Test drive of the Honda HR-V e:HEV, the hybrid SUV that makes everything easy.

In 2018, Honda set out to electrify its entire range by 2025. But the Japanese brand has met its goal three years early. The new Honda HR-V e:HEV joins the hybrid range, which already includes the Honda CR-V and the Honda Jazz, and will be completed in the autumn with the new Honda Civic. And among its 100% electric vehicles, the brand’s catalogue still includes the Honda e.

Precisely, the new Honda HR-V is the model we were able to drive during the national press presentation, after a first static contact. And over the kilometres covered we were able to verify the main advantage of the Honda HR-V hybrid: the versatility, comfort and ease of use it offers day to day.

Honda HR-V hybrid: range, prices and discounts

The new Honda HR-V is only offered in the e:HEV version, Honda’s name for this self-charging hybrid version, which delivers 131 CV of power and carries the ECO environmental label from the DGT. This type of propulsion already accounts for 22 percent of sales in the C-SUV segment, ahead of diesel at 19%, with a clear dominance of petrol.

For the new HR-V, Honda offers three trim versions, with the following prices:

• Honda HR-V e:HEV Elegance: 30,500 euros
• Honda HR-V e:HEV Advance: 32,400 euros
• Honda HR-V e:HEV Advance Style: 36,140 euros

These prices include a discount of 640 euros on the entry version, and 1,240 euros on the Advance, while the Advance Style has no promotion. In the case of the Advance there is an additional offer conditional on financing the purchase with the brand’s finance company, which brings the final price down to 31,000 euros.

Without going into too much detail, since we are in this range and pricing section, it should be said that its complete equipment is one of the trump cards of the Honda HR-V. Thus, from the Elegance version onwards we get features such as 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, LED headlights with automatic high beams, heated front seats, rear camera, the Honda Connect system with a 9-inch screen, hill descent control and the Honda Sensing safety package. You will hardly miss anything.

The Advance versions add blind-spot and cross-traffic alert systems, a heated leather steering wheel, electric hands-free tailgate, dual-zone climate control, LED fog lamps, a more powerful audio system, a rear double USB port and a photochromic interior mirror. At list prices they cost almost 2,000 euros more, and you have to think carefully. But with all the discounts it may be worth it, because it is only 500 euros more.

As for the luxurious Elegance versions, they add two-tone bodywork, roof rails, a wireless phone charger, a premium audio system, active cornering lights and some styling details. But the price is almost off-putting compared with the well-balanced Elegance, almost 5,500 euros more.

Among SUVs of its size with hybrid propulsion and a similar approach, its most direct rival is the KiaKia Niro Hybrid, since the ToyotaToyota C-HR takes a less practical approach, with a design that puts style ahead of practicality. Other alternatives with an ECO label, although they do not have a hybrid engine, would be the MazdaMazda CX-30 or the SuzukiSuzuki S-Cross.

The exterior and interior design of the Honda HR-V

The new HR-V keeps the same length as the model it replaces, 4.34 metres. But its bodywork clearly leans toward a coupé style, recalling an AudiAudi Q3 Sportback in the shape of the roof and even the arrangement of the rear lights. It keeps the same wheelbase, although the platform is completely new.

With a height reduction of 2 cm, but a ground clearance of no less than 19.5 cm, from the side it may seem that the wheels and tyres, which start at 18 inches on the entry trim, do not “fill” the generous wheel arches. But the HR-V has a very “attractive” look, with an eye-catching grille in body colour (it can be ordered finished in black) and with details such as the large door-mounted mirrors separated from the front pillar, to improve visibility.

The versatility of the interior remains one of its standout features. Firstly because the habitability is very good for the exterior size, with plenty of legroom for rear passengers. Secondly, for the advantages of the “Magic Seats” solution of Honda, which allows the rear bench to be folded easily and in sections against the backrests, to use that space as additional boot space. This is possible because the HR-V’s fuel tank is located under the front seats, which is no bad thing, since the boot is indeed somewhat small, at 335 litres, including the space under the floor.

Folding down the backrests to increase capacity to 1,300 litres could not be easier: in one movement the bench slides forward and lowers so that when the backrest is folded down over it a completely flat surface is created.

