Used Honda HR-V 2021-present review

The latest Honda HR-V is only available as a hybrid. Surprised? Well, perhaps you haven't seen the Honda range recently, because the HR-V is certainly not alone.

The HR-V uses a tweaked version of the hybrid system in the Honda Jazz. Seeing as that's our What Car? Used Hatchback of the Year, this small SUV should, in theory, be a potential winner too.

Engines & Performance: It gets a little more power over the Jazz: in total, the HR-V has 129bhp from its 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and two electric motors. The 0-60mph sprint is completed in a respectable 8.7sec and all current-gen HR-Vs are front-wheel drive.

As with other hybrids, when you start the car and move off, it's very hushed. This calm is shattered if you put your foot down, though, because the revs are sent soaring to the stratosphere and are held there until you back off. The Jazz and the Toyota C-HR suffers from the same problem, but neither is as loud and coarse as the HR-V.

It's a ‘regular’ hybrid, so you don’t need to mess around with cables to charge the HR-V's battery, as you do with a plug-in hybrid. That also means it won’t travel far at all on electric power alone.

Ride and handling: The HR-V has safe and predictable handling, helped by steering that's accurate and naturally weighted. However, the combination of a relatively tall body and soft suspension mean it's not especially agile. If you're looking for something that is, the Seat Ateca is worth a look.

The HR-V wafts along pleasantly most of the time, yet it's also able to pass over undulations and speed bumps without feeling overly floaty. You do hear some thwacks from the suspension at times, though. The Skoda Karoq is more settled.

Interior & Practicality: You sit high up in the HR-V, so it feels like a proper SUV rather than a slightly jacked-up hatchback. Visibility is very good, in part thanks to big door mirrors, and there are well-placed physical dials and buttons for operating the heating and ventilation.

Every HR-V features a 7.0in digital driver display behind the steering wheel and a 9.0in touchscreen for the infotainment. The touchscreen – shared with the Jazz – is not as user-friendly and responsive as it could be, but you do get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring.

Perceived quality is a strength, with plenty of plush, soft-touch finishes used. It feels just as well screwed together as the Skoda Karoq, although the materials aren't as brilliantly consistent as they are in the Mazda CX-30.

Rear knee room in the HR-V is very generous, but head room not so much. If you're six feet tall and sit up straight, your hair will probably be touching the roof lining. To make matters worse, the middle rear seat is quite a bit higher than the outer two. The Nissan Qashqai, Seat Ateca and Skoda Karoq are better for carrying three people side by side.

A more substantial negative is the boot. Most HR-Vs offer 319 litres of space, but the range-topping Advance Style model gets just 304 litres – its upgraded sound system takes up one of the side storage compartments. By comparison, the Karoq has a 521-litre boot, while even the Vauxhall Corsa small hatchback offers 309 litres of luggage space.

Trims & Equipment: Even the cheapest model, Elegance, is well equipped. It comes with front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, heated front seats and keyless entry. Mid-level Advance trim adds a powered tailgate, leather upholstery and a heated steering wheel.

Range-topping Advance Style adds the aforementioned sound system, as well as a wireless phone charger and roof rails.

Interested in buying a used Honda HR-V? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

Your starting point with the HR-V is around £23,000 – that'll get you a 2021 Elegance. Top-spec Advance Style pushes that to £25,000. If you'd like a HR-V from 2023, have at least £25,000 to spend. These represent useful savings on the price of a brand new car.

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MPG: The HR-V has an official average of 52.3mpg and it managed an impressive 48.4mpg in our hands.

Road tax: You'll be charged the same fee all hybrids registered after April 2017 are, that being £170 per year.

Insurance and servicing: Insurance groups are higher than you'd expect from a small SUV like the HR-V. Elegance falls into insurance group 30, while Advance and Advance Style reside in group 31. Even the Ford Puma ST sports SUV belongs to a lower insurance group.

For a third-year service of a HR-V, Honda will charge you £335.

There isn't any choice to be had in regards to engines, so the only head scratching you'll have to do is in picking which of the three trims to opt for. We believe mid-spec Advance is your best option. It adds some desirable kit – leather upholstery to name one – over entry-level Elegance, but is cheaper to buy than range-topping Advance Style.

Our favourite Honda HR-V: Advance

The Nissan Qashqai is an extremely popular choice and, even though it's a class size up – it's a family SUV – you can pick up a comparable example for similar money. There are multiple engine options, too, including a mild-hybrid petrol and a full hybrid.

If you're open to owning a run-of-the-mill petrol small SUV, then consider the Ford Puma. It's great to drive, practical and our current What Car? Used SUV of the Year. For a classier interior and a higher level of comfort, the VW T-Roc is also worth a good look. When used, both of these options are cheaper to buy than a HR-V is.

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Interested in buying a used Honda HR-V? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.