2023 Honda HR-V

Here is a nicely finished compact mid-size Honda SUV that’s gives a comfortable and practical drive.  The 2023 Honda HR-V also proves an efficient companion, and one that should prove reliable over the longer haul.

Slip inside the HR-V cabin, and there is a sense of high quality about the interior.  Nice tactile materials have been used throughout, and the interior is well appointed and put together.  Everything is ergonomically well sorted, and the displays have excellent clarity.  The long list of standard items is generous.  Both current 2023 Honda HR-V models come with some pretty high-tech equipment, so front and rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, LED auto headlights, climate control air-con, and a 9.0-inch touchscreen with incorporated satellite navigation are present.  The HR-V runs both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and it sits on 18-inch alloy wheels as standard. My Honda+ app is a pretty cool feature and operates using a digital key.  Its Geo Fence technology can even create an alert if the car leaves a specified area, or you can easily relocate the car should you forget where you parked it!

2023 Honda HR-V

Having gone through a pretty major overhaul, the 2023 Honda HR-V now rides on the same platform as the Honda Civic.  This is a good thing because the new HR-V is significantly bigger than the outgoing model.  With the larger Civic platform now the basis of the 2023 HR-V’s chassis, the wheelbase has grown to being 2 inches longer than the previous model, and, overall, the length of the new model extends 9 inches more than the preceding version.  So, yes, there’s plenty of space on offer in the new HR-V for both the driver and front passenger.  If you are relegated to the rear seats, then life is actually pretty decent for those on the window seats – even if you have longer legs and are taller in stature.  However, for the taller passengers in the middle seat things might feel a little more constrained.  Ride comfort and good cabin space, particularly for 4 ½ adults gives the new Honda HR-V a likable character.

2023 Honda HR-V

You’ll find that you can fit a decent amount of luggage into the relatively small 335 litres of boot space behind the upright rear seats.  Other similar SUVs can offer more room back here in the luggage bay, but where the new Honda HR-V starts to win one over is in the level of passenger comfort and space in both front and second rows.  Then there is the real winner for Honda’s new HR-V SUV, and that is Honda’s innovative Magic Seats.  This Magic Seat set-up allows for the rear seat backs to fold flat, as well as for the seat squab to be pulled up into a vertical position should you need more luggage space behind the front seats.  I currently drive a recent Honda Jazz model quite a lot as a daily driver, and this Magic Feature is one that I really like because it frees up loads of useful space and allows you to transport even more taller and bulkier items between the rear seats and the front seats, on the floor.  I frequently carry a keg full of water or a few compost bags in one of the rear footwell spaces with the 60:40 folding squab folded up out of the way.  Having the Honda HR-V Magic Seats is awesome, and then you can always fold the 60:40 split-folding rear seats fully flat to reveal a completely level 1305-litres of load space.

2023 Honda HR-V

Riding on a fine set of Michelin (or equivalent quality) rubber tyres, the Honda HR-V rides and handles exceptionally well once you realise that this is a vehicle that was never intended to provide a harsh sportscar-type experience.  Even when pushing on, the 2023 Honda HR-V remains very settled and happily in control.  The HR-V is talented at holding on securely to the road when corners are taken quickly, and then the ride has been set to soaks up the bumps very well indeed.  The HR-V’s brakes bite nice and hard to bring you to a complete and safe stop when required, and the steering weight is accurate and pleasantly light about town but increasingly heavier as speeds increase.

The HR-V exterior is aerodynamic and smooth for an SUV of this size.  It’s not the prettiest looking thing out there but then it’s not plain ugly either.  The really nice set of black and silver alloys look superb, and they lift the smooth and flowing lines of the HR-V design – just that little bit more than they would otherwise.  From the front of the vehicle, the HR-Vs nose is a no-nonsense design, with clean headlights that boast inset DRLs, and the chunky and simple grille and bumper design is a tidy layout.  The same can be said for the rear, where the taillights are pleasingly incorporated into the SUV/tall-hatchback shape.

Two models of the new HR-V are currently on offer in Australia. The base model comes with the familiar and dependable 1.5-litre 134 kW petrol engine.  It delivers good economy but isn’t up to the hybrid’s level of efficiency.  The hybrid model is known as the e:HEV variant and thus has a bit more tech happening in the drivetrain.  To get the best efficiency results out of the e:HEV version, means that you really do need to ensure that the battery is always kept topped up and that mostly shorter journeys are undertaken for those amazing efficiency figures you can brag about.  But I guess that’s pretty obvious for any hybrid vehicle.  The self-charging Honda e:HEV HR-V is a clever hybrid set-up, and the self-charging unit combines a zippy 1.5-litre petrol engine and two electric motors to provide a WLTP combined economy figure of 4.5 litres/100 km.  This can also be regularly beaten depending on your commute and your kind of driving style.  Some really amazing figures can be had if you keep it topped up by driving for short journeys for most of the time.  So it’s great for the city environment.

Out on the road, both HR-V SUVs are rewarding to drive.  If you’re in the hybrid variant and you’re taking on the city life or driving in town traffic, your progress is pretty smooth, with the acceleration easy to control in electric mode.  Head out to the wild blue yonder, and the hybrid HR-V uses its ICE components as its mainstay of power.  Accelerate hard, and the engine has a bit of a drone with the efficient e-CVT transmission.  For those who drive longer distances out of town, then the standard 1.5-litre petrol HR-V will be better suited.  Both HR-Vs ride well, with little wind noise at higher speeds.

People are loving the SUV concept these days, so where there is a good new SUV these days, there are going to be plenty of competitors snapping at its heels.  Brand new Kia Seltos, Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4, and the Toyota Corolla Cross models are definitely an option.  Then there is the talent from old rivals in the form of the Citroen C3 Aircross, Nissan Juke, Ford Puma, Ford Ecosport, Peugeot 2008, Renault Captur, Suzuki S-Cross, VW T-Cross, and even the spacious and practical Skoda Kamiq.

All of these medium SUVs possess great all-round ability.  But the 2023 Honda HR-V stacks up well and is a capable contender.  The new 2023 Honda HR-V is a great way to get about and makes for a likable small SUV that happily goes about any daily business with very little fuss and with plenty of reliability to back it up.  The Honda HR-V remains a practical option for buyers wanting a compact SUV that delivers great fuel economy and useful interior space (think Magic seats). Its family car credentials are boosted further by decent safety features and good on-board tech.

2023 Honda HR-V

The current 2023 Honda HR-V models include the:

• HR-V Vi X
• HR-V e:HEV L

For any more information on the 2023 Honda HR-V, or for that matter any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!) we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of Honda dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!