Honda HR-V hybrid road test how the new Japanese SUV goes

We tried the new B-SUV Honda HR-V and: HEV 2022 than with this one third generation of HR-V hybrid is only available. A road test that took place in Germany for this new first contact test with the new HR-V, a hybrid car with engine Honda i-MMD first introduced on CR-V in 2018 and then evolved on Jazz.

It is a hybrid powertrain with 2 electric motors and one thermal 1.5 liters for a total of 131 hp and 253 Nm. Obviously there is a lithium-ion battery, compact with 60 cells housed under the rear bench seat. The automatic gearbox eCVT is not continuously variable as the name might suggest, but has a fixed ratio as on Honda Jazz and: HEV.

The new HR-V is produced for the European market only with motorization 100% hybrid: born on the platform “Global Small Platform”By Honda updated and revised in structural reinforcements with high-strength steels with a torsional stiffness that has increased by 15% and lateral stiffness by 20% for better driving dynamics and safety in the event of an impact.

Honda HR-V hybrid engine features

Let’s move on to the characteristics of the engine of the new HRV and: HEV, the new SUV of segment B only a front-wheel drive, available only with hybrid system from 131 hp and with eCVT automatic transmission. The i-MMD full hybrid powertrain developed by Honda consists of a 79 kW (107 hp) heat engine with 131 Nm of torque combined with a 96 kW electric motor (131 hp) with 253 Nm and a motor generator which acts as a starter motor. The approximately 220V 60-cell lithium-ion battery is manufactured by Panasonic and is located in the floor under the rear bench.

Unlike others hybrid systems where the electric and thermal motors work in series or in parallel, in this case there is a clutch that, when necessary, decouples the thermal to make only the electric work, avoiding unnecessary dragging and reducing consumption. The intelligent electronic control unit automatically and constantly switches between Electric Drive, Hybrid Drive and Engine Drive modes.

New Honda HR-V 2022 is 4.34 meters long, 0.5 cm more than the previous one but with a greater internal volume for the same size. The width has also increased, by two cm, reaching 1.89 m while the overall height has decreased by 2 cm, stopping at 1.58 m. L’ground clearance now it has risen to 18.8 cm while the pass rises to 2.61 meters. The trunk it is among the most capacious in its category with a minimum volume of 335 liters which goes up to 1289 liters by completely folding the seats. The tailgate now has electric opening with the load compartment being flat and 1.9m deep.

Honda HR-V 2022 road test, how it goes driving impressions

At this point you will want to know how is this new Honda HR-V going. Don’t worry, I’ll tell you soon like and my driving impressions! Let’s start discovering the new one out there Honda HR-V with a design that completely abandons the lines of the previous generation, marking a new stylistic course of the Japanese house, cleaner and more modern.

Standard i Led headlights on all versions (with Active Cornering function when turning on Advance Style) while starting from the Advance set-up there are Full Led headlights also rear joined by an unprecedented horizontal band that runs along the tailgate. Scrolling through the list of options, the new HR-V can be customized externally with different colors for the grille, mirror caps and other details in black or titanium.

The range of the new hybrid crossover comprehends three productions (Elegance, Advance and Advance Style). Available in five colors out of six in total in combination with the contrasting black roof, as on the example we tested in the Meteoroid Gray coloring and black roof.

How the Honda HR-V 2022, the new Japanese B-Suv, goes on the road

We put the try Honda HR-V and: HEV under construction Advance Style near Frankfurt in Germany starting from the headquarters of Honda Akademie, a state-of-the-art facility of 53,000 square meters inaugurated in 2009 and dedicated to the training of its employees with 6 classrooms and two tracks, asphalt and off-road, on 15,000 square meters.

Regenerative braking and brake mode

To start, like all automatic cars, just move the gear lever to “D” with the electric parking brake which is automatically disengaged when you press the accelerator pedal. Moving back another click the lever in position “B” we move on to “Brake mode”, to amplify the regenerative braking when we lift the accelerator pedal. This is minimally invasive and can be modulated without sudden interventions even in “one-pedal” mode.

Test Honda HR-V with hybrid engine, as it goes, road test

How’s it going on the road? The new i-MMD hybrid engine developed by Honda moves this SUV with ease, intelligently favoring, depending on the speed, the electric motor or the hybrid mode, while the automatic transmission eCVT it is not a conventional transmission since it has a fixed ratio like the electric ones but it behaves like a continuously variable one. We can therefore control it from the paddles on the steering wheel that simulate 6 ratios.

