The compact SUV segment is not something new. Manufacturers like Suzuki have long dabbled in this segment, but it wasn’t until Honda introduced the HR-V the market demand exploded. But what makes the latest compact SUV from Honda so popular? Let’s find out.
With nearly 15,000 units sold since the launch of the Honda HR-V back in February, the latest compact SUV from Honda is definitely well received. Prices start from just below the magical RM100,000 mark, with the range-topping variant coming in at just below RM120,000. Bear in mind that the range topper Honda HR-V’s price already exceeds the base Honda Civic’s price, at RM113,000.
Despite the higher price tag, Chris has already mentioned in his review why you should get a Honda HR-V over a similarly priced sedan, while Alia had one over Raya. Yes, both of them also enjoyed the car. And now, its my turn.
Honda brand aside, what customers seek when they buy a new car is a quality interior. An interior that feels way more upmarket than the price tag suggest, and the Honda HR-V delivers just that. Another trump card over its bigger brother, the CR-V.
Thanks to the generous use of leather and soft touch materials, the Honda HR-V’s interior is a special place to be. In fact, the baby SUV here features raised centre console with an electronic parking brake. This raised centre console, if you’ve haven’t already guessed, is finished in soft touch material which certainly gives it a premium feel.
The range-topping Honda HR-V Grade V we sampled here features black half leather upholstery all round and like the Jazz its based on, features the extremely-flexible ULTRA seats. These ULTRA seats can be folded flat or tipped up if needed. A definite plus point for practicality.
In front of the front passenger is three aircon vents, which could be summed as an annoyance. The front passenger, more than often, would experience a continuous flow of cold air towards their face or body. Shutting the vent off meant that the rear passengers would complain about the heat. No, the Honda HR-V is not equipped with a rear air vent. Bummer.
The Honda HR-V rides much higher than the Jazz, and thanks to all-round disc brakes, brakes very well too. What the HR-V loses out is where handling is concerned. I liked the Jazz as it handled much better than what I’d came to expect from a little hatchback, but the same cannot be said about the HR-V. Ride comfort is also pretty darn good on the little HR-V, with the SUV soaking up bumps and road irregularities with ease.
But thanks to the way its configured, the Honda HR-V is an easy car to drive. The Honda HR-V offers a painless ride to and fro work thanks to its nicely weighted electric power steering, while the high seating position ensures optimum visibility for the driver. Despite that, rear visibility is quite limited, and reversing the Honda HR-V may prove to be a challenge for variants without a reverse camera.
Globally, the Honda HR-V can be had with either a 1.5-litre or a 1.8-litre engine. Thankfully Honda Malaysia chose the latter, which provided more than enough grunt for daily commutes. The torque converter-based CVT ensures that fuel economy gets reduced, though at the expense of driving pleasure.
The HR-V is devoid of any driving pleasure, unfortunately. Drive it hard, the engine gets unnecessarily noisy, which can get annoying over time. On the flip side however, the HR-V gains momentum with relative ease. Drive the HR-V gently and it provides average fuel economy. Despite our best efforts, the HR-V returned an average fuel consumption between 10.8 to 11.3 km/L.
As an overall package, the Honda HR-V ticks all the right boxes – a well-built, spacious and practical interior, comfortable ride, good looks and most importantly, the Honda badge. Honda may not be the first manufacturer to release a compact SUV, but they have certainly packaged the HR-V really well, convincing many car buyers that a HR-V is all they need.
Specifications: Honda HR-V 1.8
Price: RM118,228.50 (OTR with insurance)
Engine: 1.8-litre inline-four i-VTEC
Horsepower: 140 hp @ 6,500 rpm
Torque: 172 Nm @ 4,300 rpm
Transmission: Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT)
Panning photo credit to my friend, Ken Ng.
Honda HR-V photo gallery
