I have a lot of respect for Honda as a carmaker, but when it comes to the HR-V, I have to be honest with you here: it’s one of those cars that manages, somehow, to make me like it less and less with each generation, and I have to give Honda credit for keeping that slope plummeting downward, at least for me. The first generation HR-V is a car I genuinely love: clever, unsual-looking, fun. The next two generations (well, we only got one other one in the U.S.) were just, well, boring, and now we have the new one, and it just looks like it’s absolutely disgusted with me and all the stupid things I stand for.
In case you would like a little visual refresher on the evolution of the hilariously-named Hi-Rider Revolutionary Vehicle, which is what Honda tells us HR-V stands for, I have you covered:
Look how incredible that first-generation one is! It came in both two- and four-door versions, and was a wedgy little FWD or 4WD small SUV based on the Honda Logo hatchback. It had a really distinctive look with that taught, angular body and the high-riding stance. It’s fantastic, and while we never got it here in the States, it always catch my eye when I see it in other countries.
The next HR-V was based on the excellent Honda Fit platform, but turned into the sort of anonymous crossover you could lose in a Target parking lot with only two other cars in it. Aside from a nice character line swooping up the side to that C-pillar-mounted rear door handle, it feels as generic as its big brother, the equally forgettable CR-V.
I mean, don’t get me wrong; both the CR-V and HR-V are fine and do their basic jobs well enough, but I think it would take a rigorous drug regimen and perhaps an elective surgery to make me able to actually give a shit about either car.
Europe and Asia got a new HR-V last year, still Fit-based, and still pretty forgettable, if maybe a bit more upscale-looking. Whatever you think of it, Honda decided it just wasn’t right for us Americans, so we’re getting this entirely different HR-V, based on the Civic platform, and with a whole new look:
Honda hasn’t revealed any technical details yet about the new HR-V, though it’s likely that drivetrains will carry over from the Civic — maybe the 158 horsepower 2-liter four, or the turbo 1.5 liter four that makes 180 hp, possibly bolted to a CVT.
Honda only revealed that there would be “improved dynamics” and that there’s a new independent rear suspension, so not too much to go on. I’m sure it’ll drive just fine for what most buyers will demand of it.
We don’t know much about what’s underneath, so we may as well talk about the look, which means we have to talk about that face. Up top I put the visage it reminds me of most–one of those gray aliens, looking especially nonplussed with humanity.
Something about this face just looks disgusted. I get that aggression is a concept that American buyers especially respond to, but this feels more, I don’t know, judgmental than, say, determined.
It’s not happy with me. At all.
I do like the bold, elongated hexagon grille pattern, though, and the long, sharply-creased hood is handsome and hides the wipers away like a ’70s American car, so that’s not bad.
The side profile is clean and has a nice, recessed tuck in after the front wheelarch which helps reduce the visual bulk, but it’s really pretty forgettable next to most modern crossovers. I do like that it comes in at least one real color, though.
In silver, from the side, I think most people would walk right by it without realizing it’s anything new. Again, not bad, and very likely the right choice for the given market, but knowing the striking way the HR-V started life, it’s sort of disappointing.
The rear is a similar story: basically fine, basically forgettable, could be any number of other current crossovers.
I suppose it’s possible you’re noticing that the roof looks somewhat cleaner than most crossovers and SUVs? No longitudinal seams where the roof panel meets the side rails? Honda is proud of that and tells us so:
“For a cleaner, upscale look, laser-brazing technology eliminates the need for unsightly roof moldings…”
I’m not sure I ever found roof moldings “unsightly,” but if that’s something that’s always bothered you, boy are you in luck.
So, if you’ve always wanted a crossover that’s forgettable from the sides and back but from the front looks like it just watched you eat a booger with glee, then I bet you’re going to love the new HR-V.
It looks like a Ford Escape that is Not Impressed.
That being said I’ll always prefer rear door handles that are out and proud over “hidden” ones.
Such a disappointing lineage.
The first generation HR-V is such a unique vehicle that is just unapologetically 90’s. The 3 door version is absolutely stunning and fun, which is something Honda seems to have lost over the last couple of decades. There have been attempts to revive Honda’s spirit, but nothing that really cements the idea that they’re serious about bringing back what we grew to love them for.
