IT used to be one of life’s great mysteries as to why Honda could make some great road car engines but the ones in the back of F1 cars were, to put it bluntly, a bit of a dog.

They put that one firmly to bed with their link up with Red Bull Racing but thankfully some things never change – their passenger car engines still seem as unburstable as ever.

Hence the car showrooms of the Japanese company are happy places for people exchanging hard earned cash for their wares.

Take the latest HR-V – the epitome of all that’s good in a compact sized SUV and propelled by what most manufacturers are using these days, a 1.5 litre engine.

Only here we have the full hybrid experience, and in this instance it’s self charging, drawing power from its ability to regenerative brake. So there’s no need to be put off by a lack of local charging points as there’s no need for a mains electric supply. And no need for an expensive charging point at home.

Honda claim a range of up to 460 miles from its 40 litre tank  (8.79 gallons in old money) and a quick grab of the calculator confirms that’s over 50mpg.

Our spell with the car – and a varied mix of driving conditions – returned an average of over 46mpg so less lead in the right boot should see you somewhere near and see you refuelling about as often as a camel.

 There’s plenty of torque that equals swift forward movement, safe overtaking and fairly relaxed cruising.

So, a winning formula that has found many, many homes worldwide. 

Take a glance at the traffic around you at any given time and it’s a fairly safe bet there will be a Honda in some guise or other still providing its owner with sterling service.

Hidden inside that smart exterior is a useful sized boot. It’s got a wide opening and the loading height is relatively low, though the power tailgate here doesn’t quite extend out of “ouch, *@*&!” territory, so big blokes beware. And big babes too, for that matter.

The front cabin doesn’t disappoint, with above average head, leg and shoulder room and a good all round view through the glass.

In the back there’s more than enough room to allow three adults to travel in comfort and they can stretch their legs without obstructions.

Honda’s e-CVT transmission is great in everyday ‘cruise around’ mode but becomes very audible when you dare sink the accelerator into the carpet. It helps to instil the HR-V with decent impetus, yes, but at the expense of the enjoyment of those inside.

The current generation of HR-V is certainly a bit more ‘in your face’ than its predecessor, which took anonymity to new levels. Not so now.

 

Honda HR-V Advance Style Plus

Price: £37,995 (£38,645 as tested)
Engine: 1.5 litre, four cylinder, petrol hybrid
Power: 105bhp (engine) 94bhp (electric)
Torque: 96lb/ft (engine) 186 lb/ft (electric)
Transmission: e-CVT
Top speed: 105mph
0-62mph: 10.7 seconds
Economy: 52.3 mpg
CO2 emissions: 94g/km

©️ wheelwrite.co.uk 2025