edge hybrid unit is a powertrain of interest. As already mentioned, it's a self-charging petrol-electric hybrid with electric drive to the front wheels. A 1.5-litre combustion engine powers one electric motor to charge the battery pack beneath the boot floor while a second electric motor delivers 187lb ft of torque to the front wheels.

Zero to 62mph comes in briskly at 10.7 seconds and the HR-V will run to 105mph with CO2 emissions as low 94g/km. Its real-world 460-mile range on a full tank makes all the difference on extended journeys; better still is the official combined fuel consumption of 52.3mpg. That noted, we did even better over a full week of mixed motoring, recording a big beautiful 57.8mpg.

“Zero to 62mph comes
up briskly and the HR-V
will run to 105mph
with CO2 emissions as
low 94g/km.
Its real-world 460-mile
range on a full tank
makes all the difference
on extended journeys;
better still is the
official combined fuel
consumption of 52.3mpg.
That noted, we did
even better over a full
week of mixed motoring,
recording a big beautiful
57.8mpg...”

Just to be clear, it's the electric motor that powers the front wheels for most of the driving, particularly in urban settings. To maximize efficiency, the control system intelligently switches between Electric Drive, Hybrid Drive and Engine Drive modes as and when required and without calling for any driver input. You do, of course, get to choose the driving program that suits you: Econ, Normal and Sport are all on the menu.

You can also use the selector's 'B' setting (P-R-N-D-B) to provide what is effectively 'engine braking' — the paddle-shifters on the steering wheel let you select from four intensities (minimal to strong) of regenerative braking/deceleration.

Driving couldn't be simpler. Press the power button on the dash and select Drive. Squeeze the accelerator and you're off. Pull-aways are electrified using the main battery and most of the time the HR-V runs on silent electric power.

Generally, you won't need to wake the petrol engine unless it's for hard acceleration or high-speed cruising when the engine is locked-in to power the wheels directly — and then only because under these circumstances it's more efficient than electric.

Under the skin details aside, not only does the dramatic looking HR-V instantly grab your attention with its high-ridin' air, sleekly swept-back glasshouse treatment and clean-cut nose with slatted grille, slim high-tech headlights and clamshell bonnet, but its lean footprint — 4.4 metres long and 1.8 metres wide — makes it a textbook fit with today's congested roads.

It also contributes to the HR-V's wieldy road manners which are involving enough to serve up some driving enjoyment. Outside the city walls you'll find it handles competently with well-controlled body roll, positive steering and ample feedback that lets you press on with confidence. It rides well too, courtesy of decent damping that sees it tackling poor blacktop as effectively as it whisks you quietly along motorways and takes the sting out of long cross-country trips.

Crossovers like the HR-V are not intended to be hot driving machines but this Honda is more than capable of getting a move on while simultaneously planting a smile on your face. Good too to know that the reassuring and nicely progressive brakes deliver real stopping power whenever needed.

Stepping up, access to the five-seater cabin is straightforward through wide-opening doors — although the discreet rear door handles deftly integrated into the upper door frames at chest height might need pointing out to passengers new to the HR-V. Despite their unexpected location, they work flawlessly. Once aboard you sit tall in the saddle although not quite high enough to eyeball Range Rover drivers. Not that it matters because you still enjoy commanding views that are one up on most.

“The HR-V’s wieldy road
manners are involving
enough to serve up some
driving enjoyment.
Outside the city limits
you’ll find it handles
competently with well-
controlled body roll,
positive steering and
ample feedback that lets
you press on with
confidence.
It rides well too, courtesy
of decent damping that
sees it tackling poor
blacktop as effectively as
it whisks you quietly
along motorways...”

Styling on the inside is every bit as swish as it is on the outside. The cabin is refined and uncluttered with 'engineered'-feel premium switchgear and controls and first-rate fit and finish, as well as the strongly back in demand 'classic' heating and ventilation controls such as the classy chromed knurled rotary knobs and switchgear on the dedicated climate control panel below the central touchscreen.

Incidentally, a new air diffusion system allows you to direct air along the roof and sides of the car, away from driver and passengers' faces. This redirected airflow counteracts the heat coming through the side windows in summer, as well as the cold in winter. You can at any time twist the knob to switch back to a normal air flow pattern. The shapely front seats are tastefully upholstered in black synthetic leather with black fabric centre panels and are as good to sit in as they look; as you'd wish, they're also electrically adjustable with scrummy three-level heating.

