Honda HR-V in-depth review - Carbuyer

The Honda HR-V is a stylish crossover SUV that faces a whole raft of very impressive rivals. Due to the soaring popularity of cars like this, the HR-V's competition includes the Nissan Juke, Mazda CX-3, Peugeot 2008 and Renault Captur.
Honda HRV review: carbyr.uk/1LFBwUQ
Honda HRV prices and specs: carbyr.uk/1VNLOnT
Maxda CX-3 video review: carbyr.uk/1jYRnnO
Citroen C4 Cactus video review: carbyr.uk/1WWRiza
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[@godfatherNYC]

I love it when a tiny person tells me "there's plenty of room."

[@joshkroenke7693]

godfatherNYC Ironically as a tiny woman she says it’s a tight squeeze in the back seat, yet she fits perfectly!

[@c-apsl-ock]

But it is indeed much more spacious than its competitors.

[@RdcsVtec]

I've tested it, I felt amazed. just how small on the outside and how big on the inside it is. All in all it's a great bundle, one of the more reasonable buys of today's market whilst still being interesting in more subjective areas like interior and exterior design. I am really thinking on buying it next summer when the first sales are done and the waiting list is smaller....oh! and when the money is more abundant :D

[@drwho534]

Excellent overall lively review, love the accent!

[@ingo08]

Go Ginny,awesome reviews both you and Mat!

[@TheReaper5125]

Another great carbuyer review, Ginny gave a very informative and interesting review. HR-Vs are starting to pop up all around my neighborhood, very nice car.

[@jakeb267]

Fantastic review

[@seinsmeld13]

Well done Ginny. Cheers from a Canadian fan.

[@jamiep61]

One of my favourite SUV's

[@fabian78]

I really like Ginny and her reviews are always on top. Well done!

[@carbuyer]

+fabian78 Glad you liked the video!

[@fabian78]

+siemenssx1 you are very rude.

[@cilvrado]

+fabian78 I wish I could wife her. X)

[@fabian78]

+siemenssx1 you guys are never happy. At the beginning she was criticised because she was "boring", "old", etc... She took the critics on board and is now trying to make her reviews a bit more fresh and fun, and again it's not right. What do you expect from her???? Give her a break................

[@Agent77X]

Ginny has certainly has had a make over since I remember her on the British Motorweek with Richard Hammond of Top Gear trio. All I can say is wow! Ginny has grown her hair longer and does not have glasses and has much more attractive clothing that shows offer her athletic curvy body! Ginny if I recall was a news anchor when she was younger and later host a travel show too. right now, I think she looks the best ever!

[@emjayay]

Like the Jazz/Fit it is based on, it doesn't have real carpeting but some molded fuzzy stuff. Not sure how many other subcompacts have that but I saw it on an Impreza. Actual carpet would be so much nicer and also make it quieter if heavier and cost a little more.

[@doctorcatinstein2651]

I was quite excited, watching this video, up until the part where it says, "The automatic isn't as good as the manual" I need an automatic now, because of a health problem. She had sold me this model up until then. I really do need a rethink now!

[@bigcrowfly]

In NA they can get all wheel drive, but they cannot get the diesel, have a small sunroof instead of a panoramic sunroof, have a different type of cargo cover, and cannot get a manual transmission with the leather equipped model. There they are also quickly selling out of inventories.

[@Mr221507]

I bought HRV in Jan 2016. After 2 months the sat Nav froze in the middle of motorway of Belgium while going to Germany from uk. So I had a very bad time some how I managed to get my place using iPhone navigation. The other problem is they say 70mpg but I got only 57mpg even if I drive in a decent speed.My HRV model is 1.6 disel EX. apart from that everything is fine .

[@muhammadrifkyalfandi6628]

I want to know how long the waiting list of the Honda HR-V in UK, because in Indonesia we still have a same problem in the UK

[@merc7paul]

They don't have those HID or LED lights in Canada, just the regular bulbs

[@super7kay]

there always more options in the UK market. quite limited in Australia. And Japanese keeps the 4WD and electricity models in domestic

[@paullukaskrywalski3054]

Really nice treat. I almost don't miss Rebecca any more ;-).

[@Fadic4]

In the u.s we don't get the Diesel engine and panoramic sunroof but we get awd. I don't understand why.

