While waiting for its future electric vehicles, Honda continues to advance its range of hybrid cars. The i-MMD engines are rebranded as e:HEV, and the new HR-V uses this slightly revised technology.
To better identify its strengths and weaknesses, as well as assess its relevance in the current context of electrification, we tested it over 2,200 kilometres.
Design and ergonomics of the Honda HR-V
For the third generation of what was once dubbed the Joy Machine, Honda has radically changed its philosophy. After a very original first version, the manufacturer had designed a rather conventional small SUV.
This time, the third version of the HR-V is more imposing and opulent. On the outside first, the wide grille and the SUV coupé profile give it a more original look, and a more qualitative appearance.
Our test version is adorned with the Khaki Sable Nacré color, which oscillates between a fairly light khaki green under the clouds and a sand color, almost champagne, under the sun. The trim of the test model was Advance, including the hands-free tailgate, heated steering wheel, tilting mirrors and 6 speakers.
Inside, there’s a more simplistic dashboard than the CR-V and less fanciful than the Jazz. Again, the step taken in terms of quality is obvious, with more qualitative materials and assembly than in the other two models.
The 9-inch touch screen is the same as on the Jazz and the future Civic. It overlooks a central console with analog controls. The instrumentation screen behind the steering wheel occupies half the space, since a needle counter is added to it. In these times of chip shortages, this initially maligned Honda idea surely isn’t bad.
The roominess of the hybrid SUV impresses once more
The habitability of Hondas is no longer to be proven over time, and this HR-V is no exception to the rule. As with all its current SUVs, the brand has integrated its famous magic seats in the back. The seat can thus be raised once morest the backrest to be able to install bulky and tall objects, such as a bicycle or plants.
In addition to this system specific to the Japanese manufacturer, the passenger compartment is optimized to take advantage of every available space. By folding the rear seat, you benefit from a flat floor and a volume that then increases to 1,289 litres.
Legroom for rear passengers is also important. The SUV coupé shape does not prevent having enough height at head level in the back, and a passenger of 1.80 m will be comfortable there. Note that the central seat, raised, is not as spacious as the side seats.
The trunk lacks a bit of space, on the other hand, with only 319 liters of cargo. The double bottom adds a bit of space, with an additional 16 litres. For a vehicle 4.34 meters in length, however, these figures remain correct. In addition, the boot is accessed via a very practical automatic tailgate.
Performance: the HR-V is above all pragmatic
Like the Honda Jazz, the HR-V uses the 1.5 liter 4-cylinder Atkinson cycle as the basis of its i-MMD system. This develops 107 horsepower and 131 Nm of torque, which is accompanied by an electric motor. The set deploys 131 horsepower and 253 Nm of torque, allowing it to do the 0 to 100 km / h in 10.6 seconds.
Depending on the battery charge, the electric motor alone provides traction for the SUV. Well optimized, it very often allows the car to be displayed in 100% electric mode, over short distances and during recovery phases.
The transition from electric to thermal is perfectly managed, and totally imperceptible. The power is sometimes limited, especially during intense acceleration, such as on insertions or when leaving following motorway tolls.
To limit the feeling of this lack of power, Honda has developed a special transmission. This is a continuously variable electrical modulator system, which the manufacturer calls eCVT. If we find the howler aspect that we know with other CVTs, it is greatly limited here. Indeed, this eCVT simulates gear changes that allow the engine to go down in revs and break its lyrical flights.
A very interesting choice on a daily basis, and particularly on long journeys, to limit nuisance in the passenger compartment. In addition, the optimization of the powertrain – transmission included – makes it possible to limit consumption.
Correct fuel consumption for an SUV
Over all of the 2,200 kilometers driven at the wheel of the Japanese SUV, the average consumption was thus 6.5 l/100 km. But this average is not the mixed average of our test, since we did a little more than half of these kilometers on the highway.
In mixed consumption, with city, road and highway, it was possible to reduce consumption to 6.2 liters. This is slightly above the average given by the WLTP homologation cycle, which is displayed at 5.4 l/100 km. We are logically in real values a little above the WLTP, but these can be contained by practicing eco-driving.
Like the CR-V, and unlike the Jazz, the HR-V offers the paddles to control the level of regeneration. It is thus possible to choose from four levels of regeneration, which is very practical during urban phases. By combining this system with careful eco-driving, fuel consumption in the city can be reduced to 4.9 litres. However, it is once once more higher than the values indicated by the homologation cycle which are between 4.1 and 4.6 l/100 km.
For a 1.4 ton vehicle, we can salute a beautiful sobriety, which is accompanied in addition to an incomparable softness in town. Few vehicles in this segment offer such approval in urban areas, even if it means suffering a little more when power is needed.
Comfort and life on board the Honda HR-V
As for driving pleasure, we salute the well-balanced suspensions and steering. Contact with the road is firm and body roll limited, but comfort is present thanks to its high ground clearance.
The latter obviously makes the HR-V a vehicle with fairly low dynamic characteristics, even by activating Sport mode. This does not work miracles and unfortunately has the effect of slightly increasing consumption.
For long journeys, this suspension balance will prove to be crucial. The upholstery is not the most comfortable that we have seen, especially at the rear, but we can drive for several hours without feeling too exhausted on arrival.
Finally, the HR-V’s infotainment system is pretty well done. It’s easy to get used to how it works, especially with Android Auto, which makes it a little easier to use the nine-inch screen.
Whether on the touch screen, very responsive by the way, or on the instrumentation behind the steering wheel, we appreciate having the information in front of us. The only downside is on the needle counter, which reduces the possibility of customizing the instrumentation.
The vehicle’s native GPS, for example, appears on the left side of this display. As soon as you use the navigation system, the fuel consumption information disappears, and you often find yourself in a situation where you have to make a choice regarding the information displayed on the screen. A choice that does not arise when you have a speed that is displayed digitally on a smaller part of the screen.
In conclusion: the hybrid still relevant?
Despite some flaws, this third copy that Honda makes in the name of HR-V is very well made. We can congratulate the renewed design and the increased quality, as well as the very correct endowment for this model. Without additional packs, the options are numerous and, with this color and these rims, the price is 34,710 euros.
In an era where electrification is accelerating, and where electric and PHEV have priority, Honda is often criticized for continuing to design cars with simple hybridization, since it’s also the engine of the new Civic.
Of course, consuming 6.2 l/100 kilometers still seems unreasonable, and we must get closer to “zero emissions”. But in reality, the charging infrastructure and the price of electric cars always complicate access to these vehicles.
For people who do not have access to a charging station at home or at work, a combustion engine is still the reality. And even if it means buying an SUV, since this sector is close to representing 50% of the market, the choice of this HR-V is very relevant. Despite its imposing grille and ride height, it offers much more competitive fuel consumption than its gasoline-powered rivals.
From its ridiculously low fuel consumption in town to its limited appetite on the highway, provided of course that you have a very precise and rather light right foot, it now offers a formidable choice to move towards electrification.
- The always optimal habitability of Honda
- Very reasonable consumption
- A more qualitative interior
- City driving pleasure
- eCVT will always shock CVT critics
- Slightly soft raises
- Sport mode without much use
- A trunk with limited volume
