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- 2023 Honda HR-V
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2023202220212020201920182017- Highs Newfound driving verve, comfortable seats, excellent outward visibility.
- Lows Wimpy four-cylinder engine, joyless CVT transmission, slightly less cargo friendly than before.
- Verdict Honda's redesigned HR-V benefits from the Civic's underpinnings in more ways than one, but its powertrain is a disappointment.
Overview
Honda has given its 2023 HR-V a complete makeover, the better to combat the onslaught of desirable and stylish small SUVs that have flooded the market. The
outgoing generation was practical and offered good value but it lagged the segment's best—the
Hyundai Kona, the Kia
Seltos, and the Mazda CX-30—in almost every way. No surprise then that the new HR-V looks totally different from the outgoing model. The new HR-V shares its platform with the Civic and uses a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-four from Honda's
compact sedan. Gone, sadly, is the outgoing model's trick second-row Magic Seat, which flipped down to make the HR-V one of the most flexible cargo-friendly small SUVs. But the new generation is wider and longer, which Honda claims benefits interior space. Independent rear suspension replaces the old model's torsion beam setup, a change that promises to improve ride and handling. The new model also receives updated infotainment features and more modern driver-assistance technology.
Where This Vehicle Ranks
What's New for 2023?
Honda's smallest crossover has been completely redesigned for the 2023 model year and goes on sale this summer.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Pricing for the 2023 HR-V has increased slightly over the outgoing model, and the mid-range EX trim has been dropped. Of the three remaining trims, we think the Sport makes the most sense, and we appreciate its slightly more aggressive exterior styling: it's the only trim that comes with 18-inch wheels, the largest offered.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
In Europe, the HR-V is powered by a hybrid powertrain borrowed from the Insight and Accord but the U.S. version comes with a traditional gasoline 2.0-liter four-cylinder that's good for 158 horsepower. If that sounds familiar, it's because the same engine serves as the base powertrain in the Civic. The HR-V managed a 9.4-second launch to 60 mph during our acceleration testing. That's over a full second slower than the more powerful non-turbo Mazda CX-30 and two-tenths slower than the 147-hp Hyundai Kona. In the HR-V, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder feels lethargic and gutless, but since the SUV shares its platform with the Civic, we could see a 180-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter or a hybrid powertrain join the lineup down the road. For now, front-wheel drive and a continuously variable automatic transmission [CVT] are the standard arrangement but all-wheel drive is available as an option on all trims. The outgoing HR-V didn't deliver the quiet athleticism we expect of Hondas, but this new generation corrects that with a chassis inherited from the spry Civic.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
Fuel economy estimates are highest on front-wheel-drive models, which are rated at 26 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. Going with all-wheel drive drops the city rating to 25 mpg and the highway rating to 30 mpg. During our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test route the HR-V beat its EPA estimate by 2 mpg. And we managed 440 miles of highway driving on a single tank of gas. For more information about the HR-V's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The HR-V adopts a more modern interior design inspired by the redesigned Civic's; it's both classic and attractive. The front seats are comfortable and supportive while providing a wide range of adjustments. The outgoing model offered Honda's novel second-row Magic Seat, which allows the rear bench to flip and fold to create an especially low, flat floor. That feature helped the HR-V lead the segment in cargo capacity despite its diminutive size. Unfortunately, the new HR-V has abandoned that feature, but Honda claims that the new model's cargo bay is larger and that lift-over height has been reduced to aid with loading heavy items.
Infotainment and Connectivity
All models come with either a 7.0- or 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; the larger display offers wireless connectivity for those features, but it's limited to the top EX-L trim. Also standard on the EX-L is a wireless smartphone charging pad. We also expect to see features such as SiriusXM satellite radio, in-dash navigation, and a Wi-Fi hotspot, at least as options.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Honda offers a host of driver-assistance technologies on the HR-V, including an adaptive cruise control system and a lane-keeping feature. For more information about the HR-V's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA] and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety [IIHS] websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking
- Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
- Standard adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Honda's standard warranty package is fairly basic, and rival SUVs such as the Kona and Seltos come with much longer coverage plans. Buyers of the Toyota C-HR will find a two-year complimentary maintenance plan, but Honda offers no such perk.
- Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
Specifications
Specifications
2023 Honda HR-V AWD EX-L
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $30,195/$30,590
Options: Nordic Forest paint, $395
ENGINE
DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum
block and head, port fuel injection
Displacement: 122 in3, 1996 cm3
Power: 158 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque: 138 lb-ft @ 4200 rpm
TRANSMISSION
continuously variable automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 12.3-in vented disc/12.2-in disc
Tires: Hankook Kinergy GT
215/60R-17 96H M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 104.5 in
Length: 179.8 in
Width: 72.4
in
Height: 63.4 in
Passenger Volume: 97 ft3
Cargo Volume: 24 ft3
Curb Weight: 3293 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 9.4 sec
1/4-Mile: 17.3 sec @ 85 mph
100 mph: 26.0 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 9.6 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 4.7
sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 6.4 sec
Top Speed [C/D est]: 115 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 172 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.80 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 25 mpg
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 27/25/30 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 32 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 440 mi
C/D TESTING EXPLAINED
More Features and Specs
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