2023 Honda HR-V – netcarshow.com | Shop 2023 Honda HR-V on Carsforsale.com
Although the Honda HR-V has existed in some places (under other names) since 1998, it debuted in North America in 2016. The 2023 Honda HR-V marks the second generation of the vehicle and the first full redesign for this region. The HR-V was already on our radar, making our list of the Seven Best Subcompact Crossovers. This version is better than ever. There are a lot of new elements here, from a more upscale cabin to more standard features to a new front-end exterior look. The 2023 HR-V also has more power than before. This HR-V is also wider than the 2022 model. It’s now based more on the Honda Civic wheelbase. Find out about more of the specifics by reading below!
Affordable prices
Spacious, higher-quality cabin
More power than before
Added safety tech
Easy-to-use infotainment
Still an underpowered engine
Middle-of-the-road gas mileage
For this Honda HR-V, designers turned to the 11th generation Honda Civic. As a result, this HR-V is larger than the 2022 models. It has a longer wheelbase and wider stance. Thanks to the Civic chassis, the new 8.7 inches longer and 2.6 inches wider than before. The 2023 HR-V also features a more prominent grille, longer hood, and sleeker roofline.
Underneath the hood, you’ll find a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. It makes an improved 158 horsepower with 138 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard across the lineup, but all-wheel drive (AWD) is available. While more horsepower is appreciated, the 17-digit increase from the 2022 model doesn’t improve the performance that much. Still, that extra power is better than nothing. The 2023 HR-V may not have the acceleration boost some are looking for, but it handles well. Brakes are responsive, and drivers won’t feel much body lean along curvy roadways. Maneuvering into tight parking spots isn’t an issue either.
The 2023 Honda HR-V gets 26 miles per gallon (MPG) in the city and 32 MPG on the highway according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The AWD version drops only a little bit to 25 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway. Those numbers are on par with some competitors, like the Mazda CX-30, but not as good as others like the Hyundai Kona and Kia Soul.
This is probably where someone would notice the most change in the HR-V. It’s easy to spot the visual differences from previous models. Again, it seems designers used the Honda Civic for inspiration. That’s not a bad thing, though. The interior looks more high-end than it actually is.
The metal honeycomb mesh that goes from door-to-door across the dash is striking and modern. There’s a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob in the Sport and EX-L trims. The center console has French stitching, too. Leather-trimmed seats are exclusive to the top-tier EX-L trim. Honda’s Body Stabilizing Seats are firm enough to hold the body in place but comfortable enough to relax in. The cargo hold has 24.4 cu-ft of space to work with in all trims. When the seats, which fold down in a 60/40 split, are folded there’s 55.1 cu-ft of cargo space.
The 2023 Honda HR-V delivers what the modern buyer expects to find in a new car. A seven or nine-inch touchscreen provides good space to navigate different menus. The Honda infotainment system is easy to use as well. Speed is displayed, along with other customizable information, on a seven-inch digital gauge cluster.
There are multiple USB ports for charging, and wireless device charging on the top EX-L trim. Stereo speakers range from four to six to eight speakers, increasing with each trim level. Each HR-V has knobs for volume level and tuning. There is no built-in navigation here though.
When it comes to safety features, the 2023 Honda HR-V has plenty of driver assistance technology. A rearview camera, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and adaptive cruise control are in every HR-V. Front and rear parking sensors along with blind-spot monitoring with a rear cross-traffic alert are available.
Starting off the 2023 Honda HR-V lineup is the LX trim with several infotainment features like a 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a four-speaker stereo, and three USB ports. 17-inch alloy wheels on the LX are painted silver. It comes standard with all of the driver assists previously mentioned. Plus, there’s a Traffic Jam Assist feature, there are automatic high beams, and there’s a rear-seat alert whenever something or someone above a certain weight is left in the back seat of the vehicle.
The Sport rides on black glossy 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside are heated front seats with orange accent stitching. The four-speaker stereo in the LX trim becomes a six-speaker stereo in the 2023 Honda HR-V Sport. Proximity keyless entry and remote start are also added. Blind-sport monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is standard with this trim.
Finally, there is the EX-L trim. The infotainment touchscreen is upgraded to nine inches. There’s an eight-speaker stereo, HD radio, satellite radio, and wireless device charging in this tech-savvy cabin. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are in the HR-V LX, but the EX-L trim adds these two features in a wireless capacity. Dual-zone automatic climate control and a power-adjustable driver’s seat makes the cabin more comfortable for the driver and front-seat passenger. A moonroof and ambient lighting are also included with the 2023 Honda HR-V EX-L.
Honda offers a three-year or 36,000-mile limited warranty for the 2023 HR-V. It also comes with a five-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
2023 Honda HR-V – netcarshow.com | Shop 2023 Honda HR-V on Carsforsale.com
Getting the HR-V on the same platform as the Civic was a good plan. Perhaps part two of that plan includes more engine options? It will be interesting to see if future versions of the HR-V are equipped with a turbocharged engine or hybrid powertrain the way the Civic is. Either way, the revamped 2023 Honda HR-V is an improvement over its predecessor, and has more look-at-me style than ever!
The design, inside and out, is noteworthy! The price makes it a very practical choice. Unfortunately, the ability of the HR-V isn’t exactly something to rave about. It’s a fine vehicle for regular driving, but it lacks the athleticism of some competitors in the subcompact crossover segment. Speaking of the competition, you can gain even more valuable insight with our analysis in Head-to-Head: Toyota C-HR vs Honda HR-V and our list of the Best Subcompact SUVs for Under $10,000.