Honda Motors have clearly pulled out all the stops when designing their all new HR-V e:HEV so when we at Femalefirst were offered the chance to review this stunning motor we snapped their hands off – Here is our opinion
Honda HR-V e:HEV Advance
Inside
Stepping inside the driver is entering a neat, easy to navigate, uncluttered plush interior cabin, complete with Honda’s latest infotainment system.
The rear really smart with ample overall leg room for even your tallest passengers with the HR-V measuring up very strongly against its rivals.
The boot is not huge at 319 litres, but to make up for this Honda uses a clever system that allows you to not only fold the rear seats forward, but the smart thing is the seat bases can be flipped upward, a smart innovation which is ideal for fitting in taller items. This is made possible in part due to the fuel tank being situated beneath the front seats, rather than beneath the rear bench as in many cars.
Powertrain
The HR-V’s Hybrid petrol/electric set-up is clever. Under the bonnet is the 1.5-litre petrol engine which for the most part serves as a generator for the battery and motor. In electric only mode this motor/generator is decoupled and while under fast acceleration its energy isn’t delivered via a gearbox, rather it uses a direct drive system, again squeezing every last drop of efficiency out of the system.
This set-up is very similar to that used by the Honda Jazz supermini but on the HRV the system is beefed up giving an extra 9bhp and to further enhance performance it is coupled to a battery that is 25% more energy dense and able to deliver an overall 129bhp of power.
Driving
At times you would be forgiven for thinking you were driving a fully electric vehicle, due to silent smooth starting and acceleration.
When under hard acceleration the initial electric boost tends to be to little effect as it leaves you waiting for the engine to sort itself out and fathom out how to most efficiently deploy its power to the road, similar I suppose to what any standard automatic transmission does when you put your foot down heavily.
But that being said the rest of the drive can only be described as superb, the car is firm and sure through the corners, the steering is precise, and the ride is comfortable with little road noise.
The HR-V lived up to its claims and then some, Honda claim 52.3mpg but we saw 58mpg and on odd occasions with careful driving 62mpg.
The base model Elegance has 18-inch alloy wheels as standard, LED headlights, digital dials, heated front seats, and a nine-inch touchscreen and a reversing camera.
The Advance trim lists additional extras of hands-free tailgate, dual-zone air-conditioning, heated steering wheel, electric folding door mirrors, blind spot monitoring, black synthetic leather and fabric seats while the range topping Advance Style, includes contrasting roof finish, wireless smartphone charging, a premium hi-fi, orange accents, and roof rails
In Our Opinion
The Honda HR-V is a practical, well-built and economical, compact SUV. While driving Honda’s latest SUV it we were able to conclude that few cars in this class can offer the HR-V’s fuel efficiency potential. It even drives ‘smartly’ too, making it is a class-leading and to date the most convincing family car Honda has launched in years that left us grinning from ear to ear. It is a car that fits easily ticks our satisfaction box – it knows how to look after its passengers and it's good to the environment!
Prices start at £27,710 to the range topping Advance style comes in at £32,210
For Further information current deals, prices, check Out Honda UK
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