[@root8able]

is the 2014 model same as the 2015 one?

[@ardhiutama8426]

I truly love this car!

[@SarOosh7]

Which yr is the is this car came out?

[@AMDX1325]

How's rear leg room?

[@divv92]

In Malaysia, even the top spec Honda HR-V doesn't come with lane departure warning, collision assist braking, traffic sign recognition, auto dimming headlights etc. Tho the price is attractively priced.

[@TheAviationChannel]

when will the q and a start

[@crazyjack000]

Beautiful car, really nice looking Honda.

[@rifqiyudhon313]

In Indonesia, HR-V is offered with 1.5 and 1.8 litre petrol engine, so jealous with lots of equipment puts in UK spec HR-V The head unit is only aftermarket product in here, and looks like european market loves diesel engine, like India

[@PsychicOracle]

Bittersweet to see the Telegraph's review with Rebecca Jackson up next in the playlist

[@jimmy.christian]

Why honda Australia wouldnt bring the diesel engine here while the mazda cx 3 have diesel engine?

[@DETROIT12345678933]

I'm 6 foot six no head room in the HRV. I love my element lots of room.

[@vinhlu5026]

I love how the English reviewers of the HR-V have no complaints about the infotainment system, yet all American reviewers complain about it not having the knob for volume. Get with the times, everything is touch screen now.

[@FrankSandqvist]

+Vinh Lu (Vinhgetsin) If the system is slow to respond, a touch screen can be hell.

[@losmeets98]

I love touchscreens in cars too, but sometimes a loud song pops up and I just quickly turn it. Don't get me wrong, but the Peugeot 208 has a touchscreen with one real button... Power and volume wheel.

[@trainzandtrombones]

+Vinh Lu (Vinhgetsin) Is there not volume control on the steeringwheel?

[@vinhlu5026]

+Frank Sandqvist but there's a button on the steering wheel for fast inputs.

[@vinhlu5026]

+ARGM there is, that's why I don't care for the knob.

[@sullysullivan1187]

The looks have grown on me :) at first it looked like something straight out the 00s...

[@Box0rz]

+sully sole I think the front looks really good, but the back is really boring and old looking.

[@HesteBremse]

+sully sole I agree - I did not like it a first, the feature crease on the side seams to forced, but the front is really well resolved, the rear is average but the overall profile is well rounded a bit bulky but not goofy. The stance is quite good which for me is the most important part of how a car looks. I do like Honda but I also dislike them for being so inconsistent where their models - Sometimes the bring really great car and other times one simply can´t figure out what happened. But this one is a kind of Mature solution that neither is top exciting nor horrible - So IMO they found a good balance here.

[@sullysullivan1187]

+HesteBremse Spot on ! :D

[@sullysullivan1187]

+Firemarioflower the 00s were a decade of softer and rounder shapes... today however they're more in your face type of shapes with sharp lines... Suppose it's a matter of preference of which I can say I prefer today's cars

[@sullysullivan1187]

+Firemarioflower I'll agree on you saying they look more alike that is true :(

[@unknowntraveller8633]

Just feel I watched a Honda advertisement what there are no problems with it please. I have seen the videos from the US and I think their complaints about the HRV are very relevants.

[@shinx2ran]

is the built quality really good? in my country, south east asian (read: indonesia), this car has terrible built quality, some of owners have same problems, mostly on suspensions and some of weird sounds when driving (on rear tire), and also terrible interior part such as head unit (for some cases, it vibrates very bad while driving).

[@vitozzi1]

why nothing about too small space for tall driver?

[@willi9576]

It's a shame they didn't explain the spec level names. Also didn't go into the engine options

[@cawaiimonkey]

Is Apple CarPlay is wireless

[@Godophobe]

When she says that you could put a bike in the magic seat area, don’t believe it. However, it is great for Bromptons or other folding bike if you have dogs in the back.

[@zokonjazokonja]

26" MTB should fit, at least I can fit it in Civic 8gen, front wheel has to be removed. But now most MTB's are 28", this is probably a problem

[@mohannadmontaser9806]

I love u CarBuyer ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😍

[@sundaruu666]

the most popular and best selling crossover in indonesia

[@MegaGecas]

what's that tongue job at 3:45 ?

