Our Fleet Test Drive: Honda HR-V - 6th report
Date:
04 February 2016
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Author: Hugh Hunston
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Why we're running it: | To see if Honda is finally returning to form and can succeed in an increasingly competitive area of the market | Equipment: | 8 airbags, 17in alloys. keyless entry and start, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, Bluetooth, auto lights and wipers, panoramic sunroof, rear privacy glass, leather interior, front and rear parking sensors, rear parking camera | Options: | Modern Steel metallic paint (£525) |
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Honda's designers achieved a reasonable balance between form and function when creating the second-generation HR-V, but everyday use of our not-so-small SUV has revealed that practicality prevailed against aesthetics.
Having joined the growing supermini-based crossover ranks late, the CR-V's junior sibling is positioned strategically between Nissan's established Juke and Qashqai models.
In terms of space, the Tardis-like Honda provides 116 litres greater luggage capacity than the Juke and 40 litres more than the Qashqai with the rear seats up.
Equally important are the flexible cabin configurations. As the HR-V shares its platform with the new Jazz, it also utilises Honda's clever fold-and-flip rear upright-seat format.
This liberates a sizeable floor-to-ceiling channel behind the driver, which can be complemented by folding the passenger seat flat. In our family context it created accessible room, albeit by angling the front wheel, for a stand-up bike.
Another useful detail in the HR-V is the recessed extra space underneath the boot floor, (see picture, above), but, curiously, there is no handy stowage slot for the rigid luggage area cover.
Verdict
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- Sector-leading innovative interior
- Flexible-format cabin space
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- Lacks a neat stowage solution for the boot cover
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