Pros

• Cozy to sit.
• Simple to get in and out of.
• More room for luggage than most small SUVs.

Cons

• Gradually speed up.
• I wouldn’t say I like the front seats.

What does the HR-V do? At first, driving the HR-V gave people mixed feelings. At first, we didn’t like how the little steering felt fake and too light, but we got used to it. The engine and transmission also felt good when going around town slowly with people in the car and trying to make highway moves. The HR-V takes more than 10 seconds to reach 60 mph, which is too long for a vehicle in this class.

The HR-V’s best features are its easy-to-drive dynamics and soft, quick brakes. Honda has made the HR-V one of the giant SUVs in the extra-small class, but it still handles well.

How nice does the inside of the HR-V feel? The front seat pillows in the HR-V are stiff. It’s almost as if you’re sitting on a park seat made of wood. It was also surprising and upsetting that the lumbar support couldn’t be adjusted. This was especially true in our fully loaded test car. Only a few cars have back seats as lovely as the front ones. The HR-V is one of them. However, things are only going to get better from here on out.

Great ease for the ride. Even though the HR-V doesn’t wholly smooth out rough roads, it does a great job without making the car too bouncy or losing control. The bedroom is also tranquil, which we like. The HR-V mainly blocks out noise from the road, wind, and other sources, and the motor is almost invisible when the car is not moving fast.

The temperature control made it easy to cool down the cabin, but it was always too cold for us, no matter what level we chose. This could make up for the HR-V’s lack of back air vents, which is another thing that makes it less comfortable overall.

How is the inside? The HR-V’s interior is one of its best features, despite a few minor comfort issues. The first thing that stands out about the knowledge is its roominess. There is a lot of room in both rows of seats. Larger door openings and seat heights that were easy to reach made getting in and out very easy.

The new touchscreen system that Honda is putting into many of their new cars is easy to use and quick to learn. All the instruments are straightforward to use, and none of the switches on the steering wheel are in an odd spot. While the driver’s seat changes don’t give you much freedom, they give you enough. We like that the cabin lets us see outside clearly in every direction. Even though Honda’s rearview camera doesn’t have a surround-view video system, it offers many watching angles, which is a good thing.

How does the tech work? Technology needs to work better in the HR-V. However, it is always an excellent option for those who want it. We can see why the HR-V doesn’t have a built-in guidance system instead of letting you connect your phone. At this price point, the HR-V has three USB charging ports in the front, a wireless charge pad, and CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. There aren’t any ports in the back, so you’ll have to share them with others. Audiophiles are likely to be disappointed by the HR-V’s sound system.

There are a lot of driving aids in the HR-V, but many are set too conservatively. The adaptive cruise control speeds up and slows down quickly, and the blind-spot warning system often lets us know about cars we thought were far away. When there were passengers on board, they were completely pointless to be there.

What’s the deal with the storage? The HR-V is one of the best SUVs in its class for pulling things behind it. The rear cargo area looks more significant than its actual size (24.4 cubic feet) because it is valuable and easy to get to. It’s also possible to make the back seatbacks almost flat with the cargo floor, which makes it easier to haul longer items. Also, it’s straightforward to put car seats in. The big doors, plenty of space in the back, and easy access to the top ropes and LATCH anchors will make your life easier. Center positions don’t have top tethers, so front-facing car seats must be in an outer heart.

The bedroom has enough space for storing small things, but nothing special. We like the rubbery bridge box behind the shifter where you can charge your phone, and the center armrest bin is pretty deep. Both the glovebox and the door pockets are the usual size. Also, we’re sorry Honda got rid of the intelligent rear seat bottoms that could be flipped up. These were called the “Magic Seat.”

What kind of fuel economy does it have? The EPA says the all-wheel-drive HR-V gets 27 mpg (25 city/30 highway) in combined driving. This is slightly less than most of its closest rivals, some of which have more powerful engines. But when we drove it on our 115-mile test run, we got an impressive 31.6 mpg in pretty light traffic. This weak engine will likely be under more stress than usual when people are on board.

Should you buy the HR-V? Regarding the HR-V cabin, Honda puts their money where it counts. Soft or padded areas are everywhere you touch them, and the settings are easy to use. This car looks a lot better than the one it replaces and drives better than other cars in its class. The HR-V is also surprisingly cheap—our top-of-the-line model costs just over $30K, less than its competitors. One big problem with the HR-V is that its engine needs to be more potent. We can’t say this is a well-rounded product for the money because it doesn’t come with other machines.

Honda’s guarantee still needs improvement compared to other companies. The basic warranty on the HR-V lasts for three years, and the engine warranty lasts for 36,000 miles.

It would be great if Honda’s great 1.5-liter turbo engine could be used in the HR-V. For now, the HR-V will likely get lost in a sea of more interesting small SUVs. The style of the car has improved from the last one; it now looks much more durable and high-end. That being said, it doesn’t add anything new. It’s okay.

Choose the Sports style to get the most for your money. Besides the features of the base LX model, this one has a sporty look and some valuable extras, such as heated front seats and proximity keyless entry.

Honda’s line of HR-V cars

The 2024 Honda HR-V compact SUV has three different styles: LX, Sport, and EX-L. Each car has a continuously variable automatic gearbox and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 158 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque power. You can choose all-wheel drive, but the front-wheel movement is expected.