Used 2018 Honda HR-V

If we could assign a slogan to the 2018 Honda HR-V subcompact-crossover SUV, it would have to be “smaller is better.” Comparable in size to the original Honda CR-V, the HR-V displays Honda’s talent for packaging a lot of vehicle into a very compact space. Case in point, the HR-V’s flip-up Magic Seat that allows tall or bulky items to be easily stowed behind the front seats. In fact, the HR-V provides more interior room than a Mazda CX-3 or Nissan Juke, and delivers better fuel economy than either the Jeep Renegade or Chevrolet Trax. HR-V buyers can choose between front-wheel or all-wheel drive and a choice of manual or automatic transmissions, although the lack of a collision-avoidance system seems a glaring omission.

Honda’s 2018 HR-V subcompact-crossover SUV isn’t fast by any means, but it is fun to drive. The HR-V’s 141-horsepower 1.8-liter engine has no problem delivering acceptable levels of acceleration and passing power for the 2,900-pound SUV, but a few more ponies would be nice. Delivering its peak power around 6,500 rpm, the HR-V’s engine can get rather loud when laying on the gas, and you’ll find yourself laying on the gas quite often. Honda’s slick 6-speed manual is the preferred choice for enthusiast drivers, but it’s not offered on models equipped with all-wheel drive. In all likelihood, the vast majority of HR-Vs will come with Honda’s excellent CVT automatic that features a Sport mode for faster response times. We found the HR-V’s nicely weighted steering and stiff suspension make it a blast to push through twisting curves, yet the overall ride is comfortable without feeling too soft.

Honda’s 2018 HR-V features quality materials and an upscale layout. Tan leather seating is available in top-line versions, and all models have an LCD interface in the center dash for infotainment. Base LX models have easy-to-use audio and climate systems with traditional buttons and knobs, while EX and EX-L models have touch-based systems. The latter systems look sophisticated, but their touch controls can be frustrating, especially when you have to take your eyes off the road. The front-passenger seat can be folded back to form the HR-V’s "Long Mode." In this setup, Honda’s smallest SUV can carry items like surfboards or lumber.

The HR-V doesn’t look like a lifted car or a shrunken CR-V. In size and shape, Honda’s newest crossover SUV again splits the difference. Honda’s diminutive hauler is most its own when viewed from the side, where it sports a coupe-like profile thanks to a sloping roof, a rear-window treatment that slopes further still, and rear-door handles that sit flush where the window forms its arrow. All HR-Vs ride on 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, and EX and EX-L models include a power moonroof. Roof rails, standard on the EX-L, add versatility and rugged appeal.

INTERIOR FLEXIBILITY
With nearly 60 cubic feet inside, the 2018 Honda HR-V is one of the roomiest and most accommodating subcompact SUVs on the market. The Magic Seat rear-seat cushions flip up to create more cargo space behind the front seats, while the flat-folding front-passenger seat creates a longer cargo floor.

HONDA LANEWATCH
Using a camera built into the passenger-side mirror, the 2018 Honda HR-V displays a live video of vehicles approaching on the right side when the right-turn signal is activated. The system reveals an area four times greater than the passenger-side mirror alone.

Spend the least on a base Honda HR-V LX for 2018 and you’ll still get features like a rearview camera, cruise control and Honda’s Bluetooth HandsFreeLink system. Audio is via a 4-speaker/160-watt AM/FM/CD system with USB/auxiliary inputs and 5-inch color display. If you can swing the extra cost, the EX feels like a significant step up with its inclusion of Honda’s helpful LaneWatch side-view monitor, power moonroof, heated front seats, push-button start and SMS text-message functioning. The HR-V EX also gets an upgraded 180-watt/6-speaker audio system with a larger 7-inch touch screen and touch-sensitive climate system.

Major options for the 2018 Honda HR-V are had by climbing trims, and the big kahuna here is the EX-L Navi model. That "L" is indicative of this little crossover SUV’s leather interior, and Navi is short for its included navigation system. This top-of-line HR-V also comes with an automatic transmission (optional on other models), SiriusXM satellite and HD Radio, and paddle shifters with Sport mode. Honda’s Real-Time AWD all-wheel-drive system is available on any model with an automatic transmission. Accessories for the HR-V include front and rear skidplate garnishes for a tougher look, and attachments to carry skis, snowboards or bikes.

The 2018 HR-V is powered by a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine that makes 141 horsepower and 127 lb-ft of torque, similar figures to the engine used in the Honda Civic. The HR-V uses either a crisp-shifting 6-speed manual transmission or a refined CVT automatic. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is its native setup, and the only layout you can have with a manual transmission. All-wheel drive (AWD) is optional on automatic-transmission models. Like most unibody, car-based crossover SUVs, the HR-V isn’t meant for serious off-roading, but AWD can help it maintain traction in snow or on dusty trails. At up to 34 mpg, the HR-V is among the most fuel-efficient SUVs available. Furthermore, the HR-V sips good ol’ regular unleaded.

1.8-liter inline-4
141 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
127 lb-ft of torque @ 4,300 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 25/33 mpg (manual), 28/34 mpg (FWD, automatic), 27/31 mpg (AWD, automatic)