With the HR-V, Honda wants to make car buyer’s in the subcompact CUV segment feel at ease by offering the reliability, resale value, and efficiency that defines the Honda brand. What do you need to know before you buy a Honda HR-V? Don’t worry, we’ll tell you everything right here in our Buyer’s Guide.
The mini CUV market is exploding as American buyers seek cars with lots of interior space and good fuel efficiency. We here in ‘Murica want to have our cake and eat it, too.
The Renegade, the HR-V, the CX-3, and the Chevy Trax are all newcomers trying to get a piece of the pie (or cake, we guess). They each offer lightweight, fuel efficient designs with tiny wheelbases but tall roofs that give the insides a more cavernous feeling.
Honda’s HR-V hopes to woo buyers in with the reliable, efficient brand image created by its more traditional cars like the Civic, Accord, and Honda CR-V. The HR-V promises great fuel economy, with a tried-and true powertrain similar to its Fit, Civic, and CR-Z brethren, you can expect reliability to be tops, too. And that’s why people buy Hondas.
What’s New About The 2016 Honda HR-V
Honda HR-Vs have been puttin’ around Europe, Japan, and Australia since the late 1990s, but it wasn’t until the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show that Honda promised that the little CUV would land on U.S. shores. Built on the same platform as the Fit, the all new 2016 HR-V has electric power steering, McPherson strut suspension up front and a torsion-beam in the rear. The brakes are 11.5” front disks and 11.1” in the back. The new 1.8-liter inline 4 cranks out 141 horsepower, 127 ft-lbs of torque and is mated to either a 6-speed manual or a CVT automatic.
Which One We’d Buy
If you want a Honda HR-V, you can get an LX, and EX, or an EX-L. All three models come with the same 1.8-liter naturally aspirated I4, but only the LX and EX come with the stick shift. So, as enthusiasts, we’d have to opt for one of those.
The base model LX comes well equipped with air conditioning, 17-inch aluminum wheels, power windows, power locks, 5 inch color LCD screen, Bluetooth capability, hill start assist, and front and side airbags. All in with destination fee, it costs $19,995. For an extra $2,050, the EX also offers good value with automatic climate control, lane departure warning, SMS text message function, push button start, heated seats, power moonroof, and a 7-inch display, and fog lights. So either the LX or EX are decent options for those HR-V shoppers out there. [Build Your Own]
Important Facts At A Glance:
MSRP: $19,115 - $24,590 Max Advertised Towing Capability: Not Recommended
MPG: 28 city/ 35 hwy / 31 combined [2wd CVT] Engines: 1.8-liter I4
Curb Weight: ~2,900-3,100 pounds IIHS Rating: NA
Transmissions: 6-speed manual, CVT automatic
Drivetrain Layout: Front engine, FWD/AWD
Photo credit: Honda