2022 Honda HR-V Long Term Review Car News

On highways, the gasoline engine takes over for maximum efficiency, but the system mixes the two power sources on intermediate routes. Given that I can rack up the miles at an impressive rate between photoshoots, I’m hoping the overall economy numbers match Honda’s claims – and the noise created by the leaning of the e-CVT gearbox for diets will not prove irritating over long distances.

I’m also looking forward to using a hybrid that doesn’t require a plug-in. Although the public charging infrastructure has improved considerably in my corner of the southwest, my typical work day rarely gave me time to charge the Cupra Formentor PHEV that I raced previously.

Our HR-V is in top-level Advanced styling trim, with no added extras apart from the £550 paint job, as it’s fitted very generously as standard. A power tailgate, parking sensors with rear-view camera, adaptive cruise control and wireless smartphone charging are all welcome inclusions, and heated seats and steering wheel have already proven themselves after a recent string of long rides. outdoor photo shoots.

So far, I’ve found the 9.0-inch touchscreen easy to navigate and responsive to use, to the point that plugging in my phone and switching to Apple CarPlay hasn’t become the first thing I do every time I take the wheel. It’s also a relief to have actual physical dials for the heating controls, which I find much less distracting than the on-screen icons.

Active safety systems seem to err on the side of caution, triggering the alarm whenever an object enters the general vicinity of the car. But I’ve noticed that with other new cars too, so the Honda doesn’t feel too jittery about it.

Since I rarely leave home with less than three flight cases full of camera gear, I wasn’t sure if a compact crossover like the HR-V would manage to swallow it all, but Honda’s rear “magic seats” really help. with luggage storage. They can fold up for a flat cargo area or fold up like a set of theater seats, which means there’s even room for a pair of mountain bikes when I’m not traveling for work. The plastic trunk liner also helps keep damage to a minimum.