2017 Honda HR-V

The 2017 Honda HR-V is offered with one engine option and a choice of a 6-speed manual or a CVT gearbox. The HR-V puts out a decent 141 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque but lacks the pulling power. The available CVT transmission makes it worse due to the pronounced rubber band effect. On the bright side, the engine returns good gas mileage and clocks decent 0-60 mph and quarter-mile timing. Being a carryover model we don't see much change on the exterior while the lack of advanced safety features is sorely missed this year. 

The 2017 Honda HR-V starts at $19,465 and for the price, it gets an upscale cabin but the front seats lack comfort. The rear seats of the HR-V are more spacious and offer better comfort. Behind the rear seats, the HR-V offers 24.3 cubic feet of cargo space which is the best among the rivals. Speaking of rivals, the 2017 HR-V competes with the Subaru Crosstrek, Jeep Renegade, and Mazda CX-3. 

The 2017 Honda HR-V is a subcompact SUV that is available in three trims LX, EX, and EX-L Navi. All three trims are powered by the same 10.8-liter inline-4 engine with two transmission and drivetrain configuration options. The LX trim starts at $19,465 for the manual transmission and comes with basic features and manual control for most functions. The next in line is the EX trim that starts at $21,515 and adds a few comfort and convenience features, a bigger touchscreen, and some driver-assist features.

The topmost trim in the Honda HR-V trim level is the EX-L Navi trim which starts at $24,940 and only comes with the CVT transmission. The EX-L Navi trim gets features like upgraded seat trims, navigation, and a few more. Having said that, the 2017 Honda HR-V offers eight exterior color choices and two interior color choices. 

Trim	LX	EX	EX-L Navi
MSRP (Manual) (FWD)	$19,465	$21,515	N/A
MSRP (CVT) (FWD)	$20,265	$22,315	$24,940
MSRP (CVT) (AWD)	$21,565	$23,615	$26,240
Key Features	141 hp, 1.8-liter inline-4 engine	Adds or upgrades to 'LX'	Adds or upgrades to 'EX'
	17-inch alloy wheels	Foglights	CVT gearbox w/ paddle shifters
	60/40-split folding rear seats	Automatic climate control	Auto-dimming inside rearview mirror
	Hill-start assist	Push-button start	Roof rails
	LED brake lights	Heated front seats	Leather-trimmed seats
	4-speaker sound system	7-inch touchscreen infotainment	SiriusXM Radio
	Rearview camera w/ guidelines	6-speaker sound system	HD Radio
	Tilt and telescoping steering column	Blind-spot monitor (Honda LaneWatch)	Satellite-linked navigation w/ voice recognition
	5-inch infotainment display	Rearview camera w/ dynamic guidelines
		Heated side mirrors w/ integrated turn indicators
		Power sunroof

We Recommend

The 2017 Honda HR-V is priced competitively and comes with a choice of manual and automatic transmission so we suggest picking the mid-level EX trim. The EX trim carries a starting price of $21,515 which is approximately two grand more than what you pay for the base trim. For the premium paid, you add better comfort and convenience features, a better sound system and a bigger infotainment system, driver-assist features, and a rearview camera with dynamic guidelines. These upgrades are a lot for the premium and thus make the EX trim worth every penny.

"Power output from the HR-V's 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine is disappointing when any sort of urgency is required.  - Edmunds"

2017 Honda HR-V Engine and Transmission

The 2017 Honda HR-V gets a 1.8-liter naturally aspirated inline-4 engine that produces 141 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque. Transmission options are a 6-speed manual gearbox which is standard on the LX and EX trim or a CVT automatic gearbox which is available on LX and EX trim while it is standard on the EX-L Navi trim. The Honda HR-V is available in the FWD configuration as standard while the AWD is optional on all the trims.

The engine for the most part remains lethargic and takes its own sweet time to pick pace. The stick shifter is a saving grace as dropping a gear or two brings the 1.8-liter inline-4 engine alive, helping in closing quick gaps or merging on the freeway. That said, city commutes and occasional highway rides are well taken care of by the HR-V. 

Models	2017 Honda HR-V	2017 Subaru Crosstrek	2017 Jeep Renegade	2017 Mazda CX-3
MSRP	$19,465	$21,695	$17,995	$19,960
Engine	1.8-liter Inline-4	2.0-liter Flat-4	1.4-liter turbo Inline-4	2.0-liter Inline-4
Transmission	6-speed manual	5-speed manual	6-speed manual	6-speed automatic
Horsepower	141 hp @ 6500 rpm	148 hp @ 6200 rpm	160 hp @ 5500 rpm	146 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque	127 lb-ft @ 4300 rpm	145 lb-ft @ 4200 rpm	184 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm	146 lb-ft @ 2800 rpm

Among the competition, the Subaru Crosstrek is priced around two grand more than the HR-V while the Renegade has the lowest base price among all. The Renegade is the only vehicle in this comparison that gets a turbo-four engine while the rest of them are powered by a four-pot oil burner. That said, the Honda HR-V is the least powerful among all while the turbocharged Renegade puts out the best 160 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque.  

