beebs

2018 Honda HR-V review

Research, photos, specs, and expertise
7 photos

Honda HR-V highlights

Customer rating

Pros

  • Refined interior
  • Well-balanced handling
  • Versatile cargo area

Cons

  • Underwhelming performance
  • Outdated driver-assistance offering
  • Lots of engine noise

Mileage (EPA estimate)

25 city, 31 highway, 28 combined

Pricing for current inventory

(no current inventory)

7 photos
Price
Year

Shop with your budget in mind

Getting pre-qualified lets you shop with personalized monthly payments, and it doesn't impact your credit score.Get Pre-qualified

Impressive storage space in a sleek, compact design.

Five-seat SUVs (categorized as subcompact crossover SUVs) are growing in popularity for those seeking a nimble, compact vehicle that still offers an ample amount of storage space. As one of the more popular subcompact crossover SUVs, the Honda HR-V SUV is a great vehicle to consider if you are looking for a vehicle that bridges the gap between a sedan and a midsize SUV. To learn more about the Honda HR-V’s great qualities, check out our Honda HR-V review below.

All Honda HR-V years

What is new for the 2018 Honda HR-V?

  • Full Roof Rack, Running Boards, and Tow Hitch features are now available as options on select trims.

2018 Honda HR-V trims

Curious how Honda HR-V trims differ? Use our side-by-side vehicle comparison to see the differences and similarities

LX:

  • 141-hp, 127-lb-ft of torque 1.8L
  • Cloth Seats
  • Cruise Control
  • Overhead Airbags
  • Power Mirrors
  • Rear Defroster
  • Rear View Camera
  • Side Airbags
  • Traction Control

EX:

EX-L:

Honda HR-V photos

5 reasons to buy the 2018 Honda HR-V

1. A magical amount of cargo space

Honda HR-V Review: Magic Seats | CarMax

Considering the Honda HR-V's compact size, the amount of cargo space that it offers is truly impressive. For example, Honda named the second-row seating in the 2018 Honda HR-V SUV the "Magic Seat" thanks to its innovative folding mechanism. When folded down, the second-row seating on the 2018 Honda HR-V folds completely flat, providing 58.8 cubic feet of cargo space. The second-row seating of the Honda HR-V can also be folded up to create a deeper well between the front and back seats if you need to haul taller items. Honda has managed to offer an enormous amount of cargo space in the Honda HR-V that rivals the cargo space of many larger SUVs.

2. Impressive fuel economy

Honda HR-V Review: Fuel Economy | CarMax

All trims of the 2018 Honda HR-V are powered by a 1.8-liter i-VTEC® four-cylinder engine that puts out 141 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque. The 2018 1.8L four-cylinder Honda HR-V engine gets an EPA estimated 28 mpg city and 34 mpg highway on the front-wheel drive model.

These are impressive numbers for an SUV, particularly when you consider the amount of cargo space the Honda HR-V offers.

3. A stylish design

At one time, the aesthetics of many SUVs left something to be desired. Today, though, that is largely no longer the case ­– especially for the Honda HR-V. It has plenty of curves and lines that all come together nicely, making for a design that really stands out on the road. Add to this eight different color options to choose from on the 2018 model, and you've got a vehicle that really wins points in the aesthetics department.

4. All the bells and whistles

Honda HR-V Review: LX Trim | CarMax

If the latest technology features are a priority for you, then the Honda HR-V accessories won't disappoint. The EX-L Navi trim of the 2018 Honda HR-V, for example, comes with an array of features such as a Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System with voice recognition and Honda HD Digital Traffic, Honda LaneWatch, a seven-inch touchscreen display, a multi-angle rearview camera with dynamic guidelines, and much more.

5. The bottom line

If you're in the market for a subcompact crossover SUV, the Honda HR-V is an excellent option. Thanks to its fuel economy, excellent cargo space, sleek design, and wide array of technology features, the Honda HR-V is an example of everything a subcompact crossover SUV should be. Overall, CarMax customers have enjoyed the Honda HR-V enough to give it an average rating of 4.7/5 stars!

