Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

62 | AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE

compare with ...

Ford EcoSport, Kia Sportage, Mazda

CX-3, Renault Captur, Subaru XV,

Suzuki Vitara, Toyota C-HR

H

onda’s HRV, a compact
fi ve-door SUV, combines
extraordinary interior
fl exibility with a punchy
drivetrain and handsome
styling inside and out.
The base 1.8-litre petrol/
continuously variable automatic
(CVT) VTi model costs $24,990.
Then it’s the same drivetrain with
more fruit as you move up to the
VTi-S (from $27,990), followed by
the RS (from $31,990) and then
the VTi-LX at $34,590).
While the 1799cc single-cam
i-VTEC unit has seen dependable
service in the Civic for years,
its pairing with the latest-
generation CVT has given the 1.8
a fresh lease on life.
The HR-V is unexpectedly
perky off the line and will
maintain its eager acceleration
right up to the 6600rpm redline
(and a bit beyond).
The CVT, meanwhile, is quite
atypical in that it is not prone to
droning. In most driving situations,
it is as fast and responsive as the
best autos out there.

All in all, then, the HR-V offers

one of the livelier and more

refi ned drivetrain choices in its

ever-growing class.

If you approach a turn too fast,

the HRV will ultimately run wide

into understeer, of course, but

the bottom line is this compact

SUV’s dynamics are safe, secure

and more car-like than its high-

riding stance suggests.

Subaru’s XV and Toyota’s

C-HR are still the best handlers

in this class.

After the horror of discovering

that its Jazz sibling has devolved

into using drum rather than

disc rear brakes, the HR-V

boasts the latter, for precise and

incisive stopping power.

Honda’s engineers are also

proud of their crossover’s rigid yet

lightweight structure, which may

explain the agreeably supple ride

quality on the standard 16-inch

wheel and tyre package.

The larger 17-inch alternatives

do sacrifi ce some ride comfort

for better handling poise, while

they are also more susceptible

to transmitting road noise

inside the HR-V’s appealingly

presented cabin.

For an inexpensive entry-

level variant, the base VTi

looks and feels a step above

most of its equivalently priced

competitors, giving the HR-V a

real showroom edge.

Standard equipment includes

low-speed autonomous

emergency braking, but as with

the CRV Honda’s driver assist

safety tech is generally off the

pace. Lane departure warning is

available only on VTi-LX.

Being Jazz-derived, one of the

interior’s biggest strengths is

its feeling of space and airiness,

highlighted by the relatively

deep side windows (despite

the upsweep design) and high,

commanding seating positions.

The clean and uncluttered

dash is a very modern piece of kit,

dominated by a large central touch

screen containing a host of vehicle

settings, multimedia, Bluetooth

phone and rear-camera displays.

It is a very user-friendly example

of technology working with, rather

than against, the operator.

The rear seat has an

abundance of knee and

legroom (comparable to many

medium SUVs) combined with a

comfortably angled backrest.

The inclusion of Jazz-style

“Magic Seats” means the whole

split rear seat can nestle down

low, deep into the cavity where the

fuel tank lives in other vehicles,

allowing for an exceptionally large

extended cargo bay.

The cushion can also be tilted

upwards for transporting tall

narrow objects like a pair of

bikes (with their front wheels

removed of course).

Topping things off in the HR-

V’s tail is a large tailgate and

easy-to-load lip height.

In this compact SUV class,

the HRV is one of the front

runners along with Mazda’s CX-

3, Kia Sportage, Suzuki Vitara

and Toyota C-HR. Add it to your

test drive list.

By Byron Mathioudakis

THINGS WE LIKE

Class-leading space effi ciency

Well equipped

Strong and smooth performance

Responsive steering and VTi’s

supple ride

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

Front-wheel drive only

Flimsy rear luggage cover

Some engine noise intrusion at

speed

SPEX

Made in Thailand

1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol/CVT/

front-wheel drive

105kW of power at 6500rpm/172Nm

of torque at 4300rpm

0–100km/h N/A

5.6L/100km highway; 8.5L/100km

city; 91 octane regular; CO 2

emissions are 155g/km

Warranty: Five years/unlimited km

Fuel tank capacity 50 litres

Maximum towing weight 800kg

Standard: Six airbags, stability

control, low speed autonomuus

emergency braking, tyre pressure

monitoring, camera, Bluetooth audio

and phone streaming and 16-inch

alloy wheels. VTi-S includes lane

watch, LED headlights and 17-inch

alloys. VTi-LX includes leather trim,

sunroof, parking sensors and lane

departure warning.

Redbook future values: 3yr:53%;

5yr: 44%

HONDA HR-V FROM $24,990

Safety

ANCAP

Green Vehicle Guide

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money

Overall

STARS

S^3