On the other hand, when we sink the 1.5-liter VTEC thermal engine with Atkinson cycle on the accelerator pedal (to optimize efficiency and consumption), it is felt in an important way by penalizing the comfort of when you often travel in the silence of electric mode.

Riding modes on Honda HR-V and: HEV

On this hybrid HR-V there are three driving modes selectable thanks to a small selector located on the central tunnel after the gear lever. When switched on, it always starts in electric then after 40 km / h it moves into “Normal” mode or the basic hybrid. The responsiveness of the system increases by switching to “Sport” mode, on the other hand, to further reduce consumption, the “ECON” mode which also intervenes on the air conditioner. Attention, you cannot force a purely electric drive like on other competitors.

New Honda HR-V, steering and trim as they go

The steering of new Honda HR-V it is soft, revised in the calibration that has made it more precise but does not seem to become heavier by switching to “Sport mode”. L’trim is not too soft but it is also well calibrated for sporty driving, and thanks to the hydraulic end-of-stroke buffers it also performs well on roughness. The roll tends to be reduced except in the rapid changes of direction where the car lies down more. All HR-Vs have 18 ″ wheels and the test car is equipped with Michelin Primacy 4 tires in size 225/50 R18.

How do you get on board the Honda HR-V and: HEV

There was a general refurbishment on board compared to the previous generation, with some elements borrowed from the new Jazz. The rigid plastics are only on the upper part of the dashboard and the lower part of the doors while the rest of the dashboard of the upper part of the doors has soft to the touch and excellent quality materials. The instrumentation is a mixed analog / digital with a 7-inch display, while in the center we find the new one 9.0 ″ touch screen of the multimedia system which is now more responsive and modern. Pleasant the driving position, although without electric adjustments for the front seats, which in this Advance Style trim are upholstered in eco-leather and fabric. Also good front visibility facilitated by the shape of the car and the low dashboard at the same height as the belt line.

L’rear habitability has grown, with 3.5 cm more for the legs and those who are even taller than one meter and ninety find a place comfortably. The same cannot be said in the center where the seat is rigid. There is a small central tunnel raised by a few centimeters. Practical bottle holders in the upper part of the rear doors and there are two USB sockets. Remain i Magic Seats rear that can be lifted vertically to load bulky objects such as plants.

The drawer in front of the passenger is not very large while we find the base of induction charging for mobile, which is located in front of the gear lever. In addition to the two USB sockets on the dashboard while wireless connectivity with Apple smartphones debuts, while the one with the cable for Android remains.

Finally, all the suspensions have been revised with more rigid bushings, an increased front anti-roll bar while at the rear it mounts the torsion beam with softened shock absorbers, but despite this the car seemed very comfortable even for those who sit behind.

Performance Honda HR-V e: HEV and consumption of the 1.5 hybrid

Excellent i consumption of the HR-V 2022 with this i-MMD hybrid engine, we measured average consumption in the test of 5.2 l / 100 km but you can do even better in the city while the declared in the combined is equal to 5.4 l / 1100 km. The declared maximum speed is 170 km / h while the 0-100 km / h sprint is covered in 10.6 seconds.

PRICES and technical FEATURES Honda HR-V and: HEV

Honda HR-V and: HEV data sheet

Dimensions and weight

• Length: 434 cm
• Length: 179 cm
• Height: 158 cm
• Step: 261 cm
• Trunk: 319-335 / 1289 L
• Reservoir: 40 L
• Weight: 1380-1401 kg

Motor

• Diet: Full Hybrid petrol
• Traction: front
• Exchange: automatic
• Displacement: 1.5 L / 1498 cm³
• Power: 131 hp / 96 kW
• Maximum torque: 131 Nm from 4500 to 5000 rpm (thermal engine), 253 Nm (electric motor)

Engine and Performance

• Full speed: 170 km / h
• Acceleration: 10.6 s (0-100 km / h)
• Environmental class: Euro 6D
• Co2 emissions: 122 g / km
• Autonomy: 740 km (calculated with 40 liters and an average of 18.5 km / l)
• Combined consumption: 5.4 L / 100 km (WLTP)

PHOTO Honda HR-V and: HEV B-Suv hybrid

VIDEO Test, test and test HONDA HR-V and: HEV

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See now also the evidence of hybrid cars try our driving impressions in cars with full, mild hybrid and even plug-in technology.

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