2023 Honda HR-V — DM First Drive

Like the 11th gen Civic, the new Honda HR-V is all grown up! If only the newfound premium feel was backed by a beefier powertrain. Honda: give us a turbo!

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Real-world highway fuel-economy test coming soon!
Sound-system test coming soon!
Full review also coming soon!

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Intro music and graphics by Skyler Benn.

This video was filmed with in-ear, binaural microphones, so if you listen with headphones, it will sound like you're sitting in the driver's seat!

#honda #hrv #firstdrive

[auralstudent]

You have perfectly mastered a fundamental concept of product reviews that 99% of YouTubers just don't understand - SHOW THE PRODUCT, NOT THE PRESENTER !!!
Just for that alone, you deserve big points. Apart from that, very thorough and professional review. Thumbs up !

About the car - wish they would install a fully digital cockpit, and the infotainment interface looks a bit outdated / unappealing.

[edwardzdankiewicz]

Yay! Another choice that will be on zero dealer lots!

[shawnfahey]

I agree, it doesn't look much like a Ford eventhough many people say that it does. This Hr-v looks more like an 11th generation Civic with the snout in my personal opinion.

[ahbenjamin]

Here in Canada the fully loaded HRV after tax is more than $40 K..
I wonder why they did not include the Bose system .
Instead it is non-branded sound system.
Come on Honda you can do better than that !!!

[papayamango]

looking forward to hearing what the top 8 speaker sound system sounds like.

[wackit]

Well, it has a face only a Mother could love. Much needed improved interior. Sad to see it get so long. The appeal use to be its short size. I’m disappointed that out of the gate on a new model, Honda is late to the party with any kind of hybrid or electrification models. It seems they are going backwards with gas mileage and power.

[spicytuna]

Man, I hate this car so much. I had a 2016 model the year it came out. Extremely practical. Decent on gas. Excellent in the city. But if you ever need to go over 55 miles an hour, you're going to have a bad time. I drive a 2012 Civic LX now that has the same 1.8L 141hp engine as my HR-V did, but the Civic feels _way_ peppier. Like, it actually _wants_ to go. The drivetrain in the 9th gen is fantastic. But the HR-V sharing the same engine as the Civic is an awful choice because if it's going to be anything like the outgoing model, it's going to feel sluggish and overworked. I remember anytime I merged onto the highway, I had to always give it a ton of throttle.

I desperately want to like this car. But it desperately needs the same 1.5T 192hp engine in the Accord or the 1.5T 180hp engine in the Civic. One of those. If Honda can put two engine choices in the non-Si Civic, they can do it for the HR-V. And I guarantee people are going to love that. My wife's car is a 10th gen Accord Sport 1.5T and the thing is _fantastic._ I don't think I ever pull more than 3k revs on the on-ramp. I don't need to.

This is the first year of this generation. I hope Honda gives us more options because I would totally buy this car with better drivetrain options. I think an electric or hybrid option would go a long way to making this car really desirable for a lot of people. For now, it's like a Fit, but bigger and worse in almost every metric.

[chillsteplife]

I wonder what that old guy wanted from you? I would have been sketched out as well.

[brianmcgowan]

Nobody but nobody does 0-60 in a car like the hrv. Ask yourself…when was the last time you did 0-60?

[BoopSnoot]

Good looks, good interior, but let down by the powertrain IMO. I can't see myself buying an economy oriented vehicle that isn't a hybrid. I think the hybrid Corolla Cross and hybrid Kia Sportage and Hyunai Tucson are going to sell better. Even for those that hate hybrids maybe because they drive pure highway where hybrid doesn't really help, the Taos still beats this at 36mpg on the highway while being a bit roomier and has a nicer digital dash layout. Hopefully they do a better job with the 2023 CRV with a nice hybrid! :)

[zurielvalladares]

You cant leave us like this? We want to know what that sweet old man wanted. I demand an explanation

[MukiMuki]

Between the Rav4 and the CR-V it's a coin toss. But the HR-V is definitely better than the Corolla Cross, that car bears too much resemblance to the regular Corolla.

[ronthompson]

Ugly! Looks like a MB from the back? More $$$, less MPG than the past version. I'll pass.