FAST FACTS
› Model: 2019 Honda HR-V AWD Touring› Exterior color: Crystal Black› Interior color: Black› Engine: 1.8-liter, four cylinder› Horsepower: 141› Transmission: CVT› Fuel economy: 31 mpg highway, 26 mpg city› Local Dealer: Economy Honda Superstore, 6001 Lee Highway› Price (as tested): $29,585
If you reach for the priciest trim level, Honda's sub-compact HR-V SUV is about an inch short of $30,000.
The fact that you can also buy a well-equipped - and demonstrably bigger - Honda CR-V SUV for about the same money makes the HR-V AWD Touring a tougher sell.
It's really for people who want a slightly smaller shell and demand a handful of top-tier options - navigation, LEDs, a power driver's seat, and the like. You'd be surprised how many people spend a few thousand dollars more because they simply can't live without, say, power- adjustable seats. To people who haven't used manual seats for a decade, anything less than motorized furniture feels like lifestyle regression.
That said, the Honda HR-V Touring is a nice Goldilocks package - not too big, not too small. The back seat has abundant knee room, which makes the HR-V an outlier for the segment.
HR-Vs are available locally at Economy Honda Superstore at 6001 Lee Highway (note the new location), and Honda of Cleveland off I-75 Exit 20. At last check, Economy Honda Superstore had six HR-Vs listed in digital inventory late this week and Honda of Cleveland had 12.
WHAT IS IT?
The HR-V is a sub-compact SUV which slots below the hot-selling CR-V and costs a few thousand dollars less. All trims come with a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine that makes 141 horsepower, so don't book any drag races. The five trim levels are LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, and Touring. Our tester is a top-of-the-line Touring model, provided for a one-week test drive by Honda.
WHAT DOES IT COST?
Our tester in Touring trim rings up at $29,585, but includes such extras as leather upholstery, navigation, six-speaker audio, push-button start, heated front seats, moonroof, 17-inch alloys and roof rails. A basic LX model costs $21,565, but has none of those luxuries.
WHAT WE LIKED
Ok, it may be a small item, but we are in love with Honda's blind-spot cameras that let you see if you are about to swap paint with another car before changing lanes. We also like the 31-mpg highway fuel economy rating, the handsome exterior styling, the all-wheel-drive option, and the complimentary three-year roadside assistance package.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
We found the all-black interior to be drab. Tire and engine noise is also a bother. The 141-horsepower engine mated to a CVT is functional, but falls short of actual "fun." Also, paddle shifters? What for?
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DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
Like all Hondas, the CR-V feels light on its feet. An absorbent suspension system eats road imperfections, and the all-wheel-drive system is a nice insurance policy against winter precipitation. We found ourselves wishing for a bit more off-the-line torque, though. The CVT makes for rubbery acceleration.
BOTTOM LINE
The HR-V is a good option for people with modest cargo-hauling needs and smaller children. Still, it's a niche vehicle that exists in the shade of the CR-V. We'd recommend cross-shopping the two models before you shake hands on a deal.
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A spacious interior in the 2019 Honda HR-V makes it unique for the sub-compact segment.
The 2019 Honda HR-V has fluid lines that add visual interest.