I loath squinty eye gaping maw “Aggressive” front ends
I basically creamed my pants when I saw that there were no unsightly roof moldings
#1 – Instead of “based on the Fit,” how about just giving us an updated Fit? #2 – “HR-V” sounds a lot like a disease, a social disease. #3 – Yeah they’ve cloned 3 sides of a Mazda and slapped on a fugly front.
What the hell was wrong with the Fit?
Nothing, absolutely nothing. The problem is/was that it wasn’t a bloated titanic land yacht!
new one’s not even Fit-based, it’s now a Civic
The new one reminds me of a blowfish’s face. I remember seeing the 2-door Gen 1 models in Europe and was a bit annoyed we never got those here.
I actually dig it. Way better than it was before and hopefully it’s a platform they can tweak to give it a plug in option. Not all vehicles need to be as cool as a Ferrari, this is just fine for what it is. I hope the sell well, it’s a lot better looking than a lot of the other small CUV options on the road.
Whole lotta Meh.
However, I do appreciate the lack of “unsightly roof moldings”. I guess I never appreciated how much a molding affects the look of a roof compared to a clean sheet of metal.
so you can’t put roof rails on an SUV?
I’m glad Honda is ditching the Fruit Ninja style lines and giving it a little more sophistication. I agree it’s still quite aggressive in the lower front. Maybe they have some fog lights that look more natural on the higher trim levels and this is just over designing an area that doesn’t need it. Overall I get a lot of Porsche Cayenne in the side profile which is a good place to be.
The current model ain’t bad except for that teenager-wearing-braces grille molding thingy Honda has been pushing at us lately.
I guess the teenager turned 16, got rid of the braces and got all goth pissed-off-at-everything on us.
What we are all thinking, “What about the taillights?”
I am not sure what is worse, this or the Miata “Wheee I am car, lol!” front end.
I had no idea the first generation existed!
Meh.
I think that’s what they were going for. They’ll sell a ton of them!
The top image from the front looks like they redesigned the Accord Crosstour and brought it back.
It looks like a Santa Fe (side) mixed with previous-gen GLC (back) with a bit of Urus sprinkled on top (front). In other words, it looks like shit and will send a metric fuckton.
*Sell a metric fuckton, as it were, way to wank my first comment here. No “edit” button?
Look way too big for the segment the last one was in, but that’s model bloat for you.
Appropriate that it’s modeled after the Civic, too, since the new Civic is equally bland. (Fight me.)
THANK YOU! The latest Civic is so bland! So everyone seems to like it.
“The front looks like it just watched you eat a booger with glee, then I bet you’re going to love the new HR-V”: make this the vehicle’s tagline, Honda, you cowards!
HR-V stands for WHAT!?
HR-Vtech? Vroom?
Whatever it is, a couple of shots of Penicillin should clear it up!
High Riding Vehicle? i honestly have no idea.
officially it was “Hi-rider Revolutionary Vehicle”.
so, well, yeah. But, I also like the first gen, remember when they came out, and they still look good now, even the facelifted version.
From most angles, this is the ideal car for a bank ad.
From the front it just looks like it’s really confused by something.
Looks more like you just woke it up to help trap a dragon in it’s castle.
It looks a lot like a Ford Escape with those lights and grille
Remove the badges and I honestly would have no idea what it is. New Mercedes low-mile lease bait mini-crossover? Facelift of the just facelifted Ford Escape? Mazda that they forgot to run through the edge-smoother in photoshop? No idea….
I’m seeing a lot of Mazda in it myself
In all the blandness? Agreed.
It’s not angry. Just disappointed.
the 2023 HRV: it’s is sick of your shit!
deeply disappointed
I feel like the front end looks particularly odd due to the lighting in that photo. I imagine it looks remarkably bland in person (at least judging from the side view)
The picture of the rear of the red HR-V is giving me Macan vibes though and I think looks remarkably good.
Why does every vehicle need to have these stupid dumb ass fake ‘vents’ on the front end? Seriously is there no design creativity anymore? To paraphrase Crusty the Clown: ‘I could have pulled a better design out of my ass. BTW, like the site guys!