Yahoo Autos 2018 Honda HR-V In-Depth Review: Mini Outside, Maxi Inside
Overall Rating:
The small-SUV segment is heating up quickly, and there are a few standout options in the segment—the Kia Soul and the Mazda CX-3 spring to mind—but none of them do cargo hauling better than Honda HR-V. Its ingenious second-row Magic Seat is borrowed from its corporate cousin, the subcompact Honda Fit hatchback; when folded, the seat creates class-above cargo space. Fuel efficiency is the HR-V’s other strong point, but, unfortunately, driving dynamics aren’t. For a well-built, highly practical pint-sized SUV, look no further. For buyers who value sport more than utility, try the Kia or the Mazda.
What’s New for 2018?
Honda’s mini ute switches to 2018 with a new paint color—Aegean Blue Metallic—and a new dark-colored wheel design on EX and EX-L trims. Other than that, the HR-V sees no other changes, mechanical or otherwise. This means it might be possible to pick up a 2017 on clearance without missing out on the latest whiz-bang options, since there is so little that’s different between the two model years.
What Was New for 2017?
Honda’s tiniest crossover is based on its tiniest hatchback, the Fit. Honda introduced the HR-V as a 2016 model, so it rolled into 2017 with minimal changes.
Trims and Options We Chose for 2017
The HR-V’s mid-level EX trim represents the best value. For a modest price increase of $2050 compared with the base LX model, the EX adds:
• 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment
• Keyless entry and push-button start
• Automatic climate control
• Tilting-and-sliding sunroof
Our manual-transmission, front-wheel-drive HR-V EX rang in at $22,455 for 2017; the 2018 EX starts at $22,560. A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is available for $800. Stick with front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive is available only with the CVT and adds $1300 to the price, bringing the total to $24,660—a $2100 increase over the model we chose.
2018 HR-V In-Depth
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