![]() Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity are included in an updated touchscreen multimedia system on all trims except the base LX. What's New on the 2019 Honda HR-V?Ī six-speed manual transmission is no longer offered, so all trim levels have a CVT. Front- and all-wheel-drive versions are available. The HR-V is powered by a 141-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that teams with a continuously variable automatic transmission. It is related to the Honda Fit hatchback. On twisty roads, in spite of the sizable 18-inch wheels, the tires tend to squeal and squish, perhaps reflective of the nose-heavy weight distribution.The Honda HR-V is a five-seat subcompact SUV that competes with the Chevrolet Trax, Jeep Renegade, Mazda CX-3, Nissan Kicks and others. Overall, the HR-V is nimble and spry in the city, which is this Honda's natural habitat. The electric steering mostly evades notice, perhaps in part because the HR-V Sport gets a variable ratio. The 4-wheel-disc brakes work well but can feel a little grabby, not unlike a front-disc/rear-drum setup. Road, wind, and engine noise are significant, too. Still, the ride quality is often choppy and bouncy, which is to be expected in a basic vehicle like the HR-V. Versions with AWD do swap the standard torsion-beam rear suspension for a slightly more sophisticated DeDion tube rear suspension. That's the opposite of what people expect, and gives the HR-V two fewer inches of clearance than segment leaders like the Jeep Renegade Trailhawk and Subaru Crosstrek. When you specify AWD for a 2019 Honda HR-V, the vehicle actually loses more than half an inch of ground clearance, dropping from 7.3 inches to 6.7 inches. Sized and powered for use in cities, the Honda HR-V is most gratifying to drive in urban areas. The paddle shifters aren't particularly useful, either, and sometimes in suburban settings the drivetrain would actually respond with greater power than expected, displaying the 'rubber-band effect' common to CVTs. Encounter a hill or mountain grade, though, and if the HR-V is in Normal driving mode the CVT is unresponsive unless you dig deep into the gas pedal in order to keep a steady speed.Īcceleration is sluggish when you're trying to enter fast traffic or pass slower vehicles. On freeways that are actually flowing, the HR-V has no trouble maintaining extra-legal speeds. I spent lots of time sitting in traffic and negotiating downtown Los Angeles streets, Apple CarPlay effortlessly assisting in reaching various destinations. In urban driving situations, the HR-V powertrain works well. With all-wheel drive, the HR-V is supposed to get 28 mpg in combined driving, and I averaged 27.4 mpg. Honda says the transmission is refined for 2019, and drivers can select between Sport, Normal, and Econ driving modes. Torque is available at 4,300 rpm, but it measures just 127 lb.-ft.įor 2019, Honda drops the previously available 6-speed manual gearbox in favor of a standard CVT. Maximum horsepower is made at 6,500 rpm, just short of the 6,700-rpm engine redline, which means you'll rarely be able to access it. (Speedy Daddy Media, Inc.)Ī 141-horsepower, 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine powers the HR-V. Get the all-wheel-drive system and you lose more than half an inch of ground clearance. One of the least appealing things about the Honda HR-V is its engine and transmission. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not rated the HR-V for the 2019 model year, but previously this SUV got an "Acceptable" rating instead of "Good" in the small overlap frontal impact test. ![]() The federal government gives the HR-V a 5-star overall crash-test rating, but frontal impact ratings for the driver and passenger amount to 4 stars. Furthermore, it was refreshing to drive such an 'analog' vehicle. With impressive forward visibility, large side mirrors, and the multi-angle reversing camera, I didn't need any of it. My Sport test vehicle had none of these features, and I didn't mind. Therefore, it is inferior to a proper radar-based blind spot warning system. It does not include the left side of the HR-V, and does not include rear cross-traffic alert. While this is a positive development, Honda ought to make this available as an option on lower trims, too.Īdditionally, these three trim levels have Lane Watch, a camera-based system that shows the driver what's in the right-side blind spot. Honda Sensing equips the SUV with adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and road departure mitigation. (Speedy Daddy Media, Inc.)Īnother big upgrade for the 2019 HR-V is the addition of Honda Sensing to EX, EX-L, and Touring trim levels. Safety is improved for 2019, but it could still be better. ![]() The Honda HR-V’s rear seat is roomy for this class of vehicle.
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