Road Test: Pricey urban cruiser, freeway loser
Honda’s updated HR-V gets smart new looks but CVT gearbox spoils the party
In a compact crossover market segment bursting at the seams with some very appealing contenders, you need to be pretty decent to stand out. Honda’s HR-V has done so with its eye-catching styling since its debut in SA in 2015, and for 2018 it’s undergone a mid-life cosmetic revamp that really cranks up the style. Available as before in 1.5 Comfort and 1.8 Elegance versions, the HR-V now features the “solid wing face” that is becoming Honda’s new styling signature, with slimmer headlamps connected by a thick glossy bar across the grille. Together with a more aggressive front bumper and LED elements in the headlights (LED daytime running lights on the flagship Elegance version), the HR-V has an ultra-modern appearance and wouldn’t look out of place as a prop in a Star Wars movie. The restyle is topped off by smoked taillights and new alloy wheels: 16-inch versions on the 1.5 derivative and 17-inchers on the 1.8 Elegance. The upgrades come with 2.1% price increases, with the HR-V 1.5 Co...
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