Honda HR-V VTi-L 2018 Review

What value accessories?

Place a one-year old Honda HR-V VTi-L up for sale and the difference in private-sale value between good condition ($29,300) and average condition ($26,700) is $2600, according to RedBook.

Given that difference, there's strong reason to buy the sort of accessories that we all reckon are a bit ho-hum, but can help keep the HR-V looking good down the track. Such accessories include carpet mats for $178, a smoked bonnet protector for $139 and a luggage area protector tray for $99.

It doesn't end with retained value though. Other accessories can ramp up the functionality of the HR-V, which can also be ordered from the Honda dealer with side steps ($814) and a roof rack set rated at up to 75kg capacity ($528). The side steps will help the kiddies climb in the back and the roof rack provides extra carrying capacity for those occasions all the seats are taken, but even the HR-V's large boot isn't big enough.

We recently assessed a car fitted with all this gear, adding $1758 to the retail purchase price of $33,340. There are pros and cons, as we quickly learned. From personal experience, I would always recommend the bonnet protector for any car spending time on country roads – particularly gravel roads.

Headlight protectors wouldn't go astray either, although they weren't actually fitted to the HR-V on test. These days, cars are fitted with relatively cost-effective polycarbonate headlight covers, so the need for protection from flying rocks and stones is not what it once was. But the bonnets of modern cars can be particularly susceptible to stone chips, making the bonnet protector a worthwhile outlay.

If you plan to carry lots of knick-knacks in the boot of the HR-V, the luggage area protector tray is also money well spent. And the carpet mats are a lot cheaper to replace than a full moulded carpet. On the subject of price, all the figures quoted in this review include labour charges to fit each item.

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Up on the roof

With many accessories, there can be a downside. The most obvious one, in the case of the test HR-V is the roof rack set, which generates a lot of aerodynamic noise from speeds of 80km/h. And once you've tied a box of goodies to the roof rack that will add to the noise (and aerodynamic drag, which will increase fuel consumption). If not for that accessory, the HR-V would be quiet at open-road speeds, although tyre noise was also present on coarse-chip bitumen.

Another problem with the roof rack relates to its function and how it contributes to the HR-V's gross vehicle weight. Load up to 75kg on the roof, plus say 100kg in the boot, plus four of the five seats occupied by someone weighing on average 80kg and you've exceeded the vehicle's gross vehicle weight by 52kg.

And that's not just a theoretical problem. It may have an effect on the vehicle's braking and cornering. It certainly won't help the HR-V's overtaking performance. The 1.8-litre engine produces linear torque and is a refined unit, but it’s not all that punchy under load, even with just one person aboard.

Coupled with its continuously variable transmission (CVT), the engine won’t break traction, even on damp surfaces, although torque steer is evident at times. The engine’s torque is at least adequate on hills, with the cruise control set. There’s not a lot of sliding-ratio action happening, which speaks to the fact that this powertrain has been configured for ease of use and comfort rather than outright performance.

On light throttle openings the engine feels brisk enough around town, which is due at least in part to the effective calibration of the CVT. At full throttle and in Sport mode the transmission will move up through its artificial steps at or near the redline, even if the driver uses the shift paddles to select one of those steps. The transmission does the best it can with the available engine output.

In the Econ mode the powertrain of the HR-V doesn’t feel completely bereft of power, but nor does it deliver outstanding fuel economy. For a week of mostly low-speed commuting, the HR-V finished by posting a figure of 9.5L/100km. Loading up the roof rack will see that figure worsen, by reason of the added aero drag, as already mentioned.

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Driving dynamics

The HR-V is not just a supporting frame for a load of tacked-on accessories, it's also a functional and safe family vehicle in its own right. Active safety, in the form of vehicle dynamics, places the HR-V near the summit of the small SUV segment.

By the standards of its segment rivals, the HR-V’s steering is communicative, well weighted and responsive, allowing the Honda to be placed accurately on the road. The ride/handling balance is well measured, complemented by good body control at touring speeds and safe road-holding, but the HR-V’s handling doesn’t feel as lively as a Mazda CX-5 recently tested, despite the Mazda being physically larger than the HR-V.

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Smart packaging

One of the HR-V's outstanding virtues is its spacious cabin. This is where the Honda holds all the cards. It’s roomier inside than the Mazda CX-3 and the field of vision is well ahead of its peers in the segment. Having the side steps makes it even easier for little ones to climb in, although the HR-V's hip point is already low enough for all but the very youngest to take a seat with ease.

Speaking of seats, those in front are reasonably well shaped, but the cushioning in the base would be better if it weren’t as flat, and the squab could do with adjustable lumbar support. The driving position is commendable, with indicator stalk on the right, and sufficient adjustment for reach and rake in the steering column to find the right relationship to wheel and pedals. A garish, bright green light source for instruments won't be to everyone's liking, but the layout is simple enough to use, at least.

Bluetooth takes a little while to pair with a new phone until you’re familiar with the system. The small infotainment touchscreen menus are not designed for intuitive use and the buttons are a bit fiddly. There’s no volume control ‘knob’ on or near the centre fascia – just a couple of tiny buttons adjacent the screen. If you need to lower the audio volume, the quickest way is by using the respective switchgear on the steering wheel, except it’s hard to find in a hurry if the car is pulled over by the side of the road with half a turn of lock applied.

In the rear, there was respectable legroom for adults, but headroom was marginal with the sunroof fitted as standard in the VTi-L trim level. The clever folding arrangement of the rear seat provides a low loading floor to suit larger, bulkier loads that won’t fit in the HR-V’s boot otherwise, and lowering the seat doesn’t require much muscle or time.

So the HR-V embraces a lot of Jazz thinking when it comes to spaciousness and practicality. In its segment the HR-V is a very easy car to drive, and is plainly finding fans among family buyers.

And should you be considering what accessories to order with your new HR-V, forget the side steps and the roof rack, but the other accessories will set you back just $416, for a possible return on investment of $2600 when it comes time to sell the HR-V to a used-car buyer.

How much does the 2018 Honda HR-V VTi-L cost?
Price: $33,340 (retail, plus ORCs); $35,098 (as tested, plus ORCs)
Engine: 1.8-litre petrol four-cylinder
Output: 105kW/172Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable
Fuel: 6.9L/100km (ADR Combined); 9.5L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 160g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star ANCAP (2015)

Images used for illustrative purposes only