2017 Honda HR-V Acceleration

The 2017 Honda HR-V can go from 0-60 mph in 8.6 seconds and covers the quarter-mile in 16.5 seconds. Both the figures aren't encouraging although the HR-V remains quicker than the majority of its rivals courtesy of its lower curb weight and a slick-shifting manual gearbox.

Models	2017 Honda HR-V	2017 Subaru Crosstrek	2017 Jeep Renegade	2017 Mazda CX-3
0-60 MPH	8.6 sec	10.3 sec	9.3 sec	8.5 sec
Quarter mile	16.5 sec	17.8 sec	17.1 sec	15.8 sec
Engine	1.8-liter Inline-4	2.0-liter Flat-4	1.4-liter turbo Inline-4	2.0-liter Inline-4

The Mazda CX-3 that gets a 6-speed auto as standard clocks the fastest 0-60 mph and quarter-mile. It was one-tenth of a second quicker in the 0-60 mph run and 0.7 seconds quicker in covering the quarter-mile compared to the HR-V. The heaviest Subaru Crosstrek AWD remains the slowest among all.

2017 Honda HR-V Ride and Handling

The 2017 Honda HR-V has a supple ride quality courtesy of its well-tuned suspension setup. The responsive steering wheel is another plus which not only feels connected giving you the confidence to push the HR-V harder around the corner but also gets lighter making it easy to maneuver at parking speeds.

The well-tuned suspension and great body control ensure the handling remains above average for the segment although the HR-V isn't as fun-to-drive as other Honda cars. For the most part, the HR-V soaks up bumps and undulation without any drama but big bumps and off-trail paths can easily unsettle it. 

2017 Honda HR-V Braking

To stop the 2017 Honda HR-V weighing 2,888 pounds, Honda has given it 11.5-inches rotors at the front and 11.1-inches rotors at the rear. The setup ensures that the 2017 HR-V stops from 60-0 mph in just 125 feet. The all-four discs don't provide enough confidence in panic braking situations although the brake pedal requires minimum effort to operate. 

Model	2017 Honda HR-V	2017 Subaru Crosstrek	2017 Jeep Renegade	2017 Mazda CX-3
Brake Front (in.)	11.5	11.6	12.0	11.0
Brake Rear (in.)	11.1	10.8	11.0	11.1
Curb Weight (lbs.)	2,888	3,109	3,025	2,809
60-0 MPH (ft.)	125	137	126	117

The lightest Mazda CX-3 despite getting a smaller brake setup manages to stop from 60-0 mph in the shortest 117 feet, 8 feet less than what the HR-V took. The Subaru Crosstrek which is the heaviest among all traveled the longest distance before coming to a standstill.

The 2017 Honda HR-V that comes with a manual transmission has an EPA estimated gas mileage of 25 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg combined. The CVT gearbox equipped HR-V is more fuel-efficient and returns 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway while the CVT gearbox and AWD configuration see a drop of 1 mpg in the city and 3 mpg on the highway.

Model	2017 Honda HR-V	2017 Subaru Crosstrek	2017 Jeep Renegade	2017 Mazda CX-3
MPG (city)	25	23	24	29
MPG (highway)	33	29	31	34
MPG (combined)	28	25	26	31
Fuel Capacity (gallon)	13.2	16.6	12.7	12.7

The lightest Mazda CX-3 is not only more powerful and quicker than the Honda HR-V but also manages to beat it in the fuel economy figures to clinch the most fuel-efficient vehicle tag in this comparison. The CX-3 beats the HR-V's gas mileage figures by 4 mpg in the city and 1 mpg on the highway. 

"The 2017 Honda HR-V has a stylish interior with an upscale layout. There are quality, soft-touch materials and a handsome design throughout the cabin.  - cars.usnews"

2017 Honda HR-V Seating and Comfort

The 2017 Honda HR-V interior will surprise you with the quality of the material used even when it falls in the affordable subcompact segment. The dash has a clean and ergonomic layout although the design of the dash is a bit unconventional. Courtesy of the 2017 HR-V's 6.7-inches ground clearance you can simply slide in and out of the seats and thanks to its 63.2-inches height, even taller folks just need to duck a little while getting in or out to avoid hitting their head on the roof.  

