With over 10,000 units sold in Malaysia after its debut in early 2015 and the waiting list stretching beyond the six-month mark, does the Honda HR-V deserve the title above?
Known as the Honda Vezel in Japan, the HR-V is based on an extended platform from the third-generation Honda Jazz. The is also not Honda’s first attempt at introducing the HR-V, in fact the first iteration of the HR-V was a weird mashup between the Hummer and a platypus.
QUICK FACTS
| Name | Honda HR-V 1.8L (Grade S) | Honda HR-V 1.8L (Grade E) | Honda HR-V 1.8L (Grade V) |
| Segment | B-Segment Compact Crossover | ||
| Engine | 1,799cc; inline 4-cylinder SOHC i-VTEC | ||
| Transmission | Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) | ||
| Max Power | 140 hp @ 6,500 rpm | ||
| Max Torque | 172 Nm @ 4,300 rpm | ||
| Price (OTR with insurance) | RM101,500 | RM111,100 | RM121,500 |
While many subcompact crossovers like the Ford EcoSport and Peugeot 2008 have failed to grasp the market, the HR-V was introduced at the right time, and boy does it pay. Malaysians who have eagerly waited for the HR-V reminds me of the Honda Cub (aka, the EX5) of yore, where decades ago Honda’s ingenious two-wheels mobility solution generated a tremendous demand in the West.
Over here, we tested the Grade V HR-V, which you may see was pitted face-to-face with the handsome looking Mazda CX-3.
EXTERIOR
The HR-V’s aesthetics strike a fine balance between the larger CR-V and the smaller Jazz supermini, resulting in a handsome looking compact crossover that will appeal to most buyers. The front’s bold design is more alluring when combined with the LED headlights with LED DRLs, while the sporty looking hidden rear door handles give it that alluring coupe-esque silhouette.
Also included in this review unit is the “Tough Advance Package”, which for RM3,700 gives you bumper guards, extended side sills, and some chrome garnish under the foglamp. Not sure if these give the HR-V some ruggedness to it, but my kind advice is to spend that money elsewhere.
I would say the overall package will be sweeter should Honda Malaysia equip the HR-V with 17-inch rims for the V-spec, as its puny 16-inch set didn’t do justice to the car’s overall handsome packaging.
INTERIOR
Step inside into the HR-V and you’ll be greeted by an all-black interior with piano black instrument panels, giving the Honda a premium allure for the driver and occupants. The hard plastics blend in well with the interior, not leaving any sense of “cheapness”.
The gear lever is a tad too small for my liking, but the electronic parking brake is one welcoming feature that wasn’t introduced to the Jazz or City.
Perhaps the most prominent feature found in the cabin is the floating centre console, something we’ve seen in Volvo cars over the past two decades. Underneath the centre console are dual USB sockets, a HDMI input and a 12 volt outlet.
The 7-inch infotainment screen and climate controls are both touch-sensitive and are easy to use, responsive but takes some time to get intuitive. The rear-view camera feeds a visual display onto the screen when reversing, and this proves to be useful no thanks to the slim rear windscreen panel during parking.
While Honda’s engineering capabilities are unquestionably good, the way they’ve packaged the HR-V deserves some high praise. Riding on Honda’s “Man Maximum, Machine Minimum” philosophy, the HR-V is by far the roomiest crossover in its class. The versatile Magic Seats from the Jazz makes it even better. Just like the Jazz and City, the HR-V’s fuel tank is positioned underneath the driver’s seat, freeing more cargo space for a total of 437 litres. When rear seats are folded flat, this will expand to a cavernous 1,032 litres.
PERFORMANCE
The HR-V is powered by Honda’s tried and tested 140 hp R18A 1.8-litre four cylinder engine that have been in existence since the eighth-generation Civic. Luckily for us, we won’t be getting the 1.5-litre lump used to power a 1.2 tonne crossover in Japan.
Sharing the similar Honda EarthDreams CVT (with seven virtual ratios) with the Jazz, the HR-V’s powertrain does its job adequately. Just like most modern Hondas, an Econ mode is available, allowing the car to extract more km/litre, a useful feature to use in all occasions.
THE DRIVE
Being a crossover, the HR-V has already established itself as the practical car as opposed to the CX-3’s more sporty credentials. Firstly, the CVT here is one of the better CVT gearboxes I have sampled, if only acceleration is not rushed. The omission of paddle shifters dampen things a little, especially during overtaking.
