I thoroughly enjoyed my first drive in a Honda HR-V but noted at the time I was in a 2WD stick shift … a car you’re about as likely to find in a dealer showroom as an unclaimed $10 bill. The EX-L we have here is far more representative of the average HR-V on the street, and it was a bit of a letdown. Where 1.8 liters and 141 hp are fun in a ‘slow car fast’ way with the two-wheel-drive stick, the added weight and drag of an all-wheel-drive system driven through a CVT automatic saps any inkling of fun.
Not everyone wants “fun to drive,” though, and there’s still a lot to like in the HR-V. Interior space remains a high point — we packed three kids across the back row even with my 6-foot frame in front, and there were no kneeroom complaints. The cargo area isn’t particularly deep, but the load floor is extremely low, so tall gear fits easily. Outward visibility is typical Honda good, and the brilliant Lanewatch system that offers a view of the right side of the car when the turn signal is activated adds a measure of safety.
Chances are features like Lanewatch and surprising interior room are much higher on most HR-V buyers’ lists than driving dynamics, and Honda will have no trouble moving these little utes off dealer lots, particularly to buyers who’ve outgrown a Fit or get sticker shock from a loaded CR-V. If you’re a driving nut like us, though, go find a little el-Cheapo HR-V with the manual transmission and rediscover what small-displacement Honda fun is all about.
2016 Honda HR-V EX-L
ASSOCIATE EDITOR GRAHAM KOZAK: I was spoiled by the two-wheel-drive, manual-equipped HR-V that represented my first taste of this new crossoverette — sure, that was a car that 5 percent of buyers might ever consider (and maybe 2 percent of buyers might actually drive home in) but it was honest, fairly priced, lively and, because of all that, fun.
This is the same car in a lot of ways. The packaging is great, and the interior is a huge leap forward where aesthetics and build quality are concerned compared to our long-term Fit. Very well-equipped at under $26,000, it holds its own against this hot segment’s competition on all fronts.
But the fun, sad to say, isn’t really there — and I blame the CVT. And the AWD.
I think all of us have been surprised by the rapidly improving quality of CVTs, even if we wouldn’t necessarily purchase a car so equipped. Even so, they’re not perfect. At best, they’re more or less unnoticeable. At their worst, which tends to be when they’re paired with a small motor lacking in turbo punch, such as this 1.8-liter inline-four, they quash all hope for liveliness.
To be fair, I haven’t driven a front-wheel-drive/CVT HR-V, and I’m sure the extra driven wheels here play a role in de-zippifying the car. However you want to divvy up the blame, though, the 141 hp — not a lot, I’ll admit — seems to take a very roundabout path from the motor to the wheels. Any semblance of crispness is lost in the muddle.
Unfortunately, you’re stuck with the CVT if you want navigation or satellite radio, which seem to require the step up to this EX-L trim level. This is especially frustrating because all of the cars seem to use the same head unit …
The reality is that most HR-V buyers won’t care about anything I just wrote. As Andy notes, “fun to drive” simply isn’t at the top of most car buyers’ shopping lists — or anywhere on their lists, really. And they’ll like this HR-V, and they’ll buy it in droves.
If you need the sort of space and utility afforded by the compact crossover form-factor, however, and still want to inject a bit of fun into your daily drive (because let’s be honest: You’re not going to be canyon-carving in one of these under the best of circumstances), do consider relying on your phone for navigation and hunting down a two-wheel-drive HR-V to try out.