[@torotoro77]

Great

[@jinx9991]

I do love them magic seats, you can fit a big load in there easy but a smooth ride is important for me, don't mind working it hard, and also like the short stick, but I can't help feeling Honda has slipped a little, in the last five years,,,

[@jayjay378378]

Was ginny on men and motors years ago?

[@marcusskyfall]

Jason jay gregory yep 😀

[@runpandarun09]

i dont get why Honda placed their aircon vents (3 of them) right where the front passenger is sitting? Do they want the front passenger to get hypothermia or frostbite before air can reach the back? Why cant they find a better way to place them? it just looks like it was an after thought

[@owenathanael]

You can turn that off individually

[@ASHWINAHMED]

If only it came with 4wd that would make it complete...

[@jasonn2284]

The ones in North America doesn’t have LED front headlights.

[@Mikao6]

2008 and CX-3 look better anyway, but that's just my opinion. I don't think I would be opposed to this HR-V in the end but I miss the crazier times when HR-V was offered only as a 3-door SUV.

[@zokonjazokonja]

My only problem with CX3 (and generally with model 3) is ridiculous small space on back seats, only reason why I remove it from my list, but everything else I like more on CX3

[@afzGTR]

it's surprising how much is missing from the Japanese version Vezel

[@mustsilm]

Subaru Levorg review please

[@professrsmokem4299]

+MS Yes the Levorg

[@aminnaqvi617]

What the heck is the Subaru levorog

[@Lucky8s]

+Amin Naqvi It's basically a Subaru Legacy wagon. A simple google search would've told you that.

[@aminnaqvi617]

+WuWei Xu see in the us car manufacturers think we hate wagons due to the fact that they are associated with the elderly and studebaker so we never get really really awesome wagons that are sold elsewhere I wish car manufacturers would come to their senses and sell wagons in the USA

[@Lucky8s]

Amin Naqvi I don't really see how that relates to my comment, but okay.

[@rafarga1980]

The vehicle looks big/tall for a compact SUV or is the presenter merely petite?

[@martyr3498]

Isn't this the 2016 version?

[@MrRickzi]

high waiting list??

[@Darkender1988]

It looks much better than the US one, with the upgraded headlights

[@joshuatan3933]

Is the HRV the same as a Vezel

[@margaretsnead30]

Joshua Tan ww

[@zarakdurrani7584]

Joshua Tan a vezel is a jdm hrv. They're for Japan, but Hong kong and singapore also get them, i think. While the hrv is a cvt 1.8l for the rest of the world, The vezel is a hybrid 1.5l with a 7-speed dual clutch transmission (AT).

[@shanjanusman9974]

Nice car

[@TimYoung817]

Not fair in Europe and England you can get cars like this in a manual, but here in the states its near impossible if not impossible. I had to wait a month for my dealer to find me a stick Accord EX sedan.

[@libanabdirahmanmohamud2097]

+Tim Young its sad that stick is getting out of fashion. people are getting lazy and we've to pay that price with limited stick cars, exclusive to few regions or even hard to import.

[@Tednessful]

I like recent Honda interiors but hiding the rear handles is a cheap marketing trick that ruins the looks except when it's done tastefully (symmetrically centered) like on the Alfa 159. And that US market-aimed horizontal steering wheel doesn't inspire dynamism let alone sportiness.

[@jamesfilosa6277]

so why only 4.0?

[@arjandeboer71]

She is so enthusiastic. This must be the best car that's ever made. Or is this a sponsored item

[@xXShOOtYXx8]

+Arjan de Boer The male reviewer Matt , is much better, she makes everything look too good , whereas Matt also speaks about the disadvantages , which she does not fully , i not know why , but this car is really good anyways, Matt is also fun to watch , i like his style , like visibility around car he does , while she not .... soo you not know if the rear view of this car was good

[@arjandeboer71]

+xXShOOtYXx You're right. Matt is more realistic about the cars and also talks about the downsides. With this girl you think she's defending her own car

[@arjandeboer71]

+xXShOOtYXx You're right. Matt is more realistic about the cars and also talks about the downsides. With this girl you think she's defending her own car

[@hawkesworth1712]

+Arjan de Boer, which part of the review do you think Matt might disagree with?

