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<p dir="ltr">Honda is a company that doesn’t like to follow the crowd. So, while it competes in most of the traditional sectors of the car market, in each case it does something a little bit different.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The Jazz, for example, might look like just another rival to Britain’s best-selling car, the Ford Fiesta, but it’s actually much more practical than its rivals, with a flexible boot and Tardis-like interior.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The bigger Civic is also a practical choice, but it’s mainly distinguished by having eye-catching, love-it-or-hate-it styling, despite competing in a sector of the market that’s usually more conservative than a blue rosette.</p>

<p dir="ltr">And while it may not seem so radical now, Honda’s large SUV, the CR-V, was one of the first to forego any pretence of being an off-roader and instead focus on on-road driving dynamics.</p>


HONDA

HR-V

<p>The Honda HR-V is a funky family hatch that's enjoyavble to drive, but it's no mud-plugger.</p>


Used Honda HR-V 1998 - 2005

<p>Hondas traditionally hold their value well once they're off the dealer's forecourt because of their reputation for being well built and reliable. The HR-V is no exception to this rule, and with a trendy image and a decent standard specification, sellers aren't going to give them away.</p>

<p>They're not cheap, then, but running costs look reasonable. Official fuel consumption figures stand at 33mpg for the 103bhp car and 34mpg for the 122bhp version, which is about average among vehicles of this size and type. The equivalent <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/rav4/4x4/review/n130">Toyota RAV4</a>, for example, does about the same mpg.</p>

<p>New parts will be readily available for repairs and replacements, and Honda bits generally don't cost the earth. That, coupled with the 1.6-litre engine, means the car is affordable to insure.</p>

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The Honda HR-V is a funky family hatch that's enjoyavble to drive, but it's no mud-plugger.

<p>The first cars in the UK were sold on an S plate and had a 103bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine. If you can afford a post-January 2000 model, the unit was upgraded to 122bhp and received Honda's famed VTEC variable valve timing technology, which ensures lively performance when you rev the engine.</p>

<p>Honda didn't bother with different trims. All HR-Vs got alloys, electric windows and door mirrors, air-con, central locking, anti-lock brakes and an immobiliser. 2002 model-year upgrades, on sale from August 2001, feature smarter bumpers and alloys, plus a revised dashboard.</p>

<p>Not all HR-Vs are four-wheel drive; a front-wheel-drive version was introduced in March 1999, so be sure you know which you're getting.</p>

<p>Optional extras on the HR-V when it was new included metallic paint and satellite navigation, and both are desirable options when you come to sell it on again, so it's worth seeking out examples that have them fitted.</p>

<p>The last shipment of HR-Vs arrived in 2005, but Honda showrooms were still stocking new ones in mid-2006. That means it's worth haggling hard for a bargain on a used car at a main dealer. Alternatively, Honda's excellent reliability record means private sales are worth considering.</p>

<p><strong>For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a></strong></p>

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Running costs that won’t break the bank </li> <li>Generous kit</li> <li>Pokey engine and tidy handling</li> <li>Spacious interior</li> <li>Boot big enough to cope with family life</li></ul>

<p>The car-buying public has fallen in love with small SUVs, or crossovers as they’re often called, with thousands turning away from conventional hatchbacks in favour of something that rides that little bit higher.</p>

Small SUV

<p>In terms of problems, there's really not much to moan about. Like most Hondas, the HR-V is well built, and unreliability issues are few and far between.</p>

<p>A five-speed manual gearbox was fitted as standard, but an optional automatic was also available. It can get a bit rough through the ratios if the fluid-change schedule isn't kept to, so look out for notes on that in the vehicle's service history.</p>

<p>If the suspension sounds a bit clunky over uneven surfaces, then the bushes need looking at. Other than that, it's a Honda, so it should be okay. The Japanese firm always performs well in the JD Power customer satisfaction survey, so you can be safe in the knowledge that problems are few and far between.</p>

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<p>Its looks say off-roader, but the Honda HR-V is actually much more at home on Tarmac, because the full-time four-wheel-drive system that's fitted to most versions can cope with a little light mud, but nothing more.</p>

<p>In reality, then, the HR-V is more of a jacked-up <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/family">family hatchback</a>, and quite a good one at that. Its steering is sharp, angling the car keenly into corners, and the car takes bends with confidence.</p>

<p>The ride is good, too, although a touch firm at slower speeds, and the HR-V performs well, as you'd expect from <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/honda">Honda</a>, with both versions of the HR-V's 1.6-litre engine pulling smoothly to the top of the rev range.</p>

<p>Sadly, the funky exterior isn't reflected inside the car. It's functional rather than fun, but it is well screwed together and most people can get comfortable behind the wheel, despite the lack of seat height adjustment.</p>

<p>True, the three-door version makes it a bit of a squeeze to get into the back, but there's a decent-sized boot.</p>

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Used Honda HR-V 1998 - 2005 reliability

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Used Honda HR-V 1998 - 2005 review

In terms of problems, there's really not much to moan about. Like most Hondas, the HR-V is well built, and unreliability issues are few and far between.,A five-speed manual gearbox was fitted as standard, but an optional automatic was also available. It can get a bit rough through the ratios if the fluid-change schedule isn't kept to, so look out for notes on that in the vehicle's service history.,If the suspension sounds a bit clunky over uneven surfaces, then the bushes need looking at. Other than that, it's a Honda, so it should be okay. The Japanese firm always performs well in the JD Power customer satisfaction survey, so you can be safe in the knowledge that problems are few and far between. 

What to look for when buying a Honda HR-V 1998 - 2005, covering common problems to check for and overall vehicle reliability.

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