Overview

HONDA Australia introduced the HR-V e:HEV X hybrid in the latter half of 2024 as something of a mid-way point between the petrol-powered Vi X and flagship e:HEV L.

Priced from $39,990 drive-away, it’s a touch dearer than Small SUV segment contenders like the Hyundai Kona Hybrid (from $36,500) and Toyota Corolla Cross (from $36,480) but sits well below the ridiculously expensive Nissan Qashqai e-Power (from $52,090).

Combining a 1.5-litre Atkinson cycle four-cylinder petrol engine with dual electric motors the Honda HR-V e:HEV X offers 96kW of power and 253Nm of torque. Drive is to the front wheels via an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (e-CVT), motivating the 1378kg SUV from standstill to 100km/h in 10.2 seconds (as tested).

Honda quotes a Combined cycle fuel use figure of 4.3 litres per 100km which we managed to near at 4.9L/100km on test. The model operates on standard 91RON unleaded petrol and offers a 40-litre fuel tank for a theoretical range of 816km.

The hybrid HR-V measures 4345mm in length, 1790mm in width, 1590mm in height, and rides upon a 2610mm wheelbase.

Braking is all disc with suspension duties falling to a basic but well-tuned Macpherson front / torsion beam rear arrangement.

As standard, the Honda HR-V e:HEV X is equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, an acoustic windscreen, dusk-sensing LED cornering-, fog-, head- and tail-lights, gloss black garnishing, heated fabric upholstery, keyless entry and ignition with walk-away function, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, rear window privacy tinting, and single-zone climate control to name but a few.

It is also issued with a 9.0-inch central infotainment array boasting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, six-speaker sound, AM/FM/DAB radio reception, Bluetooth connectivity, native sat nav, USB-A and -C outlets, and Honda Connect smartphone accessibility (included gratis for five years).

The instrument panel is a part-digital/part-analogue arrangement with the expected information presented in a clear and easy-to-read package that is pleasantly illuminated at night.

Honda’s HR-V e:HEV X features a strong level of standard safety technologies including adaptive cruise control, adaptive headlights, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, speed sign recognition and limiter, rear cross-traffic alert, a reversing camera with front and rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring.

The model features front, side, and curtain airbags but does not offer an airbag between the front seat occupants. The Honda HR-V received a four-star ANCAP rating when tested in 2022.

It is worth noting that unlike many of its rivals, the Honda HR-V is a four-seat Small SUV with no provision for a centre-rear passenger. There is also no air vent to the rear of the cabin, this feature saved for the highest-grade e:HEV L, but pleasingly there is plenty of space up back once you’re settled in.

ISOFIX and top-tether child seat restraints are found in both rear outboard seats, the rear bench offering Honda’s unique-in-market Magic Seat folding functionality for greater practicality of load carrying. Disappointingly, a tyre repair kit is found beneath the cargo floor in lieu of a spare wheel.

The cargo area can accommodate 304 litres of kit with the rear seats in place and up to 1274 litres all told.

Honda offers the HR-V range in five colours including Botanical Green (exclusive to hybrid variants), Crystal Red, Platinum White, Premium Opal, and Slate Grey (new).

All variants come as standard with five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, eight-year battery warranty, five-year roadside assistance package, five fixed-price services (totalling $995 for five years), and a five-year Honda Connect subscription.

Service intervals are set at 12 months or 10,000km (whichever comes first).

Driving Impressions

The Honda HR-V drives extremely well for a Small SUV and, as a hybrid, delivers one of the smoothest petrol-electric drivelines we’ve yet to sample.

Those familiar with other hybridised petrol models will be cognisant of the ‘switch’ between petrol and electric modes – which is often felt and heard. But the Honda system is far more refined, offering near imperceptible transitions, even under heavy acceleration.

Power delivery is pleasantly lag free with electric motivation favoured whenever possible. This bias allows the HR-V to not only accelerate in a more linear and predictable manner, but to commute (in most scenarios) with very little petrol engine intervention – or noise.

The e-CVT is likewise impressively smooth and, in Sport mode, gives a simulated gearshift sensation that’s rather grin-inspiring.

The HR-V accelerates quicker than the tested time would have you believe and manages highway overtaking with confident pace. A pity then there’s a little tyre rumble at speeds over 90km/h.

Honda’s rather unsophisticated suspension arrangement is deceptively well-tuned and apart from the largest single-wheel impacts, remains sweetly balanced when challenged.

The HR-V handles with a nimble yet predictable action that is accurately telegraphed through the steering and seat. It is tenacious in terms of grip, but never firm nor unsettled. The 18-inch tyres maintain even contact with the road over pockmarked backroads, aiding confidence in conditions where grip is less than optimal.

If quality ride comfort and calculable handling matter to you, we’d strongly suggest taking a hybridised HR-V for a test drive.

We found the steering lightens appropriately at parking speeds, but the turning circle isn’t exactly tight. At 11.0m the Honda HR-V’s turning circle is only 800mm less than that of a Toyota HiLux – a vehicle that is almost a metre longer than the “compact” HR-V.

Honda has done a terrific job of eliminating the ‘surging’ sensation that can be felt when braking in petrol-electric hybrid models. Braking is natural and well-metered, with decent pedal assistance to boot. We found the HR-V capable of stopping quickly on a range of road surfaces with purposeful ABS intervention evident when required.

Away from the hard and fasts of performance and dynamics, we were also pleased to find a cabin feel befitting the HR-V’s price. The little Honda is beautifully presented with quality materials and sound ergonomics contributing to a sense of getting what one has paid for.

The ancillary controls are easy to locate and to operate, meaning less time is spent with your eyes off the road. In all, the cockpit is rather intuitive, and though there was some unwanted interventions from the ADAS nannies, these were far less intrusive than has been noted in other segment rivals, particularly those of Chinese or South Korean origin.

Overall, we think the stylish and streetwise Honda HR-V proves that hybrid motoring doesn’t need to be a compromise. Being as smooth and efficient as it is smart, its only real letdown is a four-star safety rating and four-seat occupant setting.

If these are compromises you’re prepared to accept, then do yourself a favour and go take a test drive because the HR-V e:HEV X might just surprise you.