[@arjandeboer71]

+hawkesworth1712 That's impossible to tell since I don't know the car well enough. There are other reviews on the internet about this car that have maybe a more realistic view about it. For instance about the price. The car isn't cheap in it's segment

[@o2i3u5klwerh8]

Is it made in the UK? :)

[@Olliebobalong]

+joaoisonline I think this model is built in Japan, but the CR-V is built in Swindon, UK, along with the Jazz and Civic.

[@1northsparrow246]

+Oliver Newell The HRV sold in the UK will come from Mexico. CRV production is leaving Swindon as is production of the Jazz. Swindon will only be making Civics.

[@o2i3u5klwerh8]

+Desperate4Attention that's not good

[@mike-mw8gc]

Great review .. sad to hear the auto is so poor!

[@losmeets98]

The auto isn't poor at all, I quite like it

[@mike-mw8gc]

Good to get a second opinion .. I'll go give it a try myself!

[@losmeets98]

mike c It's not as good as the manual, nor is it a fast one.

[@rinodb83]

cx5 still well ahead, it seems although the seats are great!

[@ThisIsMTH]

This car's direct rival is the CX-3, not 5.

[@rinodb83]

I know what the video says, but I don't agree. It's on the same league as the cx 5, it's just as big.

[@alp732]

+Rino Di Berardino The HR-V competes with the CX-3, not the CX-5.

[@alp732]

+aabidam The CR-V is the larger one when compared to the CX-5, both interior space and exterior dimensions.

[@marianosagastegui]

Different for America, the one here lacks the pretty headlamps proyectors, safety drive devices, panoramic sunroof, the cute tailpipe....mexican version for USA its cheaper.

[@Thorgodoftunder]

Noticeable road noise. Not as refined as competitors?

[@amierordonez344]

Why don't you show the engine

[@Hornby09c]

Amier Ordonez because the average buyer doesn't give a fuck! use your brain its called CAR BUYER

[@mchristinematundu9515]

I liked it with 6 seats

[@ravs05]

This was on my shortlist... And I wanted an Auto... But read so many bad reviews about the auto that I didn't even try.. Went for the pricey Audi Q3

[@GeordiLaForgery]

3 years on, how's the q3 been?

[@ravs05]

@@GeordiLaForgery it’s been amazing .. the favourite car I’ve ever owned. I had a chance to upgrade to the updated model but when I test drove that, the auto felt very sluggish. So I ended up keeping my Q3 😊

[@GeordiLaForgery]

@@ravs05 that's exciting thanks for sharing! :-)

[@theodorev666]

Oh boy. Another crossover. I won't make that mistake again. I would choose the Civic every single time...

[@JacquesFoche1]

Nice car...I like it...(Borat)...😁

[@samb2945]

Not a 'Tarts Handbag' this time then? I remember.

[@DanielDaniel-kh6bv]

I dont know why people always comparin her to Rebecca? they both good and have different style of reviewing. Respect for her, I think she is good and not that bad. but I do agree, Matt is better, eventhough while he is reviewing he sounds like he loose his breath

[@gerasimosrico]

You do know the engine is still SOHC for god sake !! 2016 Honda cuts prices knowing most people don't care and don't know what they buy. The dashboard for instance has a lot hard cheap plastics. Rear suspension is also just a torsion beam Still they cost more than competitors

[@thehondasteve2292]

Honda nailed it with this car. Can't keep them on the lot and Mexico is falling behind

[@user-it2gx4cr1k]

Waiting list for for a Honda... yeah right

[@xBuzz996]

That gear lever... like if they put exactly zero effort into it

[@xBuzz996]

notformebeaky yeah but it's ONE gear knob, not a hundred buttons. This is actually expensive if you look at how much effort they put it in. Should cost as much as a dacia

[@vasred4265]

No one pointing out that the HR-V has low head-room in the rear? I am 5'7" yet I find myself hitting the celling.

[@scorpion251970]

Ginny s quite appealing.

Hormone Replacement Vehicle.

[@runawayronnie]

Just where has Carbuyer sourced it's specifications from? In their full review Carbuyer writes: "when seats are in place, the SUV provides 453 litres of luggage room, 14 litres more than the larger Qashaqi. When the seats are folded completely flat, total volume expands to 1026 litres. That's considerably less than a Qashqai, which offers 1585 litres with the seats folded flat". The HR-V's volume with seats up is 393 litres. With seats up including the subtrunk it's 470 litres. The HR-V's volume with seats down is 1456 litres or 1533 litres if you include the subtrunk. Don't know where Carbuyer sourced that 1026 litre figure from but it's wrong and very misleading to say that it's considerably less than a Qashqai.