Similar vehicles

If you're interested in the 2018 Honda HR-V, you should also check out these similar vehicles from Previous generation years.

Image of Mazda CX-3

This is a real driver's car. You'll love being behind the wheel of the 2017–2019 Mazda CX-3 thanks to its responsive steering and capable 2.0L engine. The Sport trim is the base model, which says plenty about the handling of this fun crossover. If you want a little more tech for your next long drive, look at the 2017–2019 Mazda CX-3 Grand Touring, which features a Bose® sound system, paddle shifters, automatic climate control, and more.

The 2017–2019 Mazda CX-3 base trim Sport includes these features as standard:

  • Seven-inch color touchscreen

  • Cruise control

  • Rearview camera

Shop with your budget in mind

Getting pre-qualified lets you shop with personalized monthly payments, and it doesn't impact your credit score.Get Pre-qualified

Ratings & reliability

Customer ratings

The 2018 Honda HR-V is a small SUV that customers say is fun to drive. Customers like the car's fuel efficiency and its easy handling. The car has a comfortable ride and handles well on any road way. The car has great gas mileage and is very spacious inside for such a compact vehicle.
4
1
2
Excellent

RepairPal gave the Honda HR-V an overall reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Excellent. This rating ranks Honda HR-V 1st out of 8 among Subcompact SUVs.

View RepairPal's full rating of the Honda HR-V

Honda HR-V features and specs

EX 2WD 4D Sport Utility

Standard Features

  • ABS Brakes
  • Air Conditioning
  • Alloy Wheels
  • AM/FM Stereo
  • Automatic Transmission
  • Auxiliary Audio Input
  • Bluetooth Technology
  • CD Audio
  • Cloth Seats
  • Cruise Control
  • Front Seat Heaters
  • Overhead Airbags
  • Power Locks
  • Power Mirrors
  • Power Windows
  • Rear Defroster
  • Rear View Camera
  • Side Airbags
  • Smart Key
  • Sunroof(s)
  • Traction Control
  • Cloth Seats
  • Full Roof Rack
  • Running Boards
  • Tow Hitch

Drive Wheels

Front Wheel Drive (2WD)

Engine size

1.8L

Horsepower

141

Torque (ft-lbs)

127

Engine type

Gas

Fuel capacity

13.2

Wheelbase

102.8"

Overall length

169.1"

Width

69.8"

Height

63.2"

Leg room

F 41.2"/R 39.3"

Head room

F 37.6"/R 38.3"

Front tires

P215/55VR17

Rear tires

P215/55VR17

Seating capacity

5

Transmission

Automatic

2018 Honda HR-V FAQ

More about the 2018 Honda HR-V

Color options

Exterior colors:

  • Milano Red

  • White Orchid Pearl

  • Aegean Blue Metallic

  • Lunar Silver Metallic

  • Misty Green Pearl

  • Mulberry Metallic

  • Modern Steel Metallic

  • Crystal Black Pearl

Interior details

  • Honda HR-V Seating Capacity – The second-generation Honda HR-V (2016 to present) has two rows of seats and is able to seat a total of five passengers.

  • Honda HR-V Cargo Space – The 2018 Honda HR-V offers 24.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 58.8 cubic feet of cargo space when the rear seats are folded down.

Research other vehicles



* Price excludes taxes, title, registration, and fees. Applicable transfer fees are due in advance of vehicle delivery and are separate from sales transactions.

We hope you found this information helpful. This content is intended to inform and is not meant to indicate that a particular vehicle is currently available or recommended for you.​

Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.

Unless otherwise noted, information related to featured vehicles comes from third-party sources, including manufacturer information. Product and company names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of third-party entities. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by these entities.​ By clicking on any video links, you will be taken to a third-party site maintained by YouTube, Inc.

We make every effort to provide accurate information, but please verify before purchasing.