The lineup of the 2019 Honda HR-V starts with the base LX trim that will cost you $20,620. As we have 5 trim options, the price difference isn't that huge. Also, you can avail of the AWD system on all the trims at an extra price of $1,400, where the top Touring trim gets it as standard. The well-equipped base trim is an affordable practical crossover while the other trims offer a much better cabin experience with various creature comforts. Even after that, the price stays under $30,000 for the top trim which's impressive.

Which trim should you buy?

The newly introduced Sport trim seems to be the most sensible choice among the available 5 trim levels. It will cost you just $1,700 more than the base trim and offers various additional features such as 18-inch machine-finished alloy wheels, 7-inch Display Audio, HondaLink, and leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift. Along with the roof rails, we also get black exterior accents including a black grille, black side mirrors, and black bumper accents. 

Like most of the Honda cars out there, the 2019 HR-V is powered by an i-VTEC engine. It has a 1.8L 4 cylinder motor that churns out 141 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a CVT transmission that comes with sport mode to give you enhanced performance and handling. With the FWD drivetrain, what we get is a sluggish acceleration where the HR-V takes 9.6 seconds to reach 60 MPH of speed and covers the quarter-mile in 17.3 seconds. If you continue to push the throttle harder, the HR-V will get louder until it reaches its top speed of 124 MPH. 

The Mazda CX-3 is the most powerful among the subcompact SUVs, while the C-HR takes the last spot. With its high revving significantly low 127 lb-ft torque, the Honda HR-V is beaten by the Hyundai Kona and the Mazda CX-3 by a small margin. The hefty Toyota C-HR is out of the league with its 10.1 seconds 0-60 MPH run. The HR-V evens it out in the quarter-mile run.

How well does the 2019 Honda HR-V handle?

With a lightweight body and a balanced frame, the 2019 HR-V has better handling. When switched to Sport mode, it handles much better with better cornering and throttle response. The electric power-assist steering wheel offers an engaging drive. The front strut and rear torsion beam suspension is paired with anti-roll bars to further stabilize the vehicle at high speeds. The gas-pressurized shocks ensure the comfort of the passengers over road undulations. The overall ride quality and stability are really impressive.

Braking Performance

To provide safe braking, the 2019 HR-V has 4-wheel disc brakes with front ventilated discs. With that, you get ABS, brake assistance, and hill hold control. You have 11.5-inch brake rotors at the front with 11.1-inch brake rotors at the rear. As it weighs less than Toyota in the competition at 2,906 lbs, the HR-V comes to a standstill from 60 MPH in 125 feet.

With its lightweight structure and big brake rotors, the Mazda CX-3 is the fastest stopping subcompact SUV. The rivals either have greater weight or smaller brake rotors which affect their braking performance. the Toyota C-HR is the heaviest one of the lot yet it manages to offer good braking performance. The Hyundai Kona definitely needs to improve its braking game.

The i- VTEC engine on the 2019 Honda HR-V may not deliver decent performance figures, still, you can praise the HR-V in terms of fuel economy. The 1.8L 4 cylinder motor delivers 28 MPG in the city, 34 MPG on the highway, and a combined 30 MPG. And that's how you get 448 miles of maximum highway range from a 13.2-gallon fuel tank. With the AWD configuration, the economy gets lowered, which can be expected 

The 2019 HR-V offers an amazing fuel economy as compared to some rivals. However, the Mazda CX-3 is ahead in terms of city mileage thanks to its SkyActiv technology. All the subcompact SUVs have similar 13.2-gallon tanks, except for the CX-3, which comes with a smaller 12.7-gallon tank. It works in the favor of Honda as it takes the first spot when it comes to driving range. The C-HR and Kona are not far behind in terms of fuel economy.

Honda is known for its subtle yet premium interior. Even the budget SUV like the Honda HR-V offers good quality materials inside the cabin. The vehicle gets an elegant dashboard layout with a simple design. The spacious cabin offers plenty of room for both passengers and cargo. The modern cabin is loaded with advanced technology, convenience features, and premium leather trims. From the driver's perspective, the seating is accurate with the heightened center console and the adjustable steering wheel.

The front bucket seats on the base LX trim have a 6-way driver and 4-way passenger adjustments. The top-end trims offer up to 8-way power driver adjustments and heated front seats. At the rear, you have 60-40 split magic seats that can make space for immense cargo room to put your stuff inside. The convenience features include a sliding front center armrest, automatic air-conditioning, deep-tinted glass, and a 1st-row moonroof. Most convenience options are standard with the top-end trims and are not available with the base trim.

All the subcompact SUVs have a similar 5 person seating capacity. We have 96.1 cubic feet of passenger volume which makes the Honda’s cabin the most spacious in the whole segment. The rivals only offer sufficient room for the front passengers, while the HR-V offers a balanced front and rear row room. On top of that, you have an extraordinary cargo capacity of 24.3 cubic feet as standard. If you fold down the rear magic seats, you have a huge 55.9 cubic feet trunk. The CX-3 is the least practical offering here with just 12.4 cu-ft of cargo space. The C-HR and Kona offer very similar cargo spaces. Some of the standout interior features of the 2019 Honda HR-V are:

• Leather upholstery
• Eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
• Heated front seats
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Power moonroof
• Chrome interior accents

What's there to keep you entertained?

