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2025 Subaru Impreza Review2021 Honda HR-V: Competent and Efficient
What do our experts think of the 2021 Honda HR-V? We look at powertrain, interior options, trim levels and more. Find out our thoughts here.
2021 Honda HR-V – hondanews.com | Shop 2021 Honda HR-V on Carsforsale.com
What’s New for the 2021 Honda HR-V?
A member of the crowded subcompact SUV class, the 2021 Honda HR-V trades on smart cargo packaging and the automakers’ reputation for quality engineering. Slotting below the CR-V, which earns a spot on this list of best compact SUVs, the HR-V is the littlest Honda and has been on sale here since 2016. Updates this year are limited to new wheel designs on certain trim levels and the addition of window tint on the Sport model. Short for Hi-rider Revolutionary Vehicle, the HR-V is an efficient and functional small SUV, if lacking on the excitement front.
The Breakdown
Alloy wheels standard
Slick Magic Seats
Fuel miser
Wants for power
Bland cabin
Base model lacks features
Honda’s small car formula in an SUV
2021 HR-V Specs
- 141 horsepower from base engine
- 127 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 4 available trims
- 23.2 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 55.9 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats down
- Live feed from side mirror
- Touch-based climate controls
- Five years of powertrain protection
2021 Honda HR-V Powertrain
Perhaps the 2021 HR-V’s biggest detraction is its power, or lack thereof. The naturally aspirated i-VTEC 1.8L “Earth Dreams” inline-4 makes a measly 141 horsepower and 127 lb-ft of torque. Mated to a CVT driving the front wheels, you can expect a near 9-second stroll to 60 mph. AWD is an option, which is great for slick conditions, but not for performance. The Kia Seltos has a similar base engine but offers a turbocharged variant that cranks power way up. You can read up on a Seltos comparison here and an explanation on turbocharging here.
An interesting thing Honda does with the HR-V is fit FWD models with a twist-beam rear suspension and AWD versions with a De Dion rear setup. In both cases, the front configuration is of the MacPherson strut independent variety. Though it would be easy to assume the lack of an independent rear layout translates to poor handling dynamics, that is not going to be the case. No one will mistake the HR-V for a Porsche 911 in a hairpin however, Honda is renowned for their engineering ethos of eschewing automotive norms in the interest of achieving their desired outcome in the simplest possible fashion. The commonly applied multi- or 5-link rear is a complex system, a torsion beam and De Dion, relatively, are not.
2021 Honda HR-V Fuel Economy & MPG
The HR-V is one economical SUV, achieving 28 mpg in city driving and 34 on the highway when in FWD guise. Adding AWD drops those figures to 26 and 31, respectively. A Jeep Renegade is rated for 24 mpg around town and 32 on the highway, which is not too far off the HR-V, but in these days of high fuel prices, every MPG counts. You can read up on the Renegade here.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
As with most tiny-sized, two-row crossovers, the 2021 Honda HR-V has seats for five passengers but the back bench is going to be tight with three adults, even with the 39” of legroom. Automatic climate control and rear-row heater ducts will at least keep everyone cozy and an available moonroof adds a sense of airiness to an otherwise dark cabin. When it comes to the upholstery, whether leather or cloth, as Henry Ford was wont to say, you can have any color as long as it’s black.
On the cargo hauling front, the HR-V is both capacious and clever. Folding the rear bench, which can be split 60/40, opens a relatively cavernous 59 cubic feet of cargo space. The clever component is what Honda calls their Magic Seat. Both bottom cushion sections in the back can be folded up to allow for tall item hauling, up to four feet high in fact. Folding the front passenger seat down allows for objects up to eight feet long to slide in. Not bad for the little sport-ute and one of the reasons it earns a spot on this list of 7 best subcompact crossovers.
Entertainment & Technology
Honda does offer a 7-inch touchscreen display for handling infotainment functions like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto however, it requires at least a Sport model. The base LX trim has what amounts to a color 5-inch display for stereo and Bluetooth details. A slick feature that is nice at this price point is Lane Watch, which uses a camera mounted under the passenger side-mirror to display a live feed of the blind spot while signaling a lane change. HondaLink, the automakers’ smartphone app includes parking lot locating, current fuel range and the ability to schedule factory maintenance.
Safety Features
Continuing their reputation for safety, Honda loads the 2021 HR-V with enough active and passive systems to earn a 5-Star rating from NHTSA and Top Safety Pick award from IIHS. Available active systems include automated emergency braking, lane keeping assist and departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and forward collision warning, all of which are bundled into the Honda Sensing suite of tech. Behind the sheet metal is Honda’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure that combines with six standard airbags to keep everyone safe.
2021 Honda HR-V Trims & Pricing
LX – $22,445
Base LX models lack infotainment and advanced safety goods; however, they look good with 17-inch alloys, body-color mirrors and LED daytime-running lights. Cabin features include power windows and locks as well as cruise control and a backup camera. The stereo is subpar with just four speakers but you will find a USB port and dual 12-volt power receptacles.
Sport – $24,395
Dressed in gloss black trim, HR-V Sport looks the part with black-finished 18-inch wheels, an exhaust finisher, and the option for Aegean Blue or Milano Red paint. It even comes with rubberized metal pedals and paddle shifters, though keep in mind a CVT is the only transmission available. Most importantly, from here on up, the HR-V comes with a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
EX – $25,645
Along with access to the pretty Midnight Amethyst Metallic exterior finish, EX models feature passive entry and exit with the walk-away lock system. Inside you’ll find heated front seats, automatic climate control and the full suite of advanced driver-assistance systems that make up Honda Sensing.
EX-L – $27,245
Top-spec EX-L trim is the only HR-V upholstered in leather, which extends to the steering wheel and shifter knob. These models also sport an auto-dimming rearview mirror, heated side mirrors, six speaker audio system and lane-watch blind-spot assistance.
Warranties
Honda’s warranty is pretty standard with three years or 36,000 miles of coverage on the vehicle. The powertrain is protected for a 5-year/60,000-mile term with body corrosion covered for five years as well, but with no mileage limit. Honda provides three years or 36,000 miles of 24/7 roadside assistance, however they do not provide any complimentary maintenance visits.
What we think
2021 Honda HR-V – netcarshow.com | Shop 2021 Honda HR-V on Carsforsale.com
As Honda’s SUV lineup grows and car lineup shrinks – R.I.P Honda Fit – the 2021 Honda HR-V is a competent and efficient hatchback on stilts. But man, it is screaming for more power, which from my armchair quarterback position seems so easy to fix. Just check out what Honda stuffs under the hood of a Civic Si. However, that is surely not the point of the HR-V, and so as an A-to-B daily driver, it is certainly sufficient. For my money, I’d spring for the EX as it has all the infotainment gear, plus heated seats, for about a thousand bucks more than the similarly equipped Sport model.
