Honda’s 2016 HR-V is a well-rounded ‘hi-rider’ without the big footprint

By Andrew Hard November 19, 2014

Honda HR-V — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Not long ago, if you wanted the sportiness of a subcompact with the practicality of an SUV, you were out of luck.

But in recent years, new automotive segments have been popping up almost as fast as automakers can name them, and there’s seems to be a car for just about everyone in 2014.

Honda’s 2016 HR-V is one of those vehicles, a gap filling ‘mini crossover’ that occupies the space between the new Fit and the rock-solid CR-V.

Known as the Vezel in Japan, the HR-V is actually based on the Fit platform, but is 13.4 inches longer, 3.1 inches wider, and 2.2 inches taller. Compared to CR-V, the HR-V is 9.2 inches shorter, and 1.9 inches lower.

Its styling isn’t going to knock anyone socks off, in fact the Chinese market XR-V looks a heck of a lot better, but many of the quirky innovations from the HR-V’s neighboring vehicles have carried over.

Honda HR-V — Image used with permission by copyright holder

One such standout is the second-row ‘Magic Seat’ setup, which you may remember from the Fit, that allows occupants to configure seating arrangements to maximize interior space.

Staying in tune with Honda’s enviro-friendly nature, there’s also a feature called ECO Assist on the new car. Depending on the amount of lead in the driver’s right foot, ECO Assist changes the color of the speedometer’s backlighting from white to green, which is a great way to keep those gas-chugging accelerations in check.

Honda HR-V — Image used with permission by copyright holder

While the HR-V shares many features with the 2015 Fit, its powertrain is not one of them. Instead of the compact’s revvy 1.5-liter engine, the crossover equips a 1.8-liter SOHC four-cylinder that produces 138 horsepower and 127 pound-feet of torque. Drivers can choose from either a 6-speed manual or CVT transmission, and like with its CR-V big brother, FWD and AWD are both available.

Despite its small stature, the crossover enjoys a generous 100.1 cubic feet of passenger volume and 58.7 cu. ft. of cargo volume with the rear seats down. That’s a significant improvement over the Nissan Juke’s 86.7 cu. ft. and 35.9 cu. ft. measurements, but falls a bit short of the Mazda CX-5’s 103.8 cu. ft. and 64.8 cu. ft. allotments.

The all-new 2016 HR-V launches in early 2015.

Editors' Recommendations

Honda HR-V vs. Honda CR-V

Topics

LA Auto Show

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…

Cars

Best electric car charger deals: $100 off home charging stations

The handle of the Grizzl-E EV charger plugged into a vehicle.

A few years ago, electric vehicles were pretty rare or cost a fortune, but with more and more of the larger car brands getting into the game, there are a lot of excellent and even budget-friendly choices nowadays. That said, the electrical network for charging your cars might not be that widespread, so instead you'll have to rely on charging your car at home. Luckily, there are a lot of excellent car chargers at a discount, so if you've just bought an EV or want to upgrade your current charging solution, be sure to check out our favorite deals below.
Shockflo EV charger — $205, was $220

This EV charger by Shockflo is a Level 2 EV charger, which offers six times faster charging than a standard charger. It delivers 24 miles with just one hour of charging, and it can act as a mobile charger you can throw in the trunk or be mounted to a wall. It has an LCD display with useful information like charging rate, voltage, and charging time, as well as LED indicator lights that lets you know charging progress and errors.

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.