- The Honda HR-V is unchanged for 2022
- HR-V is all-new for 2023
- The Honda HR-V is available with all-wheel drive
- Honda’s Magic Seat system delivers unique cargo flexibility
- Pricing starts at $22,870 | Price it your way
- On sale now | See Honda HR-V models for sale near you
The 2022 Honda HR-V is a value-conscious, fuel-efficient, and highly versatile subcompact SUV that delivers much more passenger space and cargo volume than you expect in a vehicle this size. Its small proportions also make the 2022 HR-V a cinch to drive, or parallel park, in a crowded city environment.
While it’s available with popular features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, take careful note because the base HR-V LX trim is a Spartan ride. These smartphone features — as well as active safety features like forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control — are unavailable in the LX. To get these items means moving up to one of the HR-V’s three higher trims.
No matter which trim you choose, every HR-V is motivated by a 141-horsepower 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine paired to a continuously variable automatic (CVT) transmission. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard, and all-wheel drive (AWD) is optional. The HR-V is at its most efficient in FWD configuration, where it returns an EPA-rated 28 mpg city/34 mpg highway.
Passenger Room and Comfort
The 2022 HR-V competes with a number of strong rivals, including the Subaru Crosstrek, Hyundai Kona, Kia Seltos, Chevrolet Trailblazer, and Jeep Renegade. To be fair, the HR-V isn’t the newest subcompact SUV kid on the block, but it offers a cabin that feels light and airy, with good visibility to the front, side, and rear of the vehicle.
Front and rear legroom is more than adequate for adults, though the sloping roof does impinge upon headroom for taller folks seated in the second row.
The HR-V is an intelligent choice for anyone who routinely navigates bustling traffic, where its agility and good sightlines are valuable.
In terms of its ride, the HR-V performs admirably over smooth road surfaces. Yet, when traversing bumpier stretches of asphalt, the HR-V’s suspension can get a bit unsettled.
Cloth seating surfaces are standard on every trim, except for the range-topping EX-L that comes with leather seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Heated front seats and automatic climate control are standard on the regular EX, one trim below it.
Features and Tech
The base HR-V LX trim has a temptingly low entry price, though we think most SUV shoppers will be happier moving up at least one or two trim levels.
For example, the HR-V Sport (one up from the LX) bins its sibling’s puny 5-inch infotainment screen for a 7-inch touchscreen that’s compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also adds a second USB port and cosmetic touches such as gloss-black exterior mirrors, fog lights, and 18-inch alloys (versus the standard 17-inch wheels on the LX).
Heading upward to the EX trim adds Honda Sensing, a suite of active safety items including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and road departure mitigation.
Adding AWD to any of the four available trims costs an additional $1,500. The HR-V option experience is very simple and, once you choose between FWD or AWD, most standalone add-ons are dealer-installed accessories like floor mats and parking sensors.
Materials and Design
The Honda HR-V won’t fool you into thinking you’d spent luxury levels of money on a subcompact SUV. But the cabin of the HR-V gives off an impression of quality and longevity, even if some rivals have more soft-touch surfaces and plastic trim that feels a notch above what you get in this Honda.
Once again, the dashboard on the base LX trim looks dated with its tiny 5-inch touchscreen. The Sport model has a much more user-friendly 7-inch screen that’s compatible with smartphone connectivity.
The driver has a commanding view of the road and the standard cloth seats provide plenty of support during long drives.
At its fanciest, the top-of-the-line EX-L trim most notably comes with all the infotainment upgrades of the Sport and the active safety features of the EX. To this, it adds leather seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, along with auto-dimming mirrors. At a little more than $26,000, the EX-L remains a good bargain.
Cargo Room and Flexibility
This is where the HR-V really shines. When it comes to cargo capacity and hauling options, this Honda subcompact SUV punches above its size and weight. This is largely due to the Honda Magic Seat, which includes a split-folding rear seatback, along with a bottom cushion that can be flipped upward.
This allows for a maximum of around 58 cubic feet of capacity with the rear seats folded down. Or, for bulky objects like bikes and strollers, tilting the bottom cushion upward creates a tall storage space directly behind the two front seats.
More 2022 Honda HR-V
Build and price your own 2022 Honda HR-V to see this week’s Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own, and more, or see the HR-V models for sale near you.
