Clever rear "Magic Seat" yields superior cargo space
Generous passenger room
Excellent fuel economy
Abundant standard features
Affordable price
Sluggish acceleration
Front-seat legroom is lacking for taller drivers
Frustrating touchscreen controls
There are no major changes to the HR-V for 2020 following its 2019 facelift. See the 2020 Honda HR-V models for sale ner you
Our choice would be the front-drive HR-V EX. For about $3,500 more than the base model, you get an absolute abundance of comfort, convenience, safety and infotainment features. Then again, even the loaded Touring trim is priced well under $30,000, whereas many competitors easily cross that threshold. Find a Honda HR-V for sale
For 2020, the Honda HR-V is available in five trim levels: LX, Sport, EX, EX-L and Touring. AWD comes standard on the Touring trim and it's a $1,500 option on every other trim.
The HR-V LX ($20,820) features 17-in alloy wheels, a rearview camera, a height-adjustable driver seat, Honda's 60/40-split rear "Magic Seat," Bluetooth and a 4-speaker sound system with a CD player, a USB port and a media player interface.
The new HR-V Sport ($22,520) gets quicker steering, black-accented 18-in wheels, extra gloss-black exterior trim pieces, roof rails, fog lights and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. It also gains a 6-speaker sound system, a second USB port and a 7-in touchscreen interface that includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and HondaLink smartphone apps.
The HR-V EX ($23,970) builds on the base LX trim with its own 17-in wheels, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, Honda's LaneWatch blind-spot camera, adaptive cruise control, a sunroof, heated mirrors, automatic headlights, fog lights, roof rails, rear privacy glass, proximity entry with push-button start, automatic climate control and heated front seats. It also includes the Sport's extra audio and infotainment features along with satellite and HD radios.
The HR-V EX-L ($25,570) adds leather upholstery, the leather-wrapped steering wheel and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
And finally, the new range-topping trim is the Touring ($28,890) that comes standard with AWD and adds extra body-colored trim, gray-accented wheels, LED headlights and fog lights, an 8-way power driver seat and integrated navigation.
As is typical with Honda, there are only a few dealer-installed options for each trim.
| Sport Utility | Original MSRP / Price | Engine | Horsepower | City MPG / Hwy MPG | Transmission | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HR-V EX 2WD CVT | $24,070 / $23,400 | 4 Cylinder | 141 | 28 / 34 | Continuously Variable Automatic | FWD / AWD4WD |
| HR-V EX AWD CVT | $25,570 / $24,853 | 4 Cylinder | 141 | 26 / 31 | Continuously Variable Automatic | FWD / AWD4WD |
| HR-V EX-L 2WD CVT | $25,670 / $24,950 | 4 Cylinder | 141 | 28 / 34 | Continuously Variable Automatic | FWD / AWD4WD |
| HR-V EX-L AWD CVT | $27,170 / $26,404 | 4 Cylinder | 141 | 26 / 31 | Continuously Variable Automatic | FWD / AWD4WD |
| HR-V LX 2WD CVT | $20,920 / $20,347 | 4 Cylinder | 141 | 28 / 34 | Continuously Variable Automatic | FWD / AWD4WD |
| HR-V LX AWD CVT | $22,420 / $21,801 | 4 Cylinder | 141 | 27 / 31 | Continuously Variable Automatic | FWD / AWD4WD |
| HR-V Sport 2WD CVT | $22,620 / $21,995 | 4 Cylinder | 141 | 28 / 34 | Continuously Variable Automatic | FWD / AWD4WD |
| HR-V Sport AWD CVT | $24,120 / $23,448 | 4 Cylinder | 141 | 26 / 31 | Continuously Variable Automatic | FWD / AWD4WD |
| HR-V Touring AWD CVT | $28,990 / $28,168 | 4 Cylinder | 141 | 26 / 31 | Continuously Variable Automatic | AWD4WD |
The 2020 HR-V comes standard with anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control and a full set of airbags (front, side and full-length side-curtain). The EX, EX-L and Touring come standard with forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist and Honda's LaneWatch blind-spot camera.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the HR-V 5-star ratings for overall and side crash safety along with a 4-star rating for frontal crash safety. For 2018, the nonprofit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave it surprisingly disappointing ratings for a recently introduced car. Though it got Good marks in the front, side and roof-strength tests, it only got the second-best rating of Acceptable in the small-overlap front crash tests.
| Basic | 3 Years/36,000 Miles |
| Drivetrain | 5 Years/60,000 Miles |
| Corrosion | 5 Years/Unlimited Miles |
| Roadside Assistance | 3 Years/36,000 Miles |
2020 Hyundai Kona -- This new kid on the block can't match the HR-V's interior space, but it aces it in most other regards. It's stylish, fun to drive and powerful while boasting excellent fuel economy and value.
2020 Subaru Crosstrek -- The Crosstrek is really just a compact hatchback with lots of ground clearance, but that's not a bad thing. Its range of virtues is comparable to the HR-V, including its generous cargo capacity.
2020 Kia Niro -- This subcompact SUV is similarly priced and equipped as the HR-V, but it's actually a hybrid that gets better fuel economy than anything in the segment. It's comfortable, reasonably spacious and has easy-to-use controls.
Used Honda CR-V -- The latest CR-V might not necessarily be out of your price range, but a used one will provide good value, far more space and improved performance at a lower price than a new HR-V. It will likely be the previous-generation model, but that shouldn't be a deterrent.
While they both compete in the subcompact segment, the 2020 Honda HR-V and Ford EcoSport are two ver...