A pleasant surprise is not just the room, but how much there is of it: a full fist of headroom as well as decent elbow room. Class-leading accommodation is not the end of it either because there's also plenty of space for personal stuff — a storage box below the padded central armrest, decent sized glovebox, dual-use cupholders, bottle-holding door bins, an open cubby and a tray ahead of the selector lever for a smartphone with convenient USB data and charging ports.

For the driver it's everything a cabin should be — the driving position is commanding, visibility unrestricted with clear views down the bonnet that make placing the HR-V accurately a stroll in the park, even in feverish traffic. The tactile three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel is great to use and benefits from a heated rim and foolproof, clearly marked multifunction controls. Directly ahead of the driver is a 7-inch digital instrument panel displaying a road speed readout alongside the official posted limit plus all essential (and easily customised) driving information.

A 'free-standing' 9-inch touchscreen is set at the perfect height for its sharply presented information to be taken in quickly while you're driving. Menu jump buttons, both hard and soft, keep things simple and uncomplicated. The navigation with 3D mapping is intuitive from the get-go and you can trust its spoken directions. Voice control (with a wide range of commands) is the cherry on the infotainment cake.

Honda's Connect infotainment system also brings Bluetooth hands-free telephone, a DAB radio, wired Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay, the My Honda+ app (keeps you in the loop when away from your HR-V), eCall emergency assistance, charging USB ports front and rear, and a rear-view camera supported by multiple parking sensors.

Talking of kit, in addition to all that already mentioned, the HR-V Advance also has keyless Smart Entry/Start, dual-zone automatic AirCon, electric parking brake with auto-hold, fast-acting one-shot electric windows, heated power-folding door mirrors, auto-dimming rearview mirror, privacy glass, and a set of distinctive 18-inch alloy wheels.

“The boot is not huge
but thanks to its regular
shape and clean deep
sides it’s uber-usable.
The hands-free powered
tailgate (with walkaway
closing) is yet another
welcome feature, while
an underfloor locker adds
extra ad hoc storage.
Folding down the 60:40-
split rear backrests
opens up a long, flat and
easy-to-load 1,289-litre
cargo bay...”

Safety is covered by Honda's SENSING 360, a comprehensive suite of safety features and driver assists that includes a full array of airbags, corner radars and cameras for enhanced awareness along with Collision Mitigation Braking System and Forward Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assist System, Vehicle Stability Assist, Intelligent Speed Limiter, Traffic Sign Recognition, Blind Spot Information, Cross Traffic Monitor, Adaptive Cruise Control, Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control, full LED headlights with Adaptive Driving Beam technology, daytime running lights, front LED fog lights and LED cornering lights.

The HR-V's rear cabin is airy and pleasant to travel in with more than enough headroom, legroom, wriggle-room for feet and relaxing backrests angles. So don't be surprised if you passengers insist on 'taking the back'. The two outer seats are individually shaped and a drop-down padded centre armrest with integrated cupholders ensures two can travel very sociably indeed.

More nice touches include dedicated AirCon vents, charging USB ports and generous storage pouches on the front seatbacks. So, lean back, enjoy the views or catch a power nap — the choice is yours.

The 'V' in HR-V could very well stand for 'versatile' because facilitating max-flex are Honda's legendary 'Magic seats'. Fitted in the rear cab, their seat bases flip up like cinema seats and when raised and locked against their backrests create a deep storage area in the middle of the car.

Combined with wide-opening back doors and an effectively flat floor, all sorts of cargo — even something out of left field like a bike — can be accommodated while still leaving the boot free to take more. An added benefit of the Magic seats is that in normal use there's space beneath their squabs to stow soft-skinned luggage and squishy bags.

At 319 litres the boot proper is not huge but thanks to its regular shape and clean deep sides it's uber-usable. The hands-free powered tailgate (with walkaway closing) is yet another welcome feature, while an underfloor locker adds a further 16 litres of ad hoc storage. Fold down the 60:40-split rear backrests and you get a long, flat and easy-to-load 1,289-litre cargo bay.

Self-charging petrol-electric hybrids make brilliant alternatives to both petrol and pure electric cars, and this latest fine-riding HR-V is smart, versatile, economical and pleasant to drive — a jewel, no less. Which makes it ideal for so many different drivers from Gen Z through Zillennial to Millennial as well as empty nesters and those with growing families. ~ MotorBar

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