Testing the new hybrid Honda HR-V in Tayside and Fife

The Honda HR-V is an unexciting but otherwise excellent small SUV.

I found it to be equally adept at navigating the busy streets of Dundee’s West End during rush hour as it was cruising up the A9 to Highland Perthshire for a hike.

This is the third generation of a car that was first launched in the 1990s and has been through several style changes.

The third gen Honda HR-V is hybrid only. Image: Jack McKeown.

The original HR-V was boxy and rugged, while the second generation model went for a much more sporty and rakish style.

The latest HR-V goes back to its practical roots. It is hybrid-only and takes on the like of the Nissan Qashqai, Ford Puma and Seat Ateca.

What powers the Honda HR-V?

Under the skin there’s a 1.5 litre petrol engine, two electric motors and a battery. It isn’t a plug-in hybrid so you don’t have to faff about with cables or charging apps.

Instead, the battery is charged when the car brakes and energy that would otherwise be lost gets reused.

Prices for the HR-V start from around £31,000. Image: Jack McKeown.

Unlike plug-in hybrids you can’t cruise for miles on battery power alone. What the hybrid system does is make the car more economical.

After a week of driving in Tayside and Fife my Honda HR-V was showing 51mpg – just a whisker shy of the car’s 52.3mpg and a very impressive figure.

What is it like inside?

You sit high up in the HR-V so it feels like you’re in a proper SUV rather than a jacked-up hatchback like the Ford Puma.

That gives you a great view of the road ahead, while large side and rear windows ensure visibility is good in all directions. All versions come with front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera, making parking super easy.

Whereas the previous generation HR-V had fiddly touch-sensitive controls, Honda has wisely listened to critics (including me) and restored proper knobs and dials that are easier and less distracting to use while you’re driving.

Headroom is excellent in the front, although slightly diminished in the back thanks to raised rear seats. Legroom is good all round though.

On paper the 319 litre boot is smaller than that of its rivals – particularly the Skoda Karoq, which offers a superb 521 litres. In practice it feels bigger than that, however, and my two golden retrievers fitted in without any whines of complaint.

The HR-V also comes with Honda’s excellent ‘magic seats’ which tumble forward at the touch of a button creating a completely flat load bay and unlocking almost 1,300 litres of cargo space.

They’re super easy to use and it makes you wonder why this isn’t the standard design throughout the car industry.

Is the Honda HR-V good to drive?

The Honda HR-V is not sporty to drive. You never feel like you’re zipping around in a Mazda MX-5. Its 10.7 second 0-62mph time is deeply average and its otherwise excellent engine sounds strained if you floor it.

No, the HR-V is not a car for boy racers. Honda has designed it for people who value comfort and refinement. The suspension is nice and soft and soaked up the bumps when I took it on a journey to Kirriemuir.

The HR-V is comfortable enough for long journeys. Image: Jack McKeown.

Light yet accurate steering and its ability to operate in electric mode at low speeds made negotiating Dundee’s dreaded Gallagher Retail Park a breeze.

On a longer journey to Edinburgh I set the cruise control for 70 and enjoyed listening to a podcast through Apple CarPlay. Sound insulation is good and I didn’t need to increase the volume to compete with wind or road noise.

How much does it cost?

Prices for the Honda HR-V start at just below £31,000 and top out at around the £39,000 mark – my car cost £39,525 including options.

That makes it a little pricier than some rivals however the Honda’s high levels of standard equipment make it pretty much a level playing field. My top spec car had heated seats and a heated steering wheel, dual zone climate control, part-leather upholstery, and a powered tailgate.

Honda scores well for reliability Image: Jack McKeown.

Every version comes loaded with safety kit too, including blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control.

A three-year, 90,000 mile warranty beats all but the South Korean brands and Honda always comes in the top two or three manufacturers for reliability and driver satisfaction.

Despite all of Honda’s marketing bumph about the power of dreams, the HR-V is not a car that thrills you. It is a car that does everything that matters well though.

It’s economical, easy to drive in town and comfortable for long journeys, and practical enough for a family of four.