By Sue Baker
Others may lay claim to inventing the ‘crossover’, that clever combination of hunky style and hatchback practicality, which is fast becoming the most popular kind of family car, but it was Honda that actually did it back in 1999 with the first HR-V. Since then, the template crafted by Honda – a versatile car that sits a little taller and feels a little funkier than conventional saloons and hatchbacks – has spawned a whole new generation of crossover cars, including big brother CR-V. But the arrival this year of a new HR-V has been warmly awaited. Here is the car that sets a benchmark for next-generation models of its ilk.
Big on space
With its svelte body, sleek curves and coupe line of its roof tapering towards the tail, the new HR-V is a looker, which isn’t always true of this kind of car. From the outside, you might think there wouldn’t be room for six-footers in the back seat, but remarkably there is, and with headroom to spare. That’s partly down to a clever piece of planning that has seen the fuel tank moved from its traditional location in the rear of the car, to be sited under the floor below the front seats. As a result, space has been freed up to give the HR-V both an unusually generous boot (470 litres) for a car of its type, and also a roomy back seat with plenty of knee space and headroom for lofty adults.
It’s a proper five-seater, with an almost flat centre floor where the middle passenger’s feet need to go, and that’s a blessing because it means no protruding transmission tunnel getting in the way of comfort. The ‘Magic Seats’ fold flat to extend the boot space, or the bases can be raised, in the style of cinema seats, to carry unusually tall items that won’t fit into most cars.
Up front in the driving seat you feel cosseted by the cabin design, with its full leather seats, a high centre console and a nicely placed stubby gear lever. Underneath is a handy hidden tray for stowing items, and both front doors can accommodate two 0.5 litre water bottles. There’s an useful safety feature in the electronic handbrake, which will only release when everyone’s seatbelt is fastened.
Under the hood
Honda engines are well known for their technical excellence and efficiency, and the HR-V comes with a choice of two great engines – a 1.5 litre petrol and 1.6 litre diesel. The gearbox is a six-speed manual, and there is also a CVT auto, which unlike most of its type gives you the feel of gear shifts as it does its work.
This car is everything you expect of a well-engineered Honda, brisk and civilised, with nicely weighted steering and a feeling of poised, purposeful behaviour. The gear change is slick, the ride quality cushioned, the handling calm and crisp, and the car’s build quality has a reassuringly solid feel.
* In the UK the HR-V will be a right-hand drive vehicle