Although all is not good when you talk about HR-V's seating especially the front seats. the front seats lack support and can tire you out easily over longer hauls. The front seats would have been better had it got more cushion and a better lumbar adjustment. Moving to the rear seats, which are unlike the front and thus are comfortable and offer good support. The magic rear seats can be folded and shifted in several combinations for better practicality. 

Model	2017 Honda HR-V	2017 Subaru Crosstrek	2017 Jeep Renegade	2017 Mazda CX-3
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.5/ 56.8/ 41.2	39.8/ 56.7/ 43.1	41.1/ 55.9/ 41.2	38.4/ 53.5/ 41.7
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.3/ 54.5/ 39.3	38.0/ 55.6/ 36.5	40..5/ 55.1/ 35.1	37.2/ 50.4/ 35.0

The front row seats of the Honda HR-V feel cramped and would become really uncomfortable for taller folks compared to the rivals. Speaking of which the Subaru Crosstrek gets the most accommodative front seats. Although coming to the rear seats the HR-V turns the table in its favor with the class-leading 39.3-inches of rear legroom which can be attributed to its above-average 102.8-inches of wheelbase. 

2017 Honda HR-V Infotainment System

The 2017 Honda HR-V comes with a 5-inch LCD with a four-speaker sound system for infotainment in the base LX trim. The EX and higher trims get a 7-inch touchscreen with a 118-watt six-speaker sound system. The upgraded sound system is a welcome addition to the infotainment although the finicky touchscreen that is hard to operate plays a spoilsport.

On the contrary, the 5-inch LCD on the lower trim controlled by knobs and buttons feels much better to operate in comparison to this. That said, the top-of-the-line EX-L Navi trim shares the EX trim's setup and adds satellite-linked navigation with voice recognition, SiriusXM radio, and HD radio. 

Interior Features

• Rearview camera
• Tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel
• Floor mats
• 60/40-split rear Magic Seat
• Fabric upholstery
• Available heated front seats
• Available leather upholstery
• Available automatic climate control

2017 Honda HR-V Cargo Capacity

The 2017 Honda HR-V offers 24.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. The rear seats can be 60/40-split folded or folded completely flat to increase the cargo space to up to 58.8 cubic feet. The rear Magic Seats by Honda offer a lot of adjustment thus allowing a more practical and flexible cabin for those who regularly haul a lot of cargo in their boot.

Model	2017 Honda HR-V	2017 Subaru Crosstrek	2017 Jeep Renegade	2017 Mazda CX-3
Cargo Volume rear seat up (ft.3)	24.3	20.8	18.5	12.4
Cargo Volume rear seat folded (ft.3)	58.8	51.9	50.8	44.5

None of the rivals can match the cargo space of the Honda HR-V thus proving how cleverly the Japanese were able to pack the cabin. Not only the longest but also the one with the longest wheelbase, Subaru Crosstrek wasn't able to beat the cargo capacity of the HR-V, the HR-V offers 3.5 cubic feet of more cargo space compared to the Crosstrek.

"The HR-V doesn't look like a lifted car or a shrunken CR-V.  - KelleyBlueBook"

2017 Honda HR-V Dimension and Weight

The 2017 Honda HR-V exterior is a mix and match of design cus from its siblings the Honda Fit and Honda CR-V. The front fascia gets the chunky solid-trim piece at the center while the grille sits below it. Lower down, the foglights are pushed inwards towards the grille rather than being at the end which is something new. Coming to the side profile, Honda gave the HR-V a sloping roofline which resembles a lot with its upmarket cousin, Acura RDX. There is a chunky black molding that runs around the body and the sides giving the HR-V tough looks.

Standing 63.2-inches tall and 169.1-inches long the Honda HR-V doesn't look like a subcompact crossover or a jacked-up hatchback. As for the wheels, you only get one wheel size and alloy design option. Moving to the rear you will see how Honda has arched the roof to accommodate more headroom and negate the loss of the same due to sloping roofline. Being 69.8-inches wide the HR-V has a decent and wide stance that not only makes it look better proportioned but also provides better stability. 

Model	2017 Honda HR-V	2017 Subaru Crosstrek	2017 Jeep Renegade	2017 Mazda CX-3
Curb weight (lbs.)	2,888	3,109	3,025	2,809
Length(in)	169.1	175.8	166.6	168.3
Width(in)	69.8	71.0	74.2	69.6
Height(in)	63.2	63.6	66.5	60.7
Ground clearance (in)	6.7	8.7	6.7	6.1
Wheelbase (in)	102.8	104.9	101.2	101.2

The Subaru Crosstrek's 175.8-inches of length,104.9-inches of wheelbase, or 8.7-inches of ground clearance is no match either from the HR-V or the other rivals. The Jeep Renegade is the tallest and the widest vehicle here and compared to it the HR-V is 4.4-inches less wide and 3.3-inches short. 

