CANBERRA: Small SUVS are making a big impact on the Australian motoring landscape.
With sales growth in the category far outstripping other segments, it’s fair to say that impact is only going to get bigger.
And there’s a steady stream of new arrivals. The Mazda CX-3 isn’t far away, the Renault Captur has only just touched down in Aussie showrooms, and this week it’s the Honda HR-V’s turn to make its sales debut in Australia.
The HR-V nameplate has been here before, of course. It was only on sale for two years, between 1999 and 2001, but it was one of the first true body-on-frame compact SUVs in Australia.
However, being a pioneer is no guarantee of success. Petrol was cheaper back then, and car buyers were still “living large” in bigger SUVs and sedans.
But times have definitely changed, and so has the HR-V.
Now based on the Jazz platform and available solely with a front-wheel drive automatic drivetrain, the new HR-V puts Honda in prime position to capitalise on Australia’s growing appetite for compact SUVs.
We travelled to Tasmania to drive it for the first time, and were pleasantly surprised by what greeted us.
THE INTERIOR
VTi: Climate control, cruise control, trip computer, USB audio input, Bluetooth connectivity, Honda Display Audio infotainment system, cloth upholstery, electronic parking brake, power windows.
VTi-S adds: Dusk-sensing LED headlamps, front foglamps, rain-sensing wipers, autonomous emergency braking, keyless entry and ignition, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear lever, Lanewatch camera system.
VTi-L adds: Leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, rear armrest, panoramic glass sunroof, auto up/down windows, heated front seats, power-folding wing mirrors.
Luggage space: 437L minimum, 1032L maximum.
We weren’t expecting to be wowed by the HR-V’s interior. After all, other compact SUV offerings like the Trax, Juke and EcoSport aren’t blessed with the fanciest of cabins.
ON THE ROAD
105kW/172Nm 1.8 litre naturally-aspirated petrol inline four
Continuously Variable Transmission, paddle shifters on VTi-L
MacPherson strut front, torsion beam rear suspension
Electric power steering, 10.6m turning circle
Disc brakes all around
The HR-V’s 1.8 litre engine and CVT automatic might not rouse your adrenal glands, but the combo proves perfectly adequate for day-to-day driving.
With just 105kW and 172Nm, the single-cam engine (shared with the Civic hatch) doesn’t have an overabundance of oomph.
Overtaking on country roads takes some planning as a result, ideally with the added safety of an overtaking lane.
The CVT can be a little slow to respond to demands for more power, and is far too keen to dial up a tall ratio. It’s obviously tuned for economy, but in hilly areas its constant ratio-shuffling can be an annoyance.
The suspension is hard to fault though. It’s soft and allows a bit of body-roll, but only the harshest bumps will use up enough suspension travel to unsettle it.
Around town it delivers a comfy and settled ride, while on country roads it easily soaks up large undulations and small potholes.
The electric power steering works well, with a linear feel and little notchiness around dead-centre. The turning circle is 10.6 metres – not super-tight, but certainly tight enough for urban duty
Whether on the 16-inch or 17-inch alloys, road noise was acceptable. More importantly, ride compliance didn’t seem to suffer much on the bigger wheels.
SAFETY
ANCAP rating: The Honda HR-V has yet to be tested by ANCAP
Safety features: Standard safety equipment comprises six airbags (front, front side, full-length curtain), ABS, EBD, brake assist, stability control and traction control.
VTi-S and VTi-L models gain autonomous emergency braking (which can help avoid collisions at speeds below 32km/h and above 5km/h), as well as a wide-angle camera that monitors the lane to the left and is activated whenever the left indicator is tripped.
Go for the flagship VTi-L ADAS and you also get a forward collision warning system, lane departure warning and auto highbeam.
RIVALS TO CONSIDER
The Renault Captur and incoming Mazda CX-3 are the most direct rivals in terms of size and fit-out, but don’t discount the established Holden Trax, which has been the segment sales leader for a while now.
Honda also regards the Nissan Qashqai as a rival, but in truth it’s a size bigger than the HR-V and can’t compete on price.
