2016 Honda HR-V FWD Manual

2016 Honda HR-V FWD Manual 2016 Honda HR-V FWD Manual
Instrumented Test

The Honda Fit is the antithesis of subcompact-car stereotypes. The plucky hatchback proves that small doesn’t have to be cramped, affordable isn’t always cheap, and slow can still be fun. With the arrival of the 2016 Honda HR-V crossover, that same Fit ethos is now available to those who prefer to drive from a taller perch.

The HR-V is more than a Fit with a bit of a lift, though. The HR-V borrows its engine from the Civic, shares an optional all-wheel-drive system with the larger CR-V, and wears unique skin inside and out. More significant, the HR-V is an even better vehicle than the Fit from which it’s derived, offering better refinement and feeling more upscale and substantial.

The Exotic, Endangered Stick-Shift Crossover

While the HR-V competes in the popular and growing subcompact-crossover segment, you can expect versions equipped like this specific test car to be rare. Most HR-Vs will come with the CVT gearbox rather than the six-speed manual we drove. We relish the control and involvement of choosing our own gears, but this particular stick shift doesn’t live up to the greatness we’ve often trumpeted in Honda vehicles. The throws are looser and the precision lacking compared with the firm, quick action that Honda has captured in other cars. The factory also restricts all-wheel drive, satellite radio, navigation, and leather seats to CVT-equipped HR-Vs, so those who want to work the ratios themselves also have to make do with less. In midlevel EX trim like our test model, though, the stick does come along with niceties such as automatic climate control, a backup camera, LaneWatch, passive entry, and a sunroof.

Inside, the only blatant similarity between the HR-V and the Fit is the clever, versatile rear seats that fold to accommodate either tall or long cargo. The front of the cabin looks like a completely unrelated vehicle, with a row of climate vents in front of the passenger, a rippling center console, and two touch-screen panels acting as the audio head unit and the climate controls.

More Power, But Not Enough Power

The HR-V’s port-injected 1.8-liter four-cylinder makes 11 horsepower more than does the Fit’s smaller, direct-injected engine, although that won’t compensate for the extra 332 pounds it carries. Our test equipment recorded a zero-to-60 time of 8.4 seconds, 0.7-second slower than a manual-equipped Fit, and a lazy throttle encourages the HR-V driver to set an even slower pace around town. Bury the gas pedal and shift late, though, and the HR-V scoots around with enough pep to keep its driver awake. Unfortunately, the harder you drive, the more obvious it becomes that the throttle hangs, causing the revs to rise after you lift off the gas and kick in the clutch.

Despite these gripes, the 1.8-liter four-cylinder still qualifies as an upgrade over the 1.5-liter due to its improved civility. Whereas the Fit buzzes down the interstate, the HR-V merely hums. The four-cylinder spins above 3000 rpm at 80 mph, but its drone is less penetrating and less irritating than that of the Fit. We suspect that’s due in part to extra insulation padding the HR-V’s cabin, because the crossover also suffers less wind noise. At an as-tested average of 29 mpg over 550 miles of mixed driving, the HR-V also impressed us by beating its EPA combined rating by 1 mpg.

Saving the Best for Last

The HR-V’s ride height sits in the happy middle ground between lifeguard-chair visibility and carlike handling. Wider and stickier tires help the HR-V achieve 0.85 g of lateral grip on the skidpad, well above the Fit’s 0.78 g. On the road, the HR-V corners with a precision and balance that suggests the work was done by an engineer who cared more than the job required. That is, compared to a segment that allows wide latitude for body roll, understeer, and general chassis apathy, the HR-V feels like a Volkswagen GTI of sorts. This little Honda has mastered body control, whether you’re talking about handling or ride quality. It invokes some of the best Hondas, with ride quality that will be appreciated by the everyman and handling that can be enjoyed by enthusiasts. That’s why the HR-V, like the Fit, is one of the best Hondas on sale today.