On motorways, the petrol engine takes over for optimum effectivity, however the system blends the 2 energy sources on intermediate routes. Provided that I can clock up the miles at a formidable charge travelling between photoshoots, I’m hopeful that the general financial system figures will match Honda’s claims – and that the noise created by the e-CVT gearbox’s penchant for revs gained’t show irritating over lengthy distances.
I’m additionally wanting ahead to working a hybrid that doesn’t require plugging in. Though the general public charging infrastructure has improved tremendously round my nook of the south-west, my typical workday not often afforded me the time to high up the Cupra Formentor PHEV that I ran beforehand.
Our HR-V is in top-tier Advance Type trim, with no added extras bar the £550 paint, because it’s geared up very generously as customary. A powered tailgate, parking sensors with a reversing digicam, adaptive cruise management and wi-fi smartphone charging are all welcome inclusions, and the heating for the seats and steering wheel has already proved its price after a current sequence of lengthy outside photoshoots.
To this point, I’ve discovered the 9.0in touchscreen simple to navigate and responsive to make use of, to the purpose that plugging in my telephone and swapping to Apple CarPlay hasn’t develop into the very first thing I do each time I get behind the wheel. It’s additionally a reduction to have precise bodily dials for the heating controls, which I discover a lot much less distracting than on-screen icons.
The lively security methods appear to err on the facet of warning, sounding the alarm at any time when an object will get throughout the normal neighborhood of the automobile. However I’ve seen that with different new automobiles, too, so the Honda doesn’t really feel too jumpy on this respect.
Provided that I not often go away the home with something lower than three flight circumstances full of digicam gear, I wasn’t positive if a compact crossover just like the HR-V would handle to swallow all of it, however Honda’s rear ‘Magic Seats’ actually do assist with stowing baggage. They will fold down for a flat load space, or fold up like a set of cinema seats, which means there’s even room for a pair of mountain bikes once I’m not travelling for work. The plastic boot liner additionally helps maintain mess to a minimal.
