Honda’s little SUV, the HR-V hasn’t changed too much over its previous incarnation, and that’s not a bad thing. If you’re looking for something a bit different, well put together and practical, this could be the car for you.
Draped in the new Botanical Green shade for 2025, we’re testing the range topping e:HEV L. The refreshed offering retains many of the features it came with in 2022, reinforcing the “if it ain’t broke” mantra Honda seems to have embraced.
The HR-V continues to offer a fresh look for a small SUV, shunning the standard boxy appearance most have come to expect for a bit more of a sporty liftback profile that works to set it apart from its peers.
It’s priced at $42,900 drive away, with the Japanese car maker continuing to maintain their fixed price setup. That’s only slightly higher than the Hyundai Kona Hybrid. In the Honda’s case, its small, hybridised 1.5-litre four cylinder engine outputs 96kW and 253Nm.
That’s pushed through a smooth driving e-CVT (electric continuously variable transmission) with a claimed 4.5-litres/100km in the fuel economy stakes. We managed to hit and maintain that in real world testing too.
The car drives quietly with the combustion engine springing to life with relative ease. We made it work a little hard thanks to steamy temps during our test period, but it handled it all. Around town too, it goes about business without fuss.
Visibility all around is quite good and while not lightning fast, there’s enough go from the HR-V’s powerplant to zip when required. We found the car to be well insulated from outside noises too, with a smooth ride on a mixture of road and not-quite-road surfaces.
It rides on 18-inch wheels, paired with 225/50 Michelin tyres. Putting your foot down will bring out a bit more rasp from the engine as it squeezes every last bit of output it can muster, but it never really feels out of breath.
Sport drive mode can help with the acceleration a little bit, certainly more than the relaxed ECON mode suggests, while regenerative braking mode helps harvest some of that energy and increase the forward driving resistance like other EV’s do.
The latter can be adjusted via paddle selectors behind the steering wheel. The interior is well put together for a car this size. The look and feel of the buttons, dials and knobs up front all feel quality to the touch.
The 7.0-inch driver’s display and 9.0-inch infotainment system both look crisp, with the latter offering wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. There are a couple of convenient places to put your phone in the centre console.
There’s no wireless phone charger, which is a bit of a miss. Native maps are included, with a five year subscription for updates. The large bezel around the infotainment screen feels a little cheap compared to the climate controls and other parts of the dashboard.
It’s worth mentioning that in the L trim, the HR-V benefits from dual zone climate control over its lower siblings. The interior is quite roomy, with the seats covered in black leatherette and fabric, which look nice and feels comfortable to sit in.
The front seats offer plenty of adjustability, though even at this trim level that’s a manual process. Honda have marketed the rear row as “magic seats”. Not only can they fold completely flat, but the lower bench can also fold upwards to create a partition.
The combination allows for 304-litres of boot space, to a respectable 1274-litres. It’s an interesting functionality that can be done single-handedly and offers some flexibility that others can’t match.
While the name might seem a bit gimmicky given their function, there’s no denying that Honda have managed to create a TARDIS out of the HR-V; there’s that much legroom available for the two rear occupants.
This reviewer, at 182cm tall, was able to sit behind their own driving position and still have knee room. Not only that, the seat base offers plenty of support. The HR-V is strictly a four-seater, and that may irk some.
It does beg the question though about how often you’d actually try to pile five people into a car of this size. We think it happens a lot less than people may think. A centre armrest with cupholders can fold down between the two rear seats.
Rear passengers also benefit from air vents and USB-C ports. The HR-V has a four star ANCAP rating from 2022, and is packed full of safety features, including blind spot detection, which includes an audible warning if cars get a bit too close.
Rear cross traffic alert is joined by what’s been coined ‘Honda SENSING’, which makes use of lane keep and traffic jam assist to keep the HR-V centered in the lane. None of these safety features are ever over-zealous, which adds to the pleasant driving experience.
Parking is assisted by a rear-facing camera with dynamic guides and parking sensors (front and rear). Owners can also access Honda Connect, bringing convenience features to your phone so you can remotely lock the doors or turn the lights on or off.
You can also locate your car. Access to this service is also included for up to five years. That’s the same time period for the unlimited kilometre warranty. The battery has 8-years of coverage. Servicing is every 10,000km and capped at $199 for the first five.
The HR-V is a pleasantly surprising small SUV, given how easily it drives around town and the amount of space on offer inside. The lack of a fifth seat didn’t register as a negative for us, although there are perhaps some features missing.
It could do with things like electric front seats, a wireless phone charger and maybe some more upmarket materials. You can find out more on the Honda Australia website or by talking to your local dealership.
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Our test vehicle was provided by Honda Australia for independent review purposes.