I particularly liked the driving position and visibility, although on winding roads the seats do not hold you as well as one might expect from their design. I would also highlight how easy it is to get used to the controls, with a 9-inch touchscreen in an elevated position with physical buttons that improve operation, and with a conventional control module for the climate system. The feel of the materials, as well as the touch of all the buttons, is more than adequate.

Another aspect that has improved greatly is the operation of the multimedia system. Honda has taken note of criticism of previous models and has paid particular attention to this aspect. A faster processor and more intuitive menus make the user experience much more pleasant and satisfying. It is compatible with Android Auto (wired) and Apple CarPlay (wireless), has a Wi-Fi hotspot and an improved voice control system.

The hybrid system of the Honda HR-V e:HEV

A peculiarity of the e:HEV system used by Honda compared with other hybrid propulsion systems is that here the electric motor is very powerful relative to the petrol engine. The latter, a 1.5-litre four-cylinder with 107 CV working on the Atkinson cycle, works most of the time turning a generator that supplies electricity while driving to the main 131 CV electric motor, and to recharge the small battery located under the boot, with a capacity of around 1 kWh.

This means that, unlike other self-charging hybrids, in the Honda HR-V most of the time the motor driving the wheels is the electric one. In practical terms, there is no need to worry much about how the system works; what matters is the feel at the wheel and the efficiency. And the Honda HR-V e:HEV delivers. Many drivers will even appreciate not having to worry about choosing between the different operating modes, of which there are three in this case. The system does everything automatically.

In EV mode, which is activated by default on start-up, the combustion engine is off. If a lot of power is demanded or if the battery does not have enough charge, hybrid mode comes into action, in which the combustion engine starts; but, as we said before, not to drive the wheels: it turns the second electric motor, which acts solely as a generator, supplying electricity to the electric motor and the battery.

The petrol engine only connects to the wheels in the third mode, called “Engine”, when cruising at a sustained speed, between about 80 and 120 km/h. It does this without a gearbox, using a fixed gear. According to Honda, only in this speed range is it more efficient for the combustion engine to drive the wheels directly than to run the generator and supply electricity to the electric motor.

The brand also provides interesting data, such as that in real urban driving (up to about 40 km/h) the HR-V runs around 90% in EV mode, while on extra-urban routes (between 40 and 80 km/h) it can easily exceed 50% in EV mode, with 30% in hybrid mode.

From theory to practice: behind the wheel of the Honda HR-V

In daily driving, the performance of the Honda HR-V Hybrid is sufficient for any type of use, with remarkable ease of driving. It needs 10.6 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h, with a top speed limited to 170 km/h.

There are three programmes that modify the throttle response: Eco, Normal and Sport. Even in Eco mode the responsiveness allows agile movement in traffic, although in Sport mode there is a little more zip when accelerating hard. In any of the programmes the smoothness of operation and responsiveness make it an easy and very pleasant car to drive, with one caveat: when you need to accelerate hard. In this case, the sound of the petrol engine is clearly noticeable, which affects ride comfort.

The paddle shifters on the steering wheel allow you to easily “play” with the level of regenerative braking to reduce speed without having to use the brakes or the “B” position on the gear lever. By the way, Honda calls the gearbox e:CVT; but it is not a continuously variable transmission, rather a transmission with a single gear ratio that has one value when the combustion engine is connected to the wheels, and another for the electric motor. To largely avoid the “drone” sensation typical of CVT gearboxes when accelerating, the HR-V simulates “gear shifts”.

During our test route we verified how efficient the HR-V’s hybrid system can be, with which you can achieve around 5.5 l/100 km average consumption in mixed use without needing to use ECO mode or driving with a very careful throttle foot. As for dynamic behaviour, the greater rigidity of the platform and the modifications made to the suspension (new dampers, stiffer bushings, new steering) are noticeable, with good ride comfort and a feeling at the wheel that the chassis would handle a much more powerful engine without problems.

We also verified in practice the improvement in the operation of driver assistance systems that use information from the high-definition front camera, especially the adaptive cruise control with distance control, which brakes and accelerates again in a much more natural way, even if another vehicle changes lane and suddenly cuts in ahead. The new camera also extends pedestrian and cyclist detection even in low-light conditions, and features such as impact mitigation through acceleration control or automatic low-speed braking have been added.

Image gallery of the Honda HR-V

Technical specifications of this car

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