Compact Crossover Perfection? Honda’s HR-V at the 2019 L.A. Auto Show
Could the tiny HR-V be all the vehicle you’ll ever need?
There is an entire world of car buyers outside of sports car enthusiasts. Shocking as it may be, but it is true. There’s some buyers out there who buy a vehicle just to have it act like a normal car. Those consumers are actually vital to any company, as they allow manufacturers like Honda to develop cars like the Civic Type R. Those buyers also tend to like vehicles in the CUV segment, which is why we decided to check out the HR-V.
The HR-V presented itself well at the L.A. Auto Show, particularly in “Touring” trim. Though that’s the top-spec of this car, we expect most of the volume will be through the EX-L trim. However, at $28,800, the HR-V Touring offers a lot for the money. More trim parts on the car are painted body color, and more features like all-wheel-drive are standard. The budget-minded consumer could also look at the LX, which starts at $20,820.
Let’s go back to the Touring model seen here. Outfitted with accessories, it shows a CUV that can meet the demands of just about any buyer. Versatility is the main reason why this crossover will be a showroom hit. The power for this model – and all trim specs – comes from a 1.8 liter, 4 cylinder motor rated to an acceptable 141 horsepower. More importantly, the HR-V hits 28 miles per gallon in the city, and increases to 34 miles per gallon for highway use. That’s impressive given that this isn’t a hybrid.
Connectivity and modern safety features are always important. Honda’s “Sensing Suite” offers a wide variety of technologies to prevent collisions. Forward-looking sensors prevent lane departure and even assist in steering the car in its lane. Sensors can also apply the brakes for you if there’s a moment of distraction which would cause a collision.
Those who are looking to buy a car rather than an SUV will also like the HR-V’s car-like handling and compact dimensions. Nothing is sacrificed for interior room. That said, Honda’s neat folding seat cushion system opens up the whole back of the vehicle for large items.
In all, it drives like a car, gets mileage of a compact, has nearly the space of an SUV, is extremely reasonably priced… and it’s a Honda. To us, it seems like a no-brainer for a new car buyer to check one out.
