Performance & drive
What it’s like to drive, and how quiet it is
The front-wheel-drive only HR-V has a similar hybrid setup to the Honda Jazz hatchback, but gets a bit more power from its 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and two electric motors: a total of 129bhp.
As with other hybrids, when you start the car and move off, it's very hushed. This calm is shattered if you put your foot down, though, because the revs are sent soaring to the stratosphere, and are held there until you back off.
The HR-V has quite soft suspension and wafts along pleasantly most of the time, yet it's also able to pass over undulations and speed bumps without feeling overly floaty. You do hear some thwacks from the suspension at times, though. The Skoda Karoq is more settled.
As for the handling, the HR-V is safe and predictable. That's helped by steering that's accurate and feels naturally weighted, but the combination of a relatively tall body and that soft suspension mean it's not especially agile. If you're looking for something that is, the Seat Ateca is the family SUV for you.