Exterior Features

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• LED brake lights
• Available auto on/off headlights
• Available foglights
• Available heated side mirrors
• Available roof rails
• Available sunroof

The 2017 Honda HR-V lacks advanced safety features although it boasts of an Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure. The body structure is designed for maximum impact absorption to ensure occupant safety in an event of a crash. There is no reason to not believe what Honda claims as the NHTSA gave the HR-V a perfect five-star rating in the overall safety score while the front crash and rollover mitigation ratings stood at four out of five stars, the side crash test was again given a perfect five out of five stars.

The IIHS also passed the HR-V with flying color and awarded it the top rating of 'Good' in four out of five parameters while the headlights of the HR-V got the lowest rating of 'Poor'. 

Safety Features

• Rearview Camera
• Electric parking brake w/ automatic brake hold
• Hill-start assist
• Available blind-spot monitor
• Available auto on/off headlights

2017 Honda HR-V vs 2017 Subaru Crosstrek

The 2017 Subaru Crosstrek starts at $21,695 making it approximately two grand expensive than the HR-V. Although the Crosstrek offers a full-time AWD and a more powerful engine for the premium. The HR-V which is lighter than the Crosstrek manages to beat it in both the 0-60 mph and quarter-mile run. The heavy and powerful Crosstrek also suffers from lower gas mileage and returns only 25 mpg combined gas mileage, in comparison to that the HR-V returns 3 mpg more.

Dimension wise the Crosstrek is longer and also gets a longer wheelbase compared to the Crosstrek, which does help it to offer a more spacious cabin but the clever space management inside the HR-V ensures it has the highest cargo capacity between the two. So if you don't want a rugged crossover with a need to tackle tough terrains more than often the Honda HR-V is a better bet between the two.

2017 Honda HR-V vs 2017 Mazda CX-3

The 2017 Mazda CX-3  and the Honda HR-V are very similarly priced but for similar pricing, the CX-3 offers a powerful engine and a 6-speed automatic gearbox as standard. The lighter and more powerful CX-3 is not only quicker in both the 0-60 mph and quarter-mile run but also fairly nimble to handle. Speaking of handling, the Mazda CX-3 offers a very engaging and fun-to-drive feel which somehow seems lacking in the Honda HR-V. Coming to the gas mileage, the more powerful and quicker CX-3 beats the HR-V once more by offering 3 mpg more compared to the HR-V that returns only 28 mpg of combined gas mileage.

But that's where the pros of CX-3 end, as we step inside the cabin you will quickly realize that even though the HR-V and CX-3 are dimensionally similar the HR-V not only has a more spacious cabin but also offers better cargo capacity. So for those who have a family to carry frequently should best avoid the CX-3 and instead go for the HR-V here. While those who prefer a driver's machine could park their money in the CX-3 without batting an eyelid.

The 2017 Honda HR-V isn't changed much since last year so there aren't any differences in terms of attributes here. It gets the same 1.8-liter inline-4 engine that strikes a balance between performance and gas mileage but when compared with some faster rivals in the same segment the engine starts to feel slow and lethargic. The HR-V for the most part has a neutral ride and handling although it lacks the jest of some more fun-to-drive Hondas.

The interior of the Honda HR-V has its own hits and misses as the front seats are uncomfortable but the rear seats not only offer better comfort but more than average legroom than what the segment gets. The cargo capacity is also among the best in the segment. If you are with us up till now then you would have clearly understood that the HR-V is a perfect family ride for those on a budget.

More on Honda

• Check out the latest Honda HR-V
• Check out the latest Honda CR-V
• 2021 Honda Accord Review: Expected Release Date, Prices, MPG, Specs, And Changes

2017 Honda HR-V FAQs

Does the 2017 Honda HR-V offer AWD?

Yes, the 2017 Honda HR-V offers AWD as an option while FWD is standard.

What is the engine under the hood of the 2017 Honda HR-V?

The 2017 Honda HR-V gets a 1.8-liter inline-4 engine under its hood.

What mpg does the 2017 Honda HR-V return?

The 2017 Honda HR-V with manual transmission returns 25 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.

What is the fuel tank capacity of the 2017 Honda HR-V?

The 2017 Honda HR-V gets a 13.2-gallon fuel tank.

What is the length of the 2017 Honda HR-V?

The 2017 Honda HR-V measures 169.1 inches in length.