The HR-V’s ride is pliable, translating to a rather comfortable experience while cruising on the highways. Predictability and fun to drive factors are two things I would not associate the HR-V with, although we have to say that the refinement is decent enough. The HR-V’s quest for more space and lower cost means that rear axle management is overseen by a torsion beam setup, which explains the harsher ride quality for rear occupants.
No thanks to our poor road conditions, the HR-V’s choppy ride became apparent, causing discomfort occupants inside. The comfort-based dampers aren’t as promising as they sound, but the omission of 17-inch wheels in Malaysia proves to be quite the blessing in disguise.
IS THIS THE CAR FOR YOU?
Let’s be clear. Honda didn’t cheekily name this compact crossover as the Highly Recommended Vehicle. However, the “R” could very well stand for as “Reliable” or “Robust” because well, they make sense after all. Also, we’re talking about a solid Honda car which has brilliant residual values.
But will this be the vehicle I highly recommend? Well, it’s close by a whisker. The HR-V is indeed solid compact crossover for the small family or urbanites, but the only gripes I have for it are the air con vent’s design and harsh ride. Otherwise, it’s a car that many will be happy living with, until the next best crossover comes along of course.
COMPARISONS
The subcompact crossover segment is decently competitive lately. With the introduction of the hip and sporty Mazda CX-3 (CKD assembly will commence soon), the HR-V is up against a real contender. For this round of comparisons, the HR-V will go head to head against the CX-3 and Europe’s best selling subcompact crossover, the Renault Captur which was just given a price cut to RM117k.
| Honda HR-V | Mazda CX-3 | Renault Captur | ||
| ENGINE | ||||
| Type | inline 4-cyl SOHC i-VTEC | 4-cylinder direct injection, DOHC | 4-cyl turbo, direct injection | |
| Displacement | cc | 1,799cc | 1,998cc | 1,197cc |
| Max Power | hp/rpm | 140/6,500 | 154/6,000 | 118/4,900 |
| Max Torque | Nm/rpm | 172/4,300 | 204/2,800 | 190/2.000 |
| STEERING | ||||
| Type | Electronic Power Steering | Electronic Power Steering | Electronic Power Steering | |
| DRIVETRAIN | ||||
| Transmission | 7-speed Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) | 6-speed automatic | 6-speed Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) | |
| SUSPENSION | ||||
| Front | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut | |
| Rear | Torsion Beam | Torsion Beam | Torsion Beam | |
| BRAKES | ||||
| Front | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Disc | |
| Rear | Solid Disc | Solid Disc | Drum | |
| TYRE & WHEELS | ||||
| Tyre | 215/60 R16 | 215/50 R18 | 205/55 R17 | |
| Wheels | 16-inch Alloy | 18-inch Alloy | 17-inch Alloy | |
| DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT | ||||
| Overall Length | mm | 4,294mm | 4,275mm | 4,122mm |
| Overall Width | mm | 1,772mm | 1,765mm | 1,778mm |
| Overall Height | mm | 1,605mm | 1,535mm | 1,567mm |
| Wheelbase | mm | 2,610mm | 2,570mm | 2,606mm |
| Max Kerb Weight | kg | 1,249 kg | 1,211 kg | 1,180 kg |
| Luggage Capacity (VDA) | Litres | 437 litres | 350 litres | 455 litres |
| FUEL | ||||
| Tank Capacity | Litres | 50 litres | 48 litres | 45 litres |
| Consumption | litres per 100km | N\A | 6.6 litres | 5.4 litres |
| PERFORMANCE | ||||
| Max Speed | km/h | 188 km/h | 192 km/h | 192 km/h |
| 0 to 100 km/h | sec | N\A | N\A | 10.9 |
| Price | RM | RM121,500.00 (OTR including insurance & GST) | RM135,082.99 (OTR including insurance & GST) | RM117,200.00 (OTR w/o Insurance & GST) |
WILL I BUY IT?
If common sense trumps emotion, then the HR-V would be the one to go for. The HR-V’s overall package meets all the needs in daily motoring shenanigans and does so with flying colours. It’s affordability (priced from RM100k) also makes it a very enticing proposition and should be convincing enough to sway those who are planning to upgrade from a B-Segment to a C.
Despite excelling in many aspects, the Hiroshima-made subcompact would surely make me a happier new-car owner because of its looks and the way it drives.
IMAGE GALLERY
