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2018 Honda HR-V review

Research, photos, specs, and expertise
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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  • Outdated driver-assistance offering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

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

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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.

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