2023 Honda HR-V EX-L Navi Review

Honda introduced the second generation of the HR-V in 2022, technically this is the third generation of the HR-V, as it has been on sale in other markets under different names since the late 90s, but in North America, it was introduced for the 2016 model year. We reviewed the first-generation HR-V in 2016 and then again in 2019 when it was offered with a new Sport trim.

The previous generation’s HR-V was based on the Honda Fit, that car is no longer available in North America. The new HR-V is based on the 11th-generation Civic, which also shares its chassis with the new CR-V.

2023 Honda HR-V Canadian Prices

In Canada, the Honda HR-V is offered in three trims. The base LX trim comes with FWD and has a starting price of $28,730. HR-V LX with AWD has a starting price of $31,030, the HR-V Sport (AWD) starts at $33,930, and the top-of-the-line HR-V EX-L Navi starts at $37,130. These prices do not include delivery & destination charges of $1,950.

The new HR-V has seen a significant jump in price over the previous generation and is more expensive than other sub-compact CUVs in this segment.

Our review car was the top-of-the-line EX-L Navi, with optional white paint ($300). The 2023 Honda HR-V has a standard 3-year/60,000 kilometers warranty.

2023 Honda HR-V Engine/Driving

All trims of the new HR-V come with naturally aspirated 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engines, producing 158 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 138 pound-feet of torque at 4,200 rpm. This is an increase of 17 HP and 11 lb.-ft of torque over the previous generation HR-V’s 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine. Power is sent to either the front or all wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

The FWD HR-V is rated at 9.1/7.4/8.3 liters/100 kilometers in city/highway/combined driving. The AWD versions of the HR-V are rated at 9.4/7.8/8.7 L/100 km. After driving the 2023 Honda HR-V for a week (just over 200 kilometers), the onboard computer showed 8.6 L/100 km with 70/30 highway/city driving.

Driving the HR-V is not a bad or great experience; it’s a vehicle that’s meant to be driven from point A to B, which it does just fine. It’s not a sporty CUV and doesn’t pretend to be. I found it to be perfectly adequate for my daily driving needs of going to the grocery stores, picking up kids from school, and running errands associated with family life. I felt the engine had good power for regular city driving; passing on the highway requires flooring the accelerator pedal. But once the HR-V is up to highway speeds, it cruises comfortably. The CVT is programmed with simulated gear shifts, which makes it more palatable. The suspension soaks up the bumps, giving you a comfortable ride.

2023 Honda HR-V Styling

Looks are subjective; I think the HR-V’s design has significantly improved over the last generation. The design is more mature, which some might find boring. Some design elements remind me of the Porsche Macan, especially from the rear three-quarters view. The front looks a bit like the Ford Escape. The overall design works cohesively; it’s not as handsome as the CR-V; it would’ve been nice to see more design elements of the CR-V on the HR-V.

2023 Honda HR-V Interior/Features

The interior design is almost identical to the CR-V’s and the new Civic’s. The general public and automotive journalists have received this new design language well. I like the look of it, it’s a clean design and looks modern. The overall layout is simple, with a dashboard-mounted touchscreen horizontal mesh grill below it, which houses the air vents. Below is a separate section for the climate control buttons and knobs. The center console has a small storage area with a wireless charging pad (only on the top trim) and a USB-C plug. The gear shifter is a traditional lever with a driving mode selector below it. There’s extra storage space under the gear lever (slightly behind it), with a USB-A port on the driver and passenger sides. I particularly like the placement of the heated steering wheel button, which is on the steering wheel’s middle spoke (6 o’clock position). Honda uses this design on all of their cars, and I think this is the most perfect place to put a button for the heated steering wheel.

The interior is fairly roomy for a sub-compact CUV and is decently quiet. The materials are plastic, but they don’t feel cheap, and every vehicle in this segment makes heavy use of hard/soft plastic. The rear seats offer plenty of leg and headroom. However, the back seats have no middle arm rest or cup holders.

Our top-of-the-line HR-V came with many safety and convenience features; below are some of the highlights:

• Brake Assist
• Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
• Hill Start Assist
• LED daytime running lights
• Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)
• Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system
• Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) system
• Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with Traction Control
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow
• Blind Spot Information (BSI) system
• Rear Cross Traffic Monitor system
• Traffic sign recognition
• Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
• Traffic Jam Assist
• Auto high beam
• Front wiper de-icer
• LED brake lights
• LED headlights (High and low beam) with auto-on/off
• One-touch power moonroof with tilt feature
• 7″ color TFT center meter display with Driver Information Interface
• Automatic climate control with an air-filtration system
• Remote engine starter
• Proximity key entry system with pushbutton start
• Heated front seats
• Heated leather-wrapped steering wheel
• 8-speaker audio system
• 9″ infotainment screen (7″ standard)
• Wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay
• Wireless charging

Final Thoughts

The 2023 Honda HR-V is a new take on the sub-compact CUV. The HR-V has matured with a more refined exterior and interior. The HR-V offers versatility in a small package and has many features. It competes in a crowded market and is a bit on the expensive side compared to the competition. If you are interested in a sub-compact CUV, be sure to check out all the competition and come to your own conclusion on what you need and how much you want to spend.

Please visit Honda Canada’s website for more information on the HR-V and other Honda vehicles.