2023 hrv Honda

  • I tested the 2023 Honda HR-V, the newest version of Honda's smallest SUV. 
  • Its stylish looks and roomy interior stand out, but it's slow acceleration is a pain point. 
  • The top-of-the-line HR-V EX-L that Honda lent me came out to $30,590, including a destination fee. 

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Honda has given its HR-V a radical redesign for the 2023 model year, injecting some extra size and sophistication into its smallest SUV. 

But the popular compact SUV segment is more packed than ever. Everybody from Toyota to Hyundai to Chevrolet is vying for the money in your wallet.

The second-generation HR-V delivers modern looks and an attractive interior, but its wimpy highway performance drags it down. 

Pro: Stylish inside and out

The 2023 Honda HR-V. Tim Levin/Insider

The new HR-V dumps its predecessor's stubby proportions and quirks in favor of a smooth, modern, and ultimately more high-end look. The 2023 model looks more like a full-grown SUV than a wannabe. 

It's attractive inside, too, featuring lots of soft surfaces and a handsome honeycomb pattern (made of actual metal) running down its dash. One nice touch: There's a pass-through in the center console that gives both the driver and passenger access to a phone-storage spot and USB port.

The cabin of the top-trim EX-L model I tested (which came out to just over $30,000) had upscale appointments like heated leather seats, an upgraded 9-inch touchscreen, and a wireless phone charger. 

Con: Sluggish on the highway

The 2023 Honda HR-V. Tim Levin/Insider

To be sure, nobody is buying a small SUV for its zero-to-60-mph time. Still, it's worth noting that the HR-V is somewhat sluggish at high speeds. Stomp the gas to make a pass at 60 mph, and the HR-V will do a lot of groaning and not too much accelerating. 

All HR-Vs are powered by a 158-horsepower, four-cylinder engine. 

Read more: I've driven 15 different electric cars. These are my 13 favorite features, from the F-150's frunk to Rivian's camping kitchen.

Pro: Roomy interior

The 2023 Honda HR-V. Tim Levin/Insider

The new HR-V shares a chassis with the Civic sedan rather than the pint-sized Fit hatchback (which has been canceled in the US). It's now substantially longer and wider, and that means a roomier back seat. 

With the driver's seat in its natural position for me (at around six feet tall), I was able to fit in the back seat just fine. And I found all the HR-V's seats decently comfortable. 

Con: No more Magic Seat

The 2023 Honda HR-V. Tim Levin/Insider

The old HR-V (and Fit) had clever flip-up seat bottoms that let owners stow big and tall items on the floor of the back seat. The new model lacks that feature but has rear seats that fold completely flat for bulkier cargo. 

Pro: Generous safety features and driver aids

The 2023 Honda HR-V. Tim Levin/Insider

All HR-Vs come with ample safety and driver-assistance tech as part of the Honda Sensing suite. It includes road-departure mitigation, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. All but the base model come with blind-spot monitoring as well. 

2023 Honda HR-V SUVOTY Review: Honda, Do Better

A decent subcompact SUV held back by a truly gutless engine.

Pros

  • Clean interior design
  • Standard driver assist features
  • Good road manners

Cons

  • Painfully slow
  • Lacks the typical Honda charm
  • Less efficient than before

Sub-$30,000 SUVs can be hard to find in 2022; the average new vehicle transaction price topped $48,000 in August. And the newly redesigned CR-V ditches its base model—which means Honda's compact SUV is pricier than ever.

Thankfully, the automaker has an all-new version of the CR-V's smaller and more affordable sibling, the 2023 HR-V. This is now the only offering in Honda's SUV lineup with a base model priced below $30K, but does it retain the level of charm of the excellent new Civic?

Not quite. We'll start with the staff's near-universal complaints about the HR-V's powertrain. We recognize that subcompact SUV buyers are mostly unconcerned with straight-line speed, but even for those shoppers the HR-V is underpowered, not to mention less efficient than its predecessor.

Our judges' notes described the engine as anemic, gutless, and problematic. Not only that, the non-turbocharged subcompact Honda's meager power reserves are found high in the rev range. We often needed to pin the accelerator to the floor to drive comfortably on highways or inclines. It's noisy, too, and the continuously variable automatic transmission means the engine groans unpleasantly during acceleration. If Honda offered the HR-V with the turbocharged I-4 available in the Civic and CR-V, it would go a long way to addressing both the power and loudness.

For what it's worth, the HR-V was surprisingly adept through an off-road course designed to replicate driving in low-traction conditions. Especially in Snow mode, it moved easily through the deep stuff with plenty of grip and enough clearance.

Multiple judges also called out accurate steering and good body control, but buyers should know there are comparable alternatives with softer ride quality and less road noise. Honda's driver assist tech is intuitive and works well, plus it's standard on all trims.

Inside, the cabin is clean and functional—though one judge is growing tired of the honeycomb air vent motif, first seen on the Civic. (It's also featured in the CR-V and Acura Integra.) Honda provided plenty of clever storage solutions in the HR-V's cabin, and there's more space inside than we expected. The digital instrument cluster and touchscreen infotainment system are logically laid out, but the infotainment graphics look slightly dated, and we wish the screen was canted toward the driver.

In the back, associate online editor and resident "do you play basketball?" staffer Alex Leanse could nearly fit behind his own seating position at 6-foot-10. We liked the center storage cubby, but most judges bemoaned a lack of charge ports and climate control vents for rear passengers.

So the HR-V offers strong value for buyers seeking a Honda SUV, and we like its clever, spacious interior and useful standard safety tech. But that's just not enough to compete in a subcompact crossover segment that has ballooned to more than 20 vehicles. We might have felt different had Honda offered its subcompact entry with a more powerful and efficient turbo engine or a hybrid powertrain, but as it sits we know Honda can do better.

2023 Honda HR-V AWD (EX-L) Specifications
Base Price/As Tested $30,195/$30,590
Power (SAE net) 158 hp @ 6,500 rpm
Torque (SAE net) 138 lb-ft @ 4,200 rpm
Accel, 0-60 mph 9.8 sec
Quarter-Mile 17.5 sec @ 83.0 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph 125.2 ft
Lateral Acceleration 0.80 g (avg)
MT Figure Eight 28.5 sec @ 0.56 g (avg)
EPA City/Hwy/Comb 25/30/27 mpg
EPA Range, Comb 378 miles
Vehicle Layout Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV
Engine, Transmission 2.0L port-injected DOHC 16-valve I-4, -speed Cont variable auto
Curb Weight (f/r dist) 3,290 lb (58/42%)
Wheelbase 104.5 in
Length x Width x Height 179.8 x 72.4 x 63.4 in
On Sale Now

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Will Honda HR

Will the Honda HR-V be redesigned in 2023? Yes! The staff here at Vern Eide Honda is very excited to share with Sioux Falls car shoppers that our favorite subcompact crossover will, in fact, sport a whole new look for the 2023 model year.

How much will the 2023 HR

2023 Honda HR-V Pricing The new Honda HR-V subcompact SUV starts with a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $23,650 for the front-drive LX model, plus a destination charge. Sport trim is almost $25,650, and the top EX-L version comes in close to $27.5K.

Is the 2023 HR

The 2023 Honda HR-V is larger than the outgoing model. Its wheelbase is about two inches longer, as the vehicle overall has more than nine inches on the 2022 Honda HR-V.

Does the 2023 Honda HR

2023 Hond HR-V Trims: The EX trim features standard features like leather seats, heated front seats, and an 8.0-inch touch screen. The EX-L is the top trim and comes with a sunroof, navigation, and power-folding mirrors.