SUVs are so hot right now. Brands are ditching their sedans and coupes left and right in favor of crossovers that come at a cost premium over their sedan counterparts.
Honda, not willing to kill off the Civic, introduced the HR-V back as a 2016 model for the US market based on the Honda Fit hatchback of the time. That model carried on until now with this 2023 redesign that you see here. This HR-V is based on the Civic platform now and that can be seen in its interior design more than anything. Its grown-up and mature character versus the previous generation is also in line with the current 11th-generation Civic as well.
This AWD EX-L model looks to tackle most of what US consumers will need. Just enough ground clearance for getting out to a remote campsite, and AWD to help maintain traction in dirt, rain, or snow.
We sampled this AWD model on the off-road trail as a part of the 2022 Texas Auto Writers Association’s Texas Truck Rodeo, which meant we had permission to get it dirty and see just what this cute-ute was capable of. Essentially a bigger Civic hatch, this is about what you would expect from a small crossover and should fit the bill for most urbanites looking to get out into nature a bit.
2023 Honda HR-V AWD EX-L Specs:
2.0L Inline 4-Cylinder Engine
158 Horsepower
127 lb-ft of Torque
Continuously Variable Transmission with Sport Mode
All-Wheel Drive
Hill Decent Control
Electric Parking Brake with Automatic Brake Hold
Eco Assist™ System
17-Inch Machine-Finished Alloy Wheels
Seating for 5
Heated Front Leather-Trimmed Seats
24.4 Cubic Feet of Storage Space Behind the Back Seats
55.1 Cubic Feet of Storage Space Behind the Front Seats
Standard-size Moonroof
9-inch Center Infotainment Screen with wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™
7-inch Digital Driver Information Interface
Dual-Zone Climate Control
Proximity Key with Push Button Start
EPA Fuel Economy 25/30/27 (city/hwy/combined)
Starting MSRP $23,800 (LX)
Price as tested: $30,590
All images courtesy of Capturing the Machine.