Verdict
The Historic Columbia River Freeway in northern Oregon is house to spectacular surroundings like 600-foot waterfalls, sky-scraping pine bushes, and climbing trails that overlook the mighty Columbia itself. Since this picturesque setting is lower than an hour from Portland correct, it is a simple escape for households eager to get out of town – and that is apparent by the variety of smallish crossovers clogging up every parking zone.
However behind the wheel of the 2023 Honda HR-V, I really feel proper at house. Based mostly on the identical platform because the Eleventh-generation Civic, this new HR-V is ideal for small households and lengthy weekends. It has the Civic’s upscale inside styling and likable driving dynamics, which makes it an incredible SUV to pedal round, with the additional advantage of extra cargo and passenger house than your common sedan. Meaning you possibly can simply pack up baggage, grandma, and the canine and get out of city.
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Insert Generic Crossover Right here
Even in these crowded parking heaps, although, no person stops to have a look at the brand new HR-V. The 2023 mannequin blends into the group, with no defining cues or distinguishable options to set it other than the alternate options. It is mainly a blob of vaguely acquainted styling parts mushed into one nondescript bundle. The earlier mannequin, polarizing because it was, was a minimum of recognizable.
The $395 Nordic Forest paint job is without doubt one of the few highlights, including some panache to the in any other case drab design. And when you go for the Sport mannequin, you could have the choice to boost the outside with 10-spoke black wheels, matching black badges, and different gloss black accents.
The HR-V’s cabin, alternatively, is improbable. It is clear, refined, and of a better high quality than what’s usually frequent for this class. Textured smooth plastic covers the sprint and heart console, whereas high-end leather-based adorns our EX-L tester’s seats and door panels, with only some apparent onerous plastic contact factors all through your complete automobile.
And every little thing simply feels stable. Contemplating the HR-V’s cabin is a near-identical carryover from the Civic, that kind of high quality is not surprising. It isn’t stunning, both, to see the Civic’s honeycomb fixture throughout the HVAC vents, the identical clicky metallic knobs for AC controls, and the non-compulsory 9.0-inch touchscreen atop the sprint. All of it carries over, and all of it’s nice.
The 2023 HR-V blends into the group, with no defining cues or distinguishable options to set it other than the alternate options.
Fashions beneath the top-end EX-L make do with a regular 7.0-inch touchscreen show, however the bigger 9.0-inch show has huge, easy-to-read icons and responds with smartphone-like quickness. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are customary, with wi-fi obtainable completely within the EX-L mannequin, in addition to a Wi-Fi hotspot and wi-fi cellphone charging.
Strikes Like Civic
The brand new HR-V packs a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter engine good for 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet, which marks a rise of 17 hp and 11 lb-ft over its predecessor. That further oomph pairs to a repeatedly variable transmission, with customary front-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive obtainable on the top-end mannequin.
From the second you hit the throttle, the HR-V feels speedier than its predecessor. Torque arrives at a extra beneficiant 4,200 RPM – versus 4,300 – with the four-cylinder offering extra push on its approach to 60 and simply past. The HR-V is zippy round city and in a position to rise up to freeway speeds with no challenge.
Dynamically, the HR-V is an Olympic skier in a category of novices (besides possibly the Mazda CX-30).
The CVT is fully inoffensive, too. Honda carried out pretend “Step-Shifts” into this refreshed transmission making it really feel extra like a standard computerized, and it “shifts” with respectable quickness. Higher but, there is not any extra annoying droning at low speeds.
Increased up within the mountains, although, the non-turbocharged four-cylinder and the fake computerized did not precisely jive with the additional altitude. Though the two.0-liter engine was nonetheless in a position to ship sufficient energy at these peaks, it took transferring the shifter to S (for Sport) and burying the fuel pedal deep into the footwell to maintain the crossover at velocity. And nonetheless, the HR-V wasn’t blissful about this extra strain, wheezing and whining its manner up the mountain. Shoehorning within the Civic’s turbocharged 1.5-liter engine can be a simple repair right here.
Dynamically although, the HR-V is an Olympic skier in a category of novices (besides possibly the Mazda CX-30). Boasting the brand new Civic chassis beneath – which additionally underpins the superior Integra – the HR-V has a stiffer general construction and a brand new multi-link rear suspension that makes it markedly extra dynamic, versus the torsion beam rear axle of the earlier mannequin.
With that suspension, the HR-V was wanting to dive into the twisty mountain roads north of the Columbia River. Its nondescript nostril pointed precisely the place I wished it to, and the totally impartial suspension stored physique roll to a minimal. Similar to within the Civic, the steering is classy: fast, responsive, and completely weighty. Even with an electronically assisted rack, the steering wheel by no means feels overly boosted. Once more, solely the Mazda CX-30 offers the HR-V a run for its cash on this respect.
Extra Room, Much less “Magic”
While you’re not forcing it up and down a mountain cross, the Honda HR-V is a greater than nice freeway companion. Aside from a barely extra inflexible experience, a small draw back of that improved dealing with, this compact Honda is quiet, comfy, and spacious.
The 2023 HR-V is 2.6 inches wider than its predecessor and stretches a hearty 8.7 inches in size, placing it at 179.8 inches general. The wheelbase, in the meantime, is almost 2 inches longer than on the earlier model; 104.5 inches versus 102.8. And which means extra cargo house than earlier than, with 24.4 cubic ft behind the second row and 55.1 cubes with it folded flat.
However here is the dangerous information: the brand new HR-V loses the beloved “Magic Seat” perform – its as soon as extremely configurable rear bench – because of switching from the versatile Match platform to Civic underpinnings. However Honda made certain to maintain a few of that very same usability intact. With a little bit of purposeful lifeless house beneath the second-row bench – sufficient to stay your arm into – the rear seats fold nearly fully flat. And due to the bigger rear hatch opening, loading and unloading even outsized items of furnishings must be a cinch.
Here is a fast demonstration of how that works:
Honda Sensing comes customary throughout all HR-V trims, including visitors jam help and visitors signal recognition for the primary time. That’s alongside all the identical options that carry over, like computerized emergency braking, lane-centering, adaptive cruise management, and extra.
Even by means of the twisty mountain roads, the adaptive cruise system allowed me to maneuver in consolation whereas having fun with the surroundings. The lane-centering tech stored the HR-V put within the lane whereas the space management maintained a wholesome tempo to the automobiles in entrance of it, making use of throttle and braking inputs as wanted.
Priced To Match
Though the 2023 Honda HR-V grows in measurement and makes positive aspects within the tech and security departments, this small SUV continues to be priced competitively. The bottom LX mannequin with front-wheel drive begins at $24,895 with the $1,245 vacation spot price included. And even the top-end EX-L mannequin examined right here with all-wheel drive prices $30,195 earlier than choices.
A number of the smaller, extra poorly outfitted alternate options are extra inexpensive than the HR-V, certain. The Nissan Kicks begins at a cool $21,285 with vacation spot and the Hyundai Kona is $22,595. And returning 28 mixed miles per gallon in front-wheel-drive type, and 27 mixed with all-wheel drive, the HR-V is not essentially the most fuel-efficient choice of the bunch, both.
However what the HR-V does provide is a top-end driving expertise, a high-quality cabin, and extra room than earlier than – that means you’ll load up the boot with plenty of baggage. Contemplating the Civic was already a standout, it is no shock that the 2023 HR-V seems like one other winner from Honda.
