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Is the 2023 Honda HR-V an Expensive Undercooked Pudding

gaycarboys - Alan Zurvas

We drove the previous HR-V, and in each review we thought it to be cute, capable, fun, and on the high end of reasonable value. The old HR-V was unmolested by the hand that over-cooked the Civic pudding. Sure, HR-V had lines used with gay abandon, and a front with headlights like Dame Edna’s glasses, but it looked different, in a good way.

HR-V is related to the now defunct (in Australia) Jazz, as is the brand-new model.

This is where things get rather strange. Now, pay attention: New HR-V is related to the Jazz, and is sold everywhere in the world except the USA. The HR-V in USA is based on the Civic/CR-V platform, and is a completely different car that could easily be mistaken for a Ford Puma. That’s not all, that very car is now to be sold elsewhere in the world, including Australia, as the ZR-V. What a shambles.

Specifications HERE: Honda HR-V 22YM specifications

Frankly, Honda is a shambolic mess.

Australian sales have slid off the window sill like a half-set pie in the midday sun. So, what’s gone wrong?

The cars became more and more expensive, but lacked the technology to support the sticker. The range lacked a coherent visual cue, they were late to the diesel party, and with no ticker to stick out the hard times, buggered up the hybrid push. Toyota persisted, and look where they are now.

Honda sports models have been patchy too, and with the reliance on passenger cars, had no momentum to carry it into the 21st century as buyer tastes became fickle. Brand loyalty now counts for naught. The once large Honda range now consists of 4 models, with Civic recently gaining an R variant.

It isn’t just the cars that have had a right-royal seeing to, management offices now have a revolving door as staff beat a hasty path for the car park. Then, in a terrible bout of bad timing, Covid hit at about the same time Honda decided on a brand new model of operation: the Agency Model. Outlets are no longer known as dealers, but agents. They deliver new cars sold through the website, while servicing continues in workshops barely distinguishable from the old dealer model.

Now, all Hondas cost the same, no matter where you live.

Dealers no longer deal. Mercedes Benz also now uses the agency model, yet its sales have never been healthier. Not only that, the range on the 3-pointed-star driveway is absolutely huge.

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1 Minute Video Review: 2023 Honda HR-V  #short

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ABOVE: 2023 Honda HR-V-ViX-Australian-4-Seater, 2023 Kia Seltos (to compare) 

What is Honda doing to regain its position in the top ten?

To be honest, not a lot. The Australian manager left, and hasn’t been replaced. The PR manager likewise, so the only noises inside, are from crickets and tumbleweeds .  Not only that, Honda no longer owns its offices, having sold the old one to move into new rented digs. Management will no doubt get a makeover in due course, but then, we thought the same thing about Holden didn’t we?

There are a few bright lights however, with a new range that sees the overdesigned Civic reborn.

The new model is far less polarising, with a hot R to bring a much-needed halo effect to the showrooms.  As mentioned, the ZR-V (sold in the US as the HR-V), will join the Australian forecourt, sitting between the CR-V and HR-V. Both the CR-V and ZR-V use the same platform as Civic. The Civic, Accord and CR-V are all excellent cars in their segment, even allowing for the fact that they too, are at the higher end of mainstream pricing.

That brings us to the HR-V, which comes in 2 models: the petrol-only Vi X, and the hybrid e:HEVL at $36,700 and $45,000 respectively.  Neither have AWD or power exceeding 100kw. Keep those figures in mind as you read on.

Looks:

I don’t know where to start. The Madza-esque head lights are linked by a body-coloured grille. It makes the unremarkable front end look like a brick bungalow with brick-coloured venetians.

The profile has little interest that is usually afforded by character lines. Obviously designers took the critique of the complex previous generation Civic, as a sign to pare down the HR-V, to within an inch of its life.  Coco Chanel said, “take off the last thing you put on”, so Honda’s bespectacled Gen Zeders removed almost everything, leaving nothing to look at.

So far, from every angle, HR-V is one bland view after another.

Then, we get to the back end where the tail lights look they were nicked from and MG. Despite the attempt at some LED razzle-dazzle, the rump is as dull and uninspiring as the rest of the exterior.

