2019 Honda H-RV Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

Introduced to the public back in 2016, the first generation of the Honda HR-V has not failed to impress drivers and car enthusiasts. The 2019 Honda HR-V keeps up the trend with its two new trim levels, the standardization of the Honda Sensing suite on all trims, and its spacious interior. While some drivers might find the vehicle's acceleration to be lacking, the HR-V makes up for this with its stellar fuel economy and emphasis on safety.

What's New for 2019?

The 2019 Honda HR-V features several important and exciting new changes. The biggest change is undoubtedly the addition of two new trim levels, the Sport and the Touring. The Sport adds a shift knob and steering wheel clad in leather, 18-inch wheels, roof rails, and black trim along the vehicle's body. The Touring tops off the line and features an 8-way adjustable driver's seat, its own stylized wheels, and LED headlights and fog-lights. Additionally, the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver aids now comes standard on each trim level. The center screen has also been modified to accompany Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone app integration, and the exterior has received a few new stylized elements.

 

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2019 Honda H-RV – The Pros

1. Superb Fuel Economy

One of the main selling points for most Honda vehicles is the fact that they often have excellent fuel economies. The 2019 Honda HR-V is no exception to this rule. While the all-wheel drive models sip a bit more on fuel (as can be expected), the front-wheel drive models garner 30 combined mpg (28 mpg city/34 mpg highway). This is a pretty decent showing for a vehicle in its class.

2. Maximization of Cargo Space

Honda knows how to optimize interior designs. Drivers will be hard-pressed to find another vehicle in this class that has as much cargo space utility as the HR-V. With all seats in place, the HR-V gives you a solid 24.3 cubic feet of cargo space. When you fold the rear seat down (and it does fold all the way down), you can maximize the cargo space to 58.8 feet of cargo space. Just bear in mind that the all-wheel drive versions get slightly less cargo space, but it is still something to marvel at.

3. Plenty of Cabin Space

There is a surprising amount of space available in the cabin. While leg room up front is just adequate, there is an astounding amount of hip, leg, shoulder, and head room for passengers in the rear seat. Even taller adults will not have any trouble fitting into the rear. The same cannot be said for most vehicles in this category, as space is often limited in the rear.

4. Flawless Frontal Visibility

Forward visibility on the 2019 Honda HR-V is spectacular and clear thanks to the slender roof pillars. Whatever is in your way up front will be easy to detect with the naked eye. Rear visibility is also pretty clear. Even though the rear roof pillars are a little thick, the length of the side windows helps to broaden the driver's view. This makes changing lanes easy. Of course, the standard rear-view camera comes in handy, and the blind-spot monitoring camera that comes standard on the EX trim and above is even better at helping you guess where other vehicles are in relation to the HR-V.

5. Can Easily Navigate Tight Parking Areas

Getting around in the city is easy in this vehicle. The HR-V has remarkably smooth steering capabilities, and the steering wheel returns enough information about how the front wheels are performing on the road to ensure driver confidence. Additionally, getting in and out of tight parking areas is even simpler thanks to the forward visibility and rear-view camera.

6. Excellent Handling Abilities

The 2019 Honda HR-V has a well-turned suspension that gives the vehicle an extra feeling of sturdiness, even while driving in difficult road conditions. Unlike some of its competitors, the HR-V's electronic stability control system is not intrusive while driving and provides a more natural feel for the driver.

7. Optional All-Wheel Drive is Available

Drivers who live in areas where weather conditions make driving a hazard on a regular basis love having all-wheel drive as an option. Honda has seen fit to give the HR-V an all-wheel drive option that adds that extra level of security. Although the HR-V isn't a stellar off-roader, the all-wheel drive versions are solid performers on difficult roadways.

8. Excellent Ride Comfort

The Honda HR-V accomplishes what many vehicles in its class cannot do and gives a smooth ride quality over most surfaces. It is only when you hit large bumps in the road that you'll notice some shakiness. Still, it isn't anything intrusive, and passengers can enjoy the ride regardless of where they are seated.

9. Standardization of The Honda Sensing Suite

Making the Honda Sensing suite standard on all trims and across all models is a brilliant move by Honda. This bundle of advanced driver aids makes the cost of the vehicle even more worthwhile by giving you lane departure warning, forward collision warning with automatic braking, and adaptive cruise control. In other words, these are all the safety features a driver could ask for rolled into an affordable price tag.

10. Availability of Smartphone App Integration

On the Sport trim and above, smartphone app integration is available though Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Not only does this give you an extra USB charging port, but it allows you to use your phone's navigation system app of choice without having to rely on the navigation system found on the Touring trim and above.

 

Reasons Not to Buy a 2019 Honda H-RV – The Cons

1. Sluggish Acceleration

The biggest drawback to the 2019 Honda HR-V is the lacking acceleration. It only gets from 0 to 60 mph in about 9.7 seconds, which is extremely slow for its segment. The CVT automatic transmission struggles with making it uphill and feels a bit wearisome since it continually adjusts the engine's RPM.

2. Narrow Front Seats

The front seats could use a redesign to maximize comfort. They are simply too narrow for some adults and will not feel as cushioned and comfortable as the rear seats. Also, lumbar support cannot be adjusted in any of the seats.

3. Sub-par Climate Control Interface

For the most part, Honda vehicles have a decent climate control interface. Unfortunately, this is not the case for the 2019 Honda HR-V. The interface is problematic because there are no physical controls, something which most drivers will find to be rather frustrating. The controls must all be accessed from the touchscreen display panel, which non-tech savvy drivers might find confusing.

4. A Noisy Engine

One of the more annoying aspects of the HR-V is the fact that the engine can be obnoxious. Getting it up to higher RPMs or to full-throttle will make the engine leak a ton of noise into the cabin. Engine vibration is even noticeable while idling, and the tires do add some extra noise while driving.

How it stacks up to the competition:

2019 Honda HR-V vs. 2019 Toyota C-HR

The 2019 Toyota C-HR comes packed with a bunch of helpful safety and infotainment features. Its handling and steering make the C-HR similarly sporty compared to the HR-V. However, the C-HR lacks the same innovative cargo space and also suffers from slow acceleration and excessive engine noise. Also, all-wheel drive is not an available option on the 2019 Toyota C-HR, which is what gives a competitive edge to other vehicles in this segment.

2019 Honda HR-V vs. 2019 Mazda CX-3

The 2019 Mazda CX-3 has, like the Honda, advanced safety features that are available across all of its trim levels. It does pack a little bit more seat comfort and support in than the HR-V, and it offers a comparable fuel economy. Unfortunately, the CX-3 suffers from a severe lack of space, both in the rear seat and in the cargo area. Also, it has a suspension that feels a bit too firmly-tuned for many drivers to enjoy.

Conclusion

The 2019 Honda HR-V might not be the quietest or fastest vehicle in its class, and it could certainly use some additional comfort in the seats up front. Still, the HR-V has a lot to offer in terms of advanced safety features, its fuel economy, and ability to easily navigate congested urban roadways, highways, and parking lots. Overall, the vehicle offers safety and reliability, which are standards that Honda has come to be associated with over the years.