2023 Honda HR-V SUV

　　

Honda HR-V Video Shorts

by zzdcar Test Team

　　

2023 Honda HR-V Review

byBrent RomansSenior Manager, Written Content

　　Brent Romans has worked in the automotive industry since 1996. He has written or edited thousands of expert car reviews and road-tested hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Brent is a senior manager of written content at zzdcar and previously contributed to publications such as Super Street and Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road. His personal car is a 2019 BMW M2 Competition, which he bought for its ideal combination of performance, style and practicality.

　　, rating written byBrent RomansDirector, Vehicle Testing

　　Jonathan Elfalan has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. As a director of vehicle testing at zzdcar, Jonathan has tested and reviewed thousands of cars and written thousands of car-related articles over the course of his career. Jonathan got his start testing cars for Road & Track magazine as a newly minted mechanical engineer grad from University of California, Irvine, and has also contributed to Motor Trend and the Associated Press. He likes to say he learned to drive a manual transmission in a rear-wheel-drive mid-engine vehicle but often omits it was his family's 1991 Toyota Previa minivan.

　　The HR-V is Honda's smallest crossover SUV, and it slots beneath the stalwart CR-V, Passport and Pilot in Honda's lineup. The first generation of the HR-V was based on the Honda Fit hatchback and made its North American debut in 2016. Now, seven model years later, there is an all-new HR-V for 2023, and Honda's littlest SUV has grown in almost every possible way.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Honda HR-V LX 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$133/mo  for HR-V LX

　　HR-V LX

　　LX 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $23,800 MSRPLX 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $25,300 MSRPSport 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $25,900 MSRPSport 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $27,400 MSRPEX-L 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $27,900 MSRPEX-L 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $29,400 MSRP

　　vs

　　$167/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　Keen followers of the Honda brand will realize that the Fit is no longer in production, and that means this new HR-V is no longer based on the Fit. It is instead based on the larger Civic, which means the new HR-V is roomier than its predecessor, particularly in the back seat. Unfortunately, the trick storage solution made famous by the previous HR-V is gone in this iteration. Honda's so-called Magic Seat, which let users flip up the rear seat bottoms to store tall items on the floor, is no more. It's a bummer because that feature differentiated the HR-V from the rest of the class.

　　With a new generation of HR-V comes a new generation of tech, and this model has a similar setup to that of the new Civic. The standard size for the central screen is 7 inches, but the EX-L has a 9-inch unit. Both screens support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, but only the EX-L allows you to go wireless. Unlike the Civic, the HR-V does not offer an integrated navigation system, so you'll be out of luck if you venture off the beaten path in an area without cell service.

　　The engine for the 2023 HR-V is probably the least "new" thing about it. It's a non-turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque. Those new figures represent bumps of 17 hp and 11 lb-ft from the previous HR-V's engine, but we had hoped for a bit more power given the model's larger size.

　　Honda expects the HR-V to be an entry-level model for SUV shoppers and pitches it against rivals such as the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Mazda CX-30, Toyota Corolla Cross and Volkswagen Taos. We think it will satisfy shoppers looking for a useful small SUV, though its rivals can do the same, and sometimes with a little more personality. Read our test team's Expert Rating below to learn more about the new HR-V's biggest hits and misses.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.5

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the HR-V drive? Our first driving impressions of the HR-V were mixed. We didn't love the artificial feeling of the slightly overly light steering but got used to it over time. The engine and transmission also felt relatively adequate while tooling around at town at low speeds but utterly gutless once you have passengers on board and are trying to makes moves at highway speeds. In fact, the HR-V requires more than 10 seconds to accelerate to 60 mph, which is leisurely even for this class.

　　The HR-V's most redeeming qualities are its smooth and responsive brakes and tidy handling. Even as one of the larger SUVs is the extra-small class, the HR-V delivers relatively light-footed movement that Hondas are typically known for.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the HR-V? The HR-V's front seat cushions are shockingly stiff. It's almost like sitting on a wooden bench. There is also no lumbar support adjustment, which is surprising and disappointing, especially on our fully loaded test car. It's rare that we find the rear seats to be more comfortable than the fronts, but that holds true for the HR-V. Thankfully things get better from here.

　　Ride comfort is great. The HR-V doesn't filter out all road bumps, but it does an admirable job of softening them without being overly floaty or lacking in body control. We also appreciate how quiet the cabin is. The HR-V does a good job of keeping road, wind and ambient noise to minimal levels, and if you aren't prodding the engine for speed, you don't hear much from the powertrain either.

　　The climate control had no issues cooling the cabin, but it oddly maintained too cold a temperature for our tastes in any setting we chose. Perhaps it's to help compensate for the lack of rear air vents, another strike against the HR-V's overall comfort score.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below