Say hello to…
…the updated Honda HRV, which, nearly three years after launch, has gained a revised interior and exterior with a cleaner, sharper look. The update has also brought an improvement in specification and, Honda claims, lower levels of noise vibration and harshness from the hybrid powertrain.
The HRV still uses the same 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a hybrid powertrain that is seen in the Honda Jazz. This means it’s also only available with Honda’s CVT automatic gearbox.
Five trim levels are now available for the HRV.
- Elegance
- Advance
- Advance Plus
- Advance Style
- Advance style Plus
Equipment included as standard on the Elegance specification includes 18-inch alloys, speed limiter, rear-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, keyless entry and start, heated door mirrors, heated front seats, nine-inch touchscreen, drive modes, aircon and a host of safety systems.
Advance adds blind spot waring, synthetic leather upholstery, heated steering wheel, dual zone climate control, uprated stereo, rear USB sockets and a powered tailgate.
Advance Plus adds a surround view camera.
Advance Style trim adds roof rails, LED cornering lights, two-tone roof, subwoofer and wireless phone charger.
Advance Style Plus adds a panoramic glass roof.
Is The Honda HRV Suitable For My Fleet
Honda’s revisions to the HRV have worked well in terms of helping residual values and the OEM doesn’t push the market so these look assured for some time. However, the CO2 figure of 122g/km means a 2024/25 BIK banding of 29% which will mean drivers will probably want to run the car by taking cash rather than as a company car.
In terms of practicality, the boot is a good space at 304 litres and there’s plenty of rear seat legroom. However, taller adults may find rear headroom limited.
Leasing A Honda HRV
On a 3+36, 30,000 mile contract, Intelligent Car Leasing lists the Honda HRV at £466, a figure that’s come down since we tested the HRV when it came out in 2022. Gensen Reports forecasts a competitive monthly maintenance rate of £36, while the Class 1A NIC comes in at £104 a month thanks to a less than impressive 122g/km CO2 figure.
Driving A Honda HRV
When the HRV was launched the interior, in terms of design and quality, was already impressive. The latest upgrades have seen small, but useful improvements to the dashboard including making the wireless charging pad easier to access and trim upgrades. These changes work well.
However Honda also claims greater cabin refinement thanks to increased sound deadening. There may be less noise entering the cabin, but the CVT gearbox and engine combination still leaves a lot to be desired in terms of refinement under acceleration or at motorway speeds.
As before, Honda’s CVT automatic gearbox is fine under light acceleration, but under anything more than that and the resulting engine whine is unpleasant. The gearbox also seems to hold higher revs than necessary on a motorway cruise.
Now that it’s a legal requirement to include lane keeping and speed limit warnings on all cars, the Honda menu system needs an improvement to allow easier deactivation of these functions, which currently take a multitude of button clicks and menu options.
These negatives are a shame, because in comfort levels are great and the car drives well. As with the launch car, Honda has struck an appealing balance between comfort and fun. The ride isn’t at all harsh, yet body roll is well controlled.
FleetandLeasing.com Verdict On The Honda HRV
Honda’s HRV is a highly appealing car that’s let down by its CVT gearbox.
Honda HRV
- Model: HRV 1.5i Advance Style Plus eCVT
- Power: 107 hp
- Torque: 253Nm
- Max speed: 106mph
- 0-62mph: 10.8 s
- Official consumption: 52.3mpg
- Test consumption: 43.0mpg
- CO2 emissions: 122g/km
- BIK tax band 2024/25: 29%
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