I’m a pretty big guy (think more like Kalani Sitake and less like Rudy Gobert). Because of that, compact and subcompact vehicles are not really my thing. But after driving a Honda HR-V for a few days, I could almost be persuaded to change my preference for a bigger, more powerful ride.

My test drive vehicle was the top-of-the-line Honda HR-V Touring model, which means it came with pretty much every option available. I gave it a workout driving in the mountains, on the freeway and on city streets.

The automotive media generally have good things to say about the Honda HR-V.

"Subcompact SUVs have a pretty fine line to walk. On the one hand, their diminutive size makes them ideal for urban environments or for buyers seeking good fuel economy with a higher than average seating position," reports Edmunds.com. "But they still need to be practical, so space efficiency is at a premium. The 2020 Honda HR-V manages to walk this line quite well and remains one of our favorite small SUVs on the market."

And Kelly Blue Book reports, "There’s plenty of room for passengers and/or packages, more than the Mazda CX-3. The 2020 HR-V is thriftier with fuel than the Chevrolet Trax or Jeep Renegade. The Toyota C-HR and Nissan Kicks cannot offer all-wheel drive, but the HR-V can. Buyers will also be pleased by the steadfast Honda reliability and robust resale values down the road."

Here are some things I liked about the Honda HR-V Touring and a couple of things I didn’t care for.

Great marks for safety

When you are driving a smaller vehicle, safety is always a concern. With the Honda HR-V, there is no need for worry.

The HR-V includes forward-collision mitigation with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control. The lane departure warning shows up as a light on the display and it also sends a slight shimmy to the steering wheel. It gets your attention without the obnoxious beep provided on some other cars.

My favorite feature is a side camera that comes on when you flip the right turn signal. Just like a back-up camera, the side camera gives you an actual visual display of the right side of the vehicle. The feature isn’t available on the left side, presumably because you don’t want to be looking at the center display while making a left turn.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives the Honda HR-V its maximum five-star rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the HR-V a Top Safety Pick and a superior rating when it is fitted with Honda Sensing driver aids..

The best accolade I can give is to say I’d be comfortable with any of my children or grandchildren riding in this vehicle.

Cargo capacity and interior

The HR-V gets great reviews on cargo space and versatility. A unique design feature allows the back seat to flip up, which allows more room for hauling taller items. The rear seat also folds down like most SUVs opening up cargo capacity through the rear hatch.

When it comes to human cargo, as a larger person, I felt a little cramped in the front seat which seemed too narrow for me, but that would not be an issue for most people. I didn’t ride in the back seat, but I sat in it and there was sufficient legroom for even adult passengers.

I suspect a long trip with three adults in the back seat would get tiring, but it should easily accommodate two adults or three children comfortably.

Fuel efficiency, power and handling

Depending on the trim model, fuel efficiency for the Honda HR-V ranges from 26-28 mpg in city driving to 30-34 mpg on the highway. That’s enough to put it near the top of the class for subcompact SUVs.

The four-cylinder engine generates 141-horsepower and is paired with a standard continuously variable automatic transmission.

As one might expect, the small engine means less power for things like merging into freeway traffic or climbing steep hills. Driving over the top of Traverse Ridge, the HR-V struggled to find the right combination shifting and power to maintain a constant speed.

On the plus side, handling on the tight turns on the Alpine Loop road was crisp and responsive.

Technology and miscellaneous

The Honda HR-V I drove had a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, which is standard on every version except the base model, which has a 5-inch screen. The system comes loaded with Apple and Android smartphone integration and two additional USB ports.

That brings me to another minor complaint. The USB ports are located underneath a floating console. So for a small car, it’s a fairly long reach to plug and unplug USB cables. It’s not that big a concern because most people I know leave the cable plugged into their car and just connect or disconnect their phone.

One other unique feature of the Honda HR-V is the rear door handle which is located high on the rear section of the door. I liked that it was vertically situated rather than the traditional horizontal latch. It feels more natural than trying to turn your hand upside down to operate the traditional door handle.

Depending on which model you choose and what features you want, you can expect to pay $20,000 to $29,000 for a new HR-V.

Because of my stage in life and what I want out of a vehicle, you are unlikely to see a Honda HR-V parked permanently in my driveway. But if I were single or married with one or two children, there is much about the Honda HR-V that would be very appealing. It’s certainly far nice than anything I owned during my younger years.

To schedule your own test drive of any of the Honda HR-V models, contact your nearest Utah Honda dealer.

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