The LX trim of the 2019 Honda HR-V gets a 5.0-inch LCD that comes with USB connectivity and Bluetooth tethering AM/FM radio with a radio data system. It is connected to a 160W 4 speakers audio system. From the Sport trim onwards, Honda offers a 7.0-inch display audio infotainment touchscreen with customizable features.

The bigger infotainment adds Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and HondaLink integration. It also adds a SiriusXM radio subscription with voice activation and a 180W 6 speaker audio system. With the top-end Touring trim, the HR-V gets a Honda Satellite-linked navigation system with Honda HD digital traffic and services. Some of the standout infotainment features of the 2019 Honda HR-V are:

• 7.0-inch display audio infotainment touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• HondaLink integration
• Bluetooth and USB tethering
• SiriusXM radio subscription
• Honda Satellite-linked navigation system

The much-awaited refresh to the HR-V has arrived with the 2019 MY. The redesigned HR-V now looks bolder and sharper. The changes are done to make it more appealing against the tough competition. The design updates include the elimination of unnecessary design lines, sleeker looks, new headlamps, and whatnot. The not-so-similar front fascia of the 2019 HR-V is updated with new LED headlamps with DRLs and a wider grille which is smartly integrated with the headlamps for styling. The reworked bumper gets huge air ducts for proper air ventilation. The higher trims offer better chrome treatment, while the Sport trim gets a blacked-out exterior.

The rear fascia gets redesigned tail lamps paired with LED brake lights. Other than that, we have a bigger roofline spoiler where the shark fin antenna remains the same. Moving on to the side, the unchanged beltline carries a similar design with the same old hidden rear door handles. You can avail black side mirrors with the Sport trim. You also get 17-inch standard silver painted alloy wheels as standard. On the other hand, the Sport trim gets 18-inch machined painted wheels with matte black accents. The top of the line Touring trim has a 17-inch machine-finished alloy with gloss shark gray accents. 

The HR-V is one of the lightest subcompact SUVs in the segment. The Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-3 weigh slightly less, whereas the Toyota C-HR is quite heavy. In terms of length and height, the HR-V seems huge. However, the rivals are comparatively wider than the HR-V. Even with the lowest ground clearance, Honda stands tall against other small SUVs. With the roof rails and a tough stance, it is best suitable for touring and traveling. Some of the standout exterior features of the 2019 Honda HR-V are:

• LED headlamps with DRLs
• Optional black grille
• Roofline spoiler
• Sport trim exterior accents
• 18-inch machine painted wheels
• Roof rails

With the new global platform, the 2019 HR-V gets a lightweight, balanced frame. The rigid structure is a bi-product of advanced compatibility engineering and high-strength steel. That's why the 2019 Honda HR-V is awarded the Top Safety Pick by the IIHS. Also, it has scored 5 stars for safety in the NHTSA crash tests, making it one of the safest SUVs in the segment.

The standard safety package includes a multi-angle rearview camera, advanced front airbags, electronic brake-force distribution, and a tire pressure monitoring system. From the EX trim onwards, we get advanced safety with the Honda Lane Watch with a right-side camera, a lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, and collision mitigation system. Some of the standout safety features of the 2019 Honda HR-V are:

• Collision mitigation braking system
• Forward collision warning
• Road departure mitigation system
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane keep assist
• Lane departure warning
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Adaptive cruise control

2019 Honda HR-V vs 2019 Toyota C-HR

The 2019 Honda HR-V is the most affordable and practical subcompact crossover SUV in the segment. It offers a value for money package with all the trim levels. The i-VTEC engine ain't that bad with its sensible fuel economy. The Toyota C-HR is more of a sporty SUV that offers a similar package. Yet the HR-V is a better alternative to the C-HR.

2019 HR-V vs 2019 Hyundai Kona

The closest rival to the Honda HR-V is the Hyundai Kona. With a cheaper base price, the Kona has much better performance and remarkable capabilities. Also, we have similar options and a stylish exterior design. With its AWD and massive ground clearance, the Kona is off-road capable. With a simple and more practical approach, the HR-V sticks to the road.

2019 Honda HR-V vs 2019 Mazda CX-3

The Mazda CX-3 is much faster when compared to Honda. Also, it offers better features and options with the available trim levels. In terms of styling, the CX-3 looks premium. Also, the fuel economy is better than the HR-V. Yet, it is no match to the HR-V when it comes to passenger volume, practicality, and cargo capacity. And that's what makes it America's favorite.

To take over the growing subcompact SUV segment, Honda introduced the second-generation HR-V. Within a few years, it became the top-selling SUV and is one of the most affordable options you have in the market. The 2019 Honda HR-V has gotten better with better trim options and packages. The HR-V is not limited to just practicality. It can be your daily drive with its reliable powertrain and amazing fuel economy. The cabin is much better on the higher trims with multiple comforts and convenience options and 7.0-inch infotainment. Also, Honda stands for quality and safety, and the HR-V is the cheapest option to prove it.