[@runawayronnie]

+runawayronnie Forgot to add whilst the review is fair, I think Matt equiped with his big bottle, bananas and pork scratchings might have a few comments to make about usable storage space in the cabin. And in reality whilst the infortainment system may look state-of-the art, it's actually quite basic. For example despite it being an Andriod based system, the ability to receive text messages like many of it's rivals just isn't present.

[@chickensoupfortheloser8515]

The noughties called they want their rear lights back.

[@mrj3795]

the brake lights, when lit, remind me of a booster. That is not a bad think IMO.

[@undiscoveredyoutuber7519]

She said that the original Hrv was successful? It was dropped after 2 maybe 3 years because crossovers just weren't in fashion back then

[@BoschExxcel]

It was made from 1999 to 2004 I think.

[@undiscoveredyoutuber7519]

+BoschExxcel I'm not sure on the exact years of sales but my point is there where no updates to the car because both the Hrv and Frv where too ahead of their time

[@draftab59]

plz do a review of Chevrolet trailblazer

[@fundiver198]

Probably a nice car for families. But whats wrong with the Civic Tourer? It offers much more space for your luggage, and prices are about the same as this. Maybe there is a 1.000 £ price difference between them, but thats it. So why on earth would anyone in his right mind get the much smaller HRV? Crossovers have no objective justification. They are just a fashion phenomenon. But an extremely profitable one for carmarkers to tap into. So you can not blame them for doing it.

[@1northsparrow246]

+fundiver198 You are absolutely correct. Buy the British-built Civic Tourer not the Mexican HR-V.

[@tiagofernandes7627]

hello. this car has no downsides???

[@seb.]

no AWD, ugly rearlights, bad automatic gearbox

[@tiagofernandes7627]

+sebxx Yes, you're right. No AWD, I can live with that, so with the rearlights, and I only ride manual cars... so it's a 10!

[@tiagofernandes7627]

+sebxx +Carbuyer The thing is... +Carbuyer usually points out some issues on every car...

[@losmeets98]

I was waiting for them, too ;p

[@xXShOOtYXx8]

+Tiago Fernandes She does not point out disadvantages , only Matt does, such as the rear visibility and the head cam test . Matt is best reviewer i ever seen

[@drbeeluu]

Honda best car

[@tages99]

Why the steering wheel is on the wrong side??

[@CreamyBone]

diesel... yep

[@cawaiimonkey]

360

[@JohnnyWrong]

These people who complimented the car on it's looks. Did they happen to be carrying white sticks? ;)

[@JohnnyWrong]

+Firemarioflower Blind people? White sticks? Get it now? ;)

[@JohnnyWrong]

+Firemarioflower Well plenty of other people "got it", so I don't see why I should cater for the extra-slow community. Also, I'd say you're the one with a problem getting so worked up over an opinion of a car. Get yourself in therapy, son.

[@jzy0104]

Honda loves using hard plastic on the dashboard.

[@TheJaybee2010]

Ginny has done a great job with this review

[@mrzazzaable]

This cars style is so stuck in 2011... jesus

[@kulminaator]

We are in late 2015 and that car just looks like michael j fox brought it along with him from 1985 (the buttons, displays and the whole interior design feel is old.). People don't want to fold seats, they want something that looks like a spaceship or at least like a bmw i8.

[@jasonamarante1799]

she would get it....what don't judge she's not that old

[@AkiffHssn]

Cant wait for Hyundai Tucson

[@seb.]

+Akiff Hssn Well Tucson is 15cm longer, maybe not as practical though

[@AkiffHssn]

***** but yet more stylish maybe

[@eg6pro]

Bring back Rebecca

[@srtchannel3262]

Dash vent copied from audi q7.

[@cheongzy]

Best car of the year, I guess

[@dithopradipta]

cvt transmission in this car is too rubbish 😓

[@shahensheriff7640]

We in srilanka get much more loaded specs in the hrv. The vehicle was introduced in 2013 😂