AutoTrader SCORE
-
STYLING6.5/10
-
Safety9.5/10
-
PRACTICALITY7.0/10
-
USER-FRIENDLINESS7.5/10
-
FEATURES7.0/10
-
POWER6.0/10
-
COMFORT8.0/10
-
DRIVING FEEL9.0/10
-
FUEL ECONOMY6.0/10
-
VALUE6.5/10
Subcompact crossovers are so hot right now.
According to Canadian Auto Dealer, the segment grew by nearly 50 per cent through the first half of the year, and there are now more competitors on sale than ever. As a result, life has never been harder for vehicles like the 2025 Honda HR-V. Despite being a very competent offering, in just its third year on the market, this little crossover feels like it might already be falling half a step behind the constantly changing competition.
Style 6.5/10
Introduced for the 2023 model year, the second-generation HR-V was a big leap forward for Honda’s design team when compared to the first-generation model. Unfortunately, it might not have been a big enough leap, because it still looks pretty frumpy from the outside.
Although its CR-V-like grille and greenhouse are reasonably attractive, a bulbous bottom end makes the HR-V look like an underfilled water balloon that’s sagging sadly. Worse still, a rash of recent facelifts and updates means competitors like the Nissan Kicks, Chevrolet Trax, and even the Volkswagen Taos (among others) have shown that what was once an awkward segment can actually turn out attractive vehicles.
Fortunately, Honda’s interior design team has been much more successful. Sitting inside, you could be forgiven for thinking you’re in a Civic or Accord (or a CR-V, for that matter) for how similar the dash treatment is across these vehicles. That makes the cabin look better than its entry-level status would suggest.
The design isn’t just elegant — it’s also clever. Cheap, hard plastics are hidden higher on the dash, away from areas you’re likely to touch. My one complaint with the interior is that it’s almost entirely black (or dark grey, depending on your trim) and there’s no way to brighten it up. Although black never goes out of style, it verges on oppressive when it’s used as extensively as this.
Practicality 7/10
In terms of cargo capacity, the HR-V doesn’t excel. Its 691 L of capacity with the rear seats up gives it one of the tightest cargo areas in the segment, but with 1,559 L of space with the seats down, it rises to the middle of the pack in terms of overall hauling ability.
But that’s not where the story ends. Certain parts of the HR-V, such as the lower edges of the doors and the trunk, feature little undulations. This, the automaker says, helps hide scuffs and scratches from showing up on the areas of the vehicle they’re most likely to develop. Naturally, our tester was more-or-less brand new, making this a hard claim to test, but it’s nice to see Honda going beyond numbers and thinking about how its vehicles will really be used.
User Friendliness 7.5/10
That thoughtfulness pays off when it comes to usability, too. A high-mounted gear lever (as opposed to buttons or knobs) helps instill confidence that the driver has selected the right gear, and is one of a number of physical controls (volume knob, HVAC controls, heated seats, home button for the infotainment screen, and more) that make the HR-V very easy to use. Honda has also limited the use of piano black plastic, reducing the amount of visible dust and the number of fingerprints that accumulate from normal use.
Although the infotainment touchscreen is simple enough to use, the HR-V is not without its foibles. For instance, locating the control to dim the cabin lights at night was an unnecessary struggle during this test, and certain vehicle settings were buried away in touchscreen menus.
Safety 9.5/10
Despite some minor infotainment issues, the HR-V excels where it matters most. It’s a vehicle that feels as safe to drive as impact tests suggest it is to crash. Like others in its class, this crossover comes with a variety of active safety systems as standard, though the list here is extensive. That includes stuff like adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation, lane departure warning, and, new for 2025, traffic sign recognition and traffic jam assist, among other features.
Thanks to its extensive tech suite and its impressive performance in crash testing, it earned the highest possible Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). New airbags for the front passenger’s knees and the rear passengers suggest that the model is only getting safer with time.
If that’s not enough, the HR-V also happens to be one of the vehicles with the best outward visibility I’ve ever driven. Everything from the width and placement of the A-pillars to the location and size of the side mirrors works together to give the driver that unfettered view of the road that is so sought after, but so surprisingly hard to find.
