2019 Honda HRV EX-L
2019 Honda HRV EX-L Not all crossover SUV buyers want a big, slumbering off-roader. And not all compact car buyers are looking for a low seating position. For those who are looking for something in the middle, there is the 2019 Honda HR-V. The 2019 HR-V provides a subtle styling update, new sports and touring trim levels, and adds active safety equipment to its roster this year. We evaluate the fairly large, well-packaged HR-V on 5.0 of 10.
The HR-V may not look at his side, but is full of personality. Five trim levels — LX, sport, ex, ex-L and touring — leave buyers with many options. All have a 141-horsepower 4-cylinder, which offers a decent all-round punch, but runs out of the rudder at highway speeds. A neat handling and a comfortable ride give the HR-V a bucks-up feeling on the road. The manual gearbox of the past year is a goner, which is replaced by a competent, well-tuned, steplessly variable gearbox (CVT).
Combined with up to 30 mpg, the HR-V is economical, but we want a hybrid option. All-wheel drive is optional for snow belts, but the HR-V is barely a four-wheeler like its Jeep Renegade and Subaru Crosstrek rivals.
2019 Honda HRV Interior and Exterior
The 2019 Honda Rear-V has a voluminous interior, mainly due to its compact dimensions. With the rear seats, the HR-V can accommodate 24.3 cubic feet (23.2 cubic feet on four-wheel drive). The rear seats fold downwards in a 60/40 split and offer up to 58.8 cubic feet, with both seats folded downwards (55,9-57,6 cubic feet on all-wheel drive models). The front and rear seat legroom is 41.2 or 39.3 inches.
Instead, the sleeve of the HR-V is its inner packaging. Passengers have a decent place and plenty of kubbies, while the back seat can accommodate a few basketball players. When the back seat is called, it folds completely flat or its bases tilt for countless storage solutions. The 24.3 cubic foot stem of the HR-V is more compact than subcompact crossover SUVs.
This year, ex and higher trims will receive a range of collision avoidance technologies, including automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. The new sport trim with its 18-inch wheels has a zippigen look, while the range-topping-touring brings to the HR-V navigation, a power driver seat and LED headlights.
Read More: 2020 Honda Ridgeline Refresh
The 2019 HR-V mixes coupe and crossover design cues, but not in a way that is particularly compelling. The massive blow stamped into the side of the HR-V moves forward into the grid at one end and digs the other into the rear door handles. It’s not boring, but his complexity doesn’t do him any favors.
The new HR-V Sport trim level features this year’s 18-inch alloy wheels and replaces much of the chrome trim in other versions with shiny black panels. It works the best out of the pile, but only through a hair. The ordinary interior of the HR-V, however, is a highlight. The sleek, elegant lines contrast with the bustling exterior. A wide sponge of contrasting, soft-touch material dresses The dashboard, but the trio of slender ventilation slits in front of the passenger feels like a reflection.
Most trim strips use a 7.0-inch touchscreen for infotainment (now with a volume button instead of last year’s slider), which is well integrated into the design. The tactile automatic climate controls on ex and higher trims look conspicuous, but can be frustrating.
The 2019 Honda HR-V LX is standard with a 160-watt stereo system with four loudspeakers, USB input, Bluetooth streaming audio and a 5.0-inch color LCD screen. Sports, ex, ex-L and touring trims add another USB port in the front console, a 180-watt stereo with six speakers, a high-resolution 7.0-inch touchscreen, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Ex models and above add HD and SiriusXM receivers. Touring models have satellite navigation only.
2019 Honda HRV Engine
Its 1.8-liter inline-4 is smooth and works well with the steplessly variable gearbox (CVT), but its 141 horsepower and 121 pound-foot torque are charged with moving up from 3,000 pounds. The HR-V works well enough in the city and is assisted by its fast, appealing steering. On the highway she can feel nervous and she even fights with gentle notes.
A bright spot is the conforming drive of the HR-V. At city speeds, it attacks meteor-size potholes. We have not yet ridden HR-V with the 18-inch wheels that are included with the sport trim, so we do not know what impact they will have.
These include front wheel drive HR vs a simple torsional rear axle, while all-wheel drives go to a more sophisticated dedion setup. Either way, the HR-V self-consciously cuts through curvy roads, but never feels as entertaining as the Mazda CX-3. Oddly enough, the front-wheel drive HR-vs is higher on the ground than the all-wheel drive versions. Stick to paved roads.
Each HR-V comes standard with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 141 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT. All-wheel drive is optional on all trim levels, except for touring, where it is standard. Each front wheel drive model receives a 28/34 MPG city/highway rating. The LX is the mileage champ in all-wheel drive garments and deserves 27/31 mpg. All other four-wheel drive stages net 26/31 mpg.
Read More: 2020 Honda Ridgeline MID Model Refresh
2019 Honda HRV EX-L
The 102.8-inch wheelbase of the HR-V and the total length of about 170 inches make it so maneuverable around the city of Bely its 25 cubic metres of cargo space with the rear seat upright. When the charge of the HR-V is folded, it will swell up to 58.8 cubic feet depending on the trim level and drive wheels. (Four-wheel drive versions have a little less space.)
The trick function here are the folding rear seats of the HR-V, the Honda with magical seats Duben. The seat is so hung that the floor can be folded up directly behind the front seats for a low cargo floor. When the backs are folded down, the HR-V has a flat loading area that is long enough for shorter people to fall asleep.
The front seats of the HR-V are comfortable, but the seat bases could be longer and the available moon roof cuts into the head. Backseat drivers have almost as much legroom. Most trims feature cloth or vinyl trim on the door panels to help you avoid the cheap look and feel of hard plastics that occur in so many subcompact crossover SUVs
2019 Honda HRV Price
The Base HR-V LX has a 5.0-inch display for its audio system, power features and 18-inch alloy wheels — but that’s it too. This year’s new sport trim with 18-inch wheels, a much-needed 7.0-inch touchscreen for infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android-car compatibility, roof rails and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, builds on this. For about $23,200 It is discreetly equipped.
Our pick of the line is the HR-V ex, which costs about $24,700 and adds in active safety tech, a moonroof, key-free ignition, heated seats, automatic climate control and tinted rear windows. Leather seats and a few other treats add $1,600 and form the ex-l trim.
LX, sport, ex and ex-L trims can all be equipped with four-wheel drive for a further $1,400. The range-topping HR-V is standard with four-wheel drive plus navigation, an 8-way driver’s seat, a garage door opener and LED headlights for a powerful $29,500.
MSRP $20,520 EPA mpg 28 City/34 Highway PS 141HP
