Latest Honda HR-V yet another SUV/Crossover fighting for share of market

Here we go again, another new SUV/Crossover to look at in the form of the Honda HR-V. With so many of these cars on the market now, the defining lines between them seem to get more blurred by the month. Honda have been in the game for a while, the original HR-V was launched back in the ’90s.

This time they have fitted the car with their 1.6 i-DTEC diesel engine, and compared to the 2.2-litre version in previous models, this is a triumph for the brand and for their customers. It is as crisp as you would like, revs freely and pulls away without any fuss. It can be a little bit noisy when cold, but you can forgive it for that once you get it warmed up.

Fuel consumption figures quoted in the catalogue of 4.0L/100km seem very low and in reality it is. My return was 5.7L/200km over a mixed 1,200 kilometres. With manual transmission, CO2 emissions of 104 g/km give you an annual road tax of €190.

Visually, the HR-V looks more refined than some of the slightly boxier models around. It has a coupe styled roof and a softer shape than opposing brands. The car driven was the EX model with a couple of optional additions to the bodywork and the wheel trims. Overall, though, it has an appealing look that is not as butch as some of the others about.

Inside, Honda have packed the HR-V in this specification with a bucket load of technical gadgets. To be fair, you won’t need or use half of them in normal circumstance. However, like many of the new devises being offered in cars today, you would wonder if you will ever need them all.

Safety devices and driver assistance systems are there in abundance. That can make the setup a little complicated, but I’m sure with more time in the car, it should be much easier to navigate.

The brightly spaced cabin offers good room for front- and back-seat passengers. Compact SUVs of this nature often fall down on the levels of luggage space and interior space. Not this car and with their clever seat folding system, you can increase the 470 litres of boot space up to a healthy 1,533 litres with the seats folded flat.

On the road, the car has many decent traits. However, while I’m reluctant to be overly critical, there is one area that lets this car down. The ride on bumpy and undulating surfaces is not quite up to scratch.

On the back roads, there is a defining sense of giddiness that doesn’t bestow much confidence or feedback through a rather light steering setup. Even around town where surfaces are poor, the car lacks finesse. Otherwise, on the motorway, you would never think you are in the same car as the HR-V is very much at home.

There are some quality compact SUVs on the market now. Cars like the Opel Mokka, the Mazda CX-3, the Nissan Duke and Skoda Yeti, to name but a few, are all fighting for their share of the growing market. Honda cars have a great name for reliability and owner satisfaction. That alone is a real selling point as is the styling and the specification of the HR-V.