Honda HR-V review

The HR-V’s driving position is lower than those of most rival SUVs. It feels distinctly like a high-riding hatchback rather than a full 4x4 from the driver’s seat – the high-set gearlever emphasises this – which means you don’t get such a commanding view of your surroundings.

The seat is comfortable, though, and there’s enough adjustment to it and the steering wheel to suit most drivers. Driver seat-height adjustment is standard on every car, but lumbar adjustment doesn’t feature on any HR-V, even as an option. The dash is logically laid out, too, so you’re never caught searching for buttons rather than paying attention to the road.

The driver gets a good forward view thanks to the HR-V’s tall, wide screen and thin front pillars. Even though the windowline feels higher than in many of its rivals, there’s still enough depth to the side windows to ensure decent visibility at junctions and roundabouts, too.

Over-the-shoulder visibility isn’t quite so good, because the HR-V’s pinched rear styling means smaller rear windows and rear windscreen. Even so, front and rear parking sensors come as standard from mid-level SE trim – our preferred choice.

A rear view camera comes as standard on range-topping EX models, although it’s a little disappointing you can’t add even rear sensors entry-level S cars as an option.

Entry-level S models get a simple small colour screen with shortcut buttons dotted around the outside. It works well enough and the buttons are easy to spot and hit on the move while the two rotary dials are easy to get to grips with. A CD player, Bluetooth, DAB radio and a multifunction wheel are all included, too.

Our favourite SE trim brings a different system – a 7.0in touchscreen without any physical buttons around the outside, which gives it a cleaner look. The system works well enough, proving quite responsive and bright and colourful. However, some of the menus aren’t that intuitive and the sat-nav on SE Navi cars feels a little clunky.

The HR-V is certainly one of the better cars in the small SUV class for quality. A good blend of textured materials and well-damped switchgear give the HR-V a pretty classy interior by the standards of small SUVs. Some cheaper-feeling plastics on top of the dashboard let the cabin down slightly, but everything feels solidly put together.

Happily, this is the case from the bottom of the range to the top, but there’s no denying that range-topping EX cars feel even plusher inside. Their standard leather seats and leather door trims add an extra sense of luxury over the cloth seats of S and SE models.