The Cabin:

The driver scores a mostly-LCD dash, but the speedo is a weird mix of an analogue needle over an LCD-like read out. The rest of the driver display is like any other digital panel, so why not just have a 100% LCD screen as seen elsewhere in the segment?

The 9” infotainment system has adequate sound, and wireless CarPlay (wired Android).

I realise this is an entry level car, but at $36,700, there is stiff competition. The cabin feels a little too simple, with single zone climate control and a acres of scratchy plakky bits. Every control, knob, switch, and lever, feels cheap, with absolutely no sense of substance.

The one strong suit is storage. There are 8 cup holders, lots of clever hooks, and Magic Seats that can origami themselves into many useful positions. You have been able to fit a bike in other Magic Seat models, so it is worth having a whack at this one as well.

Seats are comfy enough, but the upholstery as plain as unprinted Pyrex. It was the last chance to add a bit of pizazz for no cost.

The biggest problem with the interior is that Honda HR-V in Australian form, is a 4-seater. Our unique ADR regulations make having a middle rear seat impossible. The added engineering required for less than 200 cars a month doesn’t make business sense, however, not having a 5th seat doesn’t make common sense.

The Drive:

So far, the news has been neither bad nor good, just, news.

I haven’t driven the 96kw hybrid with its eCVT, but the 89kw petrol CVT needs a calendar to register the 0-100 at around 12 seconds. It feels and sounds decidedly old school, as the pistons scream for mercy the moment you press your loafer down. Even the most modest of shoves elicits a hullabaloo from the nethers up front. There are barely perceivable steps imitating a regular automatic, so why not just put a decent 8 speed automatic in, and be done with it.

The ride on the torsion beam rear end is a trifle firm, but handling is decent even when pushed, except for bumps mid-corner. You just have to be prepared for a cacophony, as seen our 1-minute review, where the crescendo is more alarming than thrilling.

Steering is, quite simply, delightful. It is easy and light, with enough assistance to make dealing with the CVT worthwhile.

TOP TIP: Don’t get a flat tyre. Even with enough space under the rear floor for at least a space saver, there is not so much as a dickie bird. While on the subject of tyres, they allow a little more noise into the cabin than I’d like. It shouldn’t worry the passengers too much, as they’re unlikely to spend too many hours in a single stretch behind the wheel. HR-V is a city car, not a cross-country cruiser.

To that end, a good quality camera abetted by sensors front and rear, make parking easy.

It would be recalcitrant of me not to mention the very many safety and driver aids. You gete all the airbags you could possibly want, a high beam assistant, and adaptive cruise control. For a full list DOWNLOAD A Specifications sheet HERE: Honda HR-V 22YM specifications

Naughty old Honda has left Blind Spot Monitor off the base model, with it only being available on the range topper. Tsk tsk.

The 89kw/145Nm 1.5L 4-pot is alleged to get 5.8L/100km, but our city car was at 6.9L/100km after a week of strictly urban duty. There are drive modes, but Sport mode made very little difference to the spirit-sapping CVT. God-forbid, there is an Eco Mode. That’s just taking the pi$$ surely.

Conclusion:

I have been hard on Honda HR-V, very hard, and here’s why: it is a fabulous $26,700 car, but not so great at $36,700, and out of the question for the $45,000 hybrid.

There are better choices. At $35,800, KIA Seltos Sport+ is cheaper, looks better, has a nicer interior, more power (110kw/180Nm), and a longer 7-year warranty. Not only that, you can spend a few more shekels ($39,300) on a Seltos Sport+ with a 146kw/245Nm 1.6 turbo, AWD, and an 8-speed automatic instead of the mind-numbing CVT.

Granted, the KIA Seltos lacks a hybrid, but all Seltos models have a spare tyre, something I hate leaving home without. It gives me a frightful rash! Not only that, both 1.6L Seltos models have AWD and multi-link rear ends, something unavailable on HR-V.

Buyers will compare cars whether the car makers like it or not.

I’d contact Honda for a comment on the review, but there is neither a boss nor a PR manager to ask.

2023 Honda HR-V

  • Price: $36,700
  • Engine: 1.5L 4cyl
  • Trans: CVT
  • Econ: 5.8L/100k
  • CO2: 133g/k

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