Closing in fast on the Goldilocks zone of motoring perfection, the hybrid electric Honda HR-V is an SUV that’s not too big, not too small, but just right. It’s not quite a fairy tale come true, but comes within a barley sugar stick of hitting the sweet spot. In other words, you won’t get closer than this to the ever elusive motoring equivalent of squaring the circle. The new Honda HR-V is quite simply a car that I contend outshines the competition.
It’s a winning formula that has been honed the Honda way in the third generation, with significant improvements in every area and improved efficiency overall as we enter the age of hybridisation. Subtly stylish on the outside yet uncompromised inside where quality in the well designed cabin is even higher. It’s a noticeably better vehicle that will surely tempt current HR-V owners to change to the new one as well as enticing new buyers.
The attractive look conveys a sense of presence without pomp, of practicality without compromise and sensible economy without excessive belt tightening. In other words it doesn’t stint on grace and comfort: a small SUV that knows all the tricks when adding up the sums.
With one of these in the garage you will have a cheerful chariot – hardy enough for the sternest winter, swift enough for swallow-like cavorting on Spring roads, smart enough to extract deference and too tasteful for the vulgarly inclined.
I have to declare that it did not come into being fully formed as the transportation of choice for my overweight passengers. No. The new HR-V is made for greater things. But wait. This might be classed as a compact SUV based on the Jazz supermini but it’s much bigger inside than you would think. Rivals just cannot compare in the quality stakes. Such comparisons serve to doubly underline the great divide between Honda quality and the offerings from the likes of Peugeot, Renault, Ford, Vauxhall et alia. – which are lightweight in my view.
Here’s a vehicle that places a premium on versatility too, with the ingenious Magic Seat system that allows the split seats to dive down into the floor for more space or tip up to allow for sideways loading of awkward objects like a bicycle. What’s more you can do it all with one hand.
Imposing but not belligerent, grand not gross, the design is styled to suit all discerning tastes – cleverly presented as a sturdy car that doesn’t need to ‘shout’ to draw attention. The new look makes it very attractive indeed. But not only does it look better – It drives better too.
Inside you’re plied with a sense of reassurance such as one gets when sinking into a comfy chair of the sort that accommodates you with barely a perceptible sigh. The same is true for your passengers.
Everything in the cockpit is clear and… the words are ‘common sense’. With features like heated seats, Honda’s new infotainment system, multi-angle rear-view camera, cruise control, dual zone climate control (That’s posh speak for air-conditioning really, because – after all – it’s hard to see how its deployment might affect the ozone layer!) and much more to soothe and relax you as you are sheltered from the nastiness of the outside world. It costs a competitive £37,995.
With over twenty years experience with hybridisation, it’s small wonder that this is one of the best systems. You get 131PS from the 1.5 VTEC Turbo petrol engine and the two electric motors, and the latest generation CVT automatic puts drive to the front wheels. It’s one of the smoothest engine/transmission combinations available. The car switches automatically between hybrid and petrol depending on driving conditions. It thinks for you. You get silent electric power for most of the time; which a mild hybrid cannot give you. In this system the petrol engine charges the batteries for the two electric motors – so you never run out of charge.
Even if you need to ‘press on’ the mechanical composure remains. Should you be inclined you could reach 105/110 mph – but it is such a refined SUV that your driving style will become so much more relaxed. And with that comes good fuel economy – of around 55 mpg.
Whether in traffic or on the open road you’ll never feel less than well-served by the Honda brand of self-assurance and it’s hard to resist a feeling approaching smugness. Road manners are exemplary and you always feel safe and secure. Chassis and suspension enhancements have been tuned in collaboration with variable-ratio electrically assisted steering to give precise and secure handling and yet retain an essential compliant ride quality.
This is a safe, responsive and very predictable top quality car that makes its mark through inducing a serenity of poise. Motorway travel too is quiet and smooth and the equal of some luxury saloons.
If we all drove cars like this we would be on the highway to a more sensible tomorrow. And in the particular case of this HR-V, it demonstrated to me the class-leading technology that we expect from Honda. That’s the effect it has: instant respect.
