I’ve had the pleasure, and fun, of driving the Honda HR-V on more than one occasion. The first was four years ago, when I and other motoring media scribes took the compact crossover on a 300-km route south of the metropolis. The second was two years ago, on a shorter route that saw me and my companions food tripping in three vegan restaurants in Laguna and Cavite.
On both occasions, my experience with the HR-V was consistent: Spacious and comfortable interiors, in a ride that was nimble and free-spirited (especially in sport mode), with handling made more confident with the vehicle stability assist.
Just recently, Honda Cars Philippines Inc (HCPI) concluded another media group drive, this time using the All-New Honda HR-V with Honda SENSING. The route took the participants through familiar territory around Tagaytay City in Cavite and Anilao in Batangas. Though circumstances prevented me from joining the group ride, I was fortunate enough to get behind the wheel of the latest iteration of the HR-V this weekend.
Lawyer Louie Soriano, HCPI general manager for sales division, explained that Honda SENSING—the featured highlight of the all-new HR-V—is essentially a driver-assist system prioritizing safety and convenience, and is in line with Honda’s vision of achieving a collision-free society.
Honda SENSING would be a perfect example of automotive technology contributing to the goals of the 6th UN Global Road Safety Week, which is currently being observed from May 13 to 17. The Global Road Safety Week advocates the prevention of traffic injuries and fatalities (primarily through reductions of vehicular speed to 30 kph in areas where people and traffic mix) while promoting physical activity on streets that have been made safer for pedestrians.
Honda SENSING offers a comprehensive package of driver-focused safety features, which includes the following:
•Adaptive Cruise Control. The system sets a following interval and monitors traffic ahead and adjusts cruising speed accordingly. The HR-V automatically slows down and accelerates based on a set speed and distance. The Low Speed Follow allows the vehicle to continuously be on ACC at speeds even below 40kph;
• Collision Mitigation Braking System. This system helps avoid collisions with the vehicle in front, by alerting the driver when a collision is imminent and by actively reducing the vehicle speed to minimize collision severity when the collision becomes unavoidable;
• Lane Keeping Assist System, which provides steering input to help keep the vehicle in the middle of a detected lane and provides tactile and visual alerts if the vehicle is drifting out of its lane. The Road Departure Mitigation alert system activates when the vehicle detects that it’s too close to the side of the road and there’s no turn signal being used. RDM alerts the driver with vibrations on the steering wheel, and guides the vehicle back by correcting steering inputs and applying brakes.
Aside from Honda SENSING, the new HR-V dons a contemporary look for both variants being offered in the Philippine market, the V Turbo CVT Honda SENSING and the S CVT Honda SENSING.
Two engines power the new HR-V: The 1.5L DOHC i-VTEC for the base S CVT Honda SENSING, which produces 121 PS and 145 Nm of torque, and the 1.5-liter VTEC Turbo for the V Turbo CVT Honda SENSING, making this the first turbo-powered HR-V, and exerts a mighty 177 PS and 240 Nm of torque. Both engines are paired with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). Both variants give drivers the option to try various driving modes: ECON (economy), normal, and sport (exclusive to the V Turbo variant).
Older HR-Vs still run strong
The Honda HR-V isn’t new to the game, of course. So, I sought out two HR-V owners who shared their experiences with the earlier models of the compact crossover.
Jason Arlan R, a 38-year-old government employee, owned a compact car before buying a 2017 EL variant of the HR-V. He said he needed the bigger and safer vehicle as his wife was expecting their first child.
“I wanted an SUV, but my wife didn’t like driving a big car. The compact crossover was the best compromise. We checked out other brands, but their cargo spaces were either too small, or they didn’t have side airbags,” Jason said.
With the HR-V, Jason said he and his wife found all the dimensions right. “It feels like I’m just driving a sedan, but with the added space. I love how much cargo space it can have when we fold the rear seats.” His only issue with his HR-V is its donut spare tire. “I would have preferred a full-sized one,” he quipped.
Five years into the ownership experience, and with nearly 60,000 km in the odometer, Jason says he uses his HR-V more than his compact car, even with gas prices up. So far, he shares that his fuel mileage averages 12km/liter in city drives, and 14km/liter on the highway.
“Surprisingly, the HR-V gives me better mileage than my compact car,” Jason observed.
Jason has grown quite attached to his HR-V, as he fondly recalls that the first trip his first child took was on this car. “My most memorable drive with the HR-V was when we drove our newborn daughter home from the hospital. She was in a rear-facing car seat in the middle and my wife was beside her. Whenever we were at a stop, I kept on looking at them through the rear-view mirror. I’m pretty excited to experience that again when our second child arrives in a couple of months.”
Bank officer Peter Al Fontanilla Manzolim (aka Cedric Lim, the administrator of Honda HR-V Club Philippines), 37, owns a 2015 HR-V E. He said that he chose the HR-V because “it was unique.”
Apart from its standout looks, what Peter liked about his 7-year-old HR-V were the interior space and multiple seat configurations. On the other hand, he said the front passenger aircon and seat design could have been improved.
Despite the age, Peter’s HR-V is yet to breach the 40,000-km mark. The HR-V has gone from being Peter’s daily car to his wife Aiza Mae’s, and the couple gets a decent 12km/liter fuel mileage on the highways and 9km/liter in the city—squeezing out some more by being on Eco driving mode as often as possible.
Peter couldn’t forget when he and his family took their then-brand new HR-V for the traditional “break in”. “We went up Baguio, and I was surprised by the superb performance, especially when coasting on zigzag roads and steep uphills, even though the car was full of passengers.”