Driving Feel 9/10
While it makes sense that the HR-V excels in terms of safety, the excellence of the steering feel makes less sense. What should be a humdrum people mover treats the driver to surprisingly precise and communicative steering on a long highway on-ramp. Indeed, the HR-V benefits from similar steering rack tuning as the 11th-generation Civic, giving it poise and confidence on the road.
Comfort 8/10
Don’t confuse the HR-V for a hot hatch on stilts, though. Despite endowing the crossover with a good steering rack, Honda hasn’t lost focus. The ride is softer than it is sporty, which is good. The suspension delivers a very comfortable ride without allowing as much leaning in the bends as, say, a Volkswagen Taos.
Unfortunately, our tester’s ride comfort was diminished by its interior’s propensity to rattle. The issue seemed to stem from a floppy centre console, and while it’s possible that the problem was unique to our tester, it made the interior feel cheaper than it otherwise looked.
Power 6/10
Further reminding drivers that they’re in a subcompact crossover and not a hot hatch is the slightly weeny engine. While the 158 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque that its 2.0L engine generates is enough to get this crossover off the line adequately, it’s among the least powerful offerings in its segment. Even in normal, respectable driving, there are situations when the powertrain feels strained. For example, trying to slot into a gap while turning onto a busy two-lane highway leads to a lot of revs and a lot of noise but not quite as much speed as you might hope for, potentially leading to an annoyed driver in your rearview mirror.
Fuel Economy 6/10
The HR-V’s humble power output could easily be forgiven if it traded pace for efficiency, but there doesn’t appear to be much of an advantage at the pump. With a combined fuel economy rating of 8.7 L/100 km, per Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), the HR-V’s powertrain is middling at best. By no means the thirstiest crossover in the segment (that dubious honour goes to the Hyundai Kona/Kia Seltos, which consume 9.1 L/100 km), it’s less efficient than the Mazda CX-30 or the Subaru Crosstrek (8.2 and 8.0 L/100 km, respectively), both of which make much more power.
Features 7/10
Honda gets points for offering drivers almost all of its active safety features from the base model, but it remains an economy vehicle. That means all but the highest EX-L Navi trim have a seven-inch infotainment screen (the screen measures nine inches for the range-topper) and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The lower trims also come standard with fabric seats, and even buyers who opt for the EX-L Navi must adjust them manually. None of these factors are deal breakers, but they don’t exactly help the HR-V stand out from the competition.
Value 6.5/10
The HR-V doesn’t stand out on the price sheet, either. Its opening MSRP of more than $31,000 makes it one of the more expensive models in the segment while some others, like the Hyundai Kona and the Mazda CX-30, start at less than $29,000. The top-of-the-line model tested here costs around $40,000 and, yet again, that makes it one of the more expensive models in the segment.
The Verdict
Standing out from the competition is tough in the subcompact crossover segment and, somewhat problematically, the 2025 Honda HR-V is at its least impressive on paper. Neither the most capacious, nor the most powerful, nor the most efficient, nor the most affordable product on the market, you could be forgiven for cutting the model from your shortlist. It might be worth keeping it on your shopping list until you drive it, though, because it shines on the road, with its extremely competent mechanical platform, wealth of active safety features, and handsome, thoughtful interior. Still, with updates to the Kicks, Taos, Trax, and others coming fast and furious, the HR-V is in need of some changes to ensure its on-road highlights don’t get too dim to shine in the growing gloom of its spec sheet lowlights.
| Engine Displacement | 2.0L |
|---|---|
| Engine Cylinders | I4 |
| Peak Horsepower | 158 hp @ 6,500 rpm |
| Peak Torque | 138 lb-ft @4,200 rpm |
| Fuel Economy | 9.4 / 7.8 / 8.7 L/100 km cty/hwy/cmb |
| Cargo Space | 691 /1,559 L seats up/down |
| Model Tested | 2025 Honda HR-V EX-L Navi |
| Base Price | $37,910 |
| A/C Tax | $100 |
| Destination Fee | $2,036 |
| Price as Tested | $40,824 |
|
Optional Equipment
$778 — Nordic Forest Pearl paint: $300; Protection package, $478
|
|
You may also like
