2016 Honda HR-V—Everything Honda knows in a shrink-wrapped package

Honda(with Car DVD Player) got its start in this country building basic transportation, and building it well, with clever packaging, affordable prices and proven reliability.

Now, of course, Honda builds cars of all shapes and sizes, much of which are not so basic. But with its first-ever subcompact SUV, the HR-V, Honda proves it’s still skilled at the thing it’s done well all along: building good small cars.

The HR-V is technically a crossover, albeit a very small one, sharing much of its underpinnings with Honda’s extremely flexible Fit econo-car. With a base price of just under $20K, it costs about $3K more than a Fit. In exchange for that extra money, HR-V buyers get a higher-riding crossover boasting better sight lines, available all-wheel drive, and that all-important SUV image projection.

They also get more power under the hood, which we’ll discuss in a moment.

First, let’s talk style. The HR-V has a face that not only Honda fans can love, thanks to modern graphic elements and an assertive stare that doesn’t try and scare other drivers—how could it with such cute dimensions? The body-sides are characterized by strongly defined front fenders and a dramatic upward swoosh that meets the dropping window-line at a point just behind the rear doors. What about install Android Car Gps?

Speaking of the rear doors, their handles are cleverly tucked in the window trim, something to remember to tell your friends where they try to get in on car-pool day. The rear view is dominated by massive, horizontal tail-lamps, but Honda deserves credit for breaking up the large tailgate with sporty contouring, while black trim protects the rear bumper from nicks. Clearly, Honda expects most of these cars to live in the city.

Inside, the HR-V is clean and fresh, if a bit sterile. We suspect many buyers won’t mind this, but anyone who views cars as something more than rolling appliances might long for a lot more personality. Honda deserves credit for applying a good amount of soft-touch materials where it counts, rendering the cheap stuff (unavoidable at this price point) to inconspicuous places. The gauges are big and round, with the speedometer glowing green when you drive like a tree-hugger. The leather-covered seats in our EX-L tester proved comfortable, if a little short, while the center armrest and rising, two-tiered center console create a sense of intimacy missing in some cute-ute competitors.

For such a small car, rear seat room is superb, and the cargo hold is astonishingly spacious, with a bumper lift-over height that rivals most cars. A 60/40 split rear seat folds flat to open up a space large enough to handle a Costco run for a family of four. If installing an Android Car Stereo in your car, that would be great!