Honda HR-V: Is it worth the price?

The HR-V is Honda’s smallest offering in the crowded urban SUV/CUV space and is also the most affordable crossover from the stables of the prime Japanese carmaker. The all-new generation of the HR-V was given a facelift earlier this year, and arrived on the shores of Malaysia with refreshed styling details, new variants (including the Hybrid and RS), and wears a price tag of between RM 108,800 to RM 124,800.

Being one of the newer additions in the family, the 2019 Honda HR-V (with the HR-V being the abbreviation for “Hi-Rider Revolutionary Vehicle”) sits in the same segment as the Mazda CX-3 and Mitsubishi ASX. So, sharing its under-the-skin architecture with the Jazz hatchback, is this subcompact crossover SUV worth its asking price? In a market that’s teeming with small-ish SUVs, it’ll take some digging to find that out. Well then, let’s get right to it...

How does it look?

While there are many compact crossovers that all tend to look quite similar to each other, the same can’t be said about the charming and typically voguish Honda HR-V. The whole design certainly manages to catch the eye, and it isn’t too hard to recognise Honda’s intentions and the audience they are trying to woo with the HR-V. It’s quite clearly gunning for the young and hip section of the crowd, though it wouldn’t be unimaginable to find one of these in a multi-car family driveway, either. And if that kind of personality rings a bell for you, then the zesty and “look at me” appeal of this crossover would certainly complement your craving for attention, especially if it’s the stylish HR-V RS we’re talking about.

The front end styling of the Honda HR-V RS is dominated by a large chrome embellishment on the deep-chin grille, with loads of glossy black finish around the place. The achingly stylish LED headlamps are neatly positioned between the muscular bonnet and the well-sculpted bumper; the latter housing sporty looking fake air vents with LED DRLs and prominent front spoiler extensions. Along the sides, the HR-V RS features bold 18-inch two-tone alloy rims, sporty wheel arch extensions and side skirts, flared fenders, sharp body contours, sloping roofline, and C-pillar mounted rear door handles. The rear of the RS grabs attention, too, with its distinctive LED tail lamps, sporty roof spoiler, sculpted tailgate, and a glossy black bumper with its contrasting static reflectors and a single large exhaust outlet.

How about the interior?

The interior design of the Honda HR-V is easily trendy enough to effortlessly convey a sense of modernity while being minimalistic at the same time. There’s very little clutter in this interior and Honda has been able to amalgamate style and function into one, good-looking package. The driver-oriented dash gets stylish aircon vents, a touch-infotainment head unit, and an easy-to-read instrument cluster. Meanwhile, it’s covered in soft-touch leatherette trim and the centre console features a touch-sensitive HVAC panel. In terms of practicality, the boot offers 437 litres of space.

While the HR-V’s interior certainly looks nice and trendy, and boasts some good fit-and-finish and build quality, it’s lacking in space. The rear bench is tight due to the low roof, and along with the low-set seats and small window aperture, you could feel a tad hemmed-in in here. The range-topping RS trim gets automatic headlights, push-button start, full leather upholstery, automatic climate control, shift paddles behind the steering wheel, sports pedals, electronic handbrake, cruise control, 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat, 7-inch infotainment display, and parking sensors with a multi-angle rearview camera.

Powertrain and performance

The Honda HR-V specs sheet says it comes with a 1.8-litre four-cylinder i-VTEC engine that develops 140hp at 6,500 rpm and 172Nm of torque at 4,300 rpm, and is paired to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Meanwhile, the RM 120,800 Hybrid variant is powered by a 1.5-litre i-VTEC four-pot that’s supplemented by a 30hp electric motor - for a combined output of 150hp and 190Nm. And instead of a CVT, the HR-V Hybrid is equipped with a more modern and slightly quicker 7-speed Dual-Clutch Transmission (7DCT).

However, despite its sporting aspirations and the ‘RS’ badge, the HR-V isn’t really a speed champion. Of course, while it is capable of topping out at 190 kmph, the sprint from 0 to 100 kmph still takes over 10 seconds to accomplish. With that being said, though it may not perform as well as a cheetah that’s chasing down a gazelle, the 1.8-litre engine in the HR-V certainly feels refined and smooth. On the other hand, the hybrid powertrain impresses with its fuel economy. If driven without jabbing at the throttle every time, you can get up to 25 kmpl out of this HR-V Hybrid! The regular petrol-powered variants, though, can only manage a piffling 13 kmpl.

Safety

The Japanese carmaker has loaded the HR-V with six airbags, ABS with EBD and braking assist, Automatic Brake Hold (ABH), Hill-Start Assist (HSA), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), ISOFIX anchor points, and there’s even Honda’s LaneWatch Camera (LWC) system.

Verdict

Keeping all of its fortes and pricing in mind, the Honda HR-V sure makes for an appealing option within its segment.