2019 Honda HR-V Review: Hauls Everything, but Not Fast

A small, affordable SUV makes a perfect city runabout. In this 2019 Honda HR-V review, we take Honda's smallest and most affordable crossover around the busy city streets of downtown Los Angeles. And then we drive it through the hilly neighborhoods surrounding the city to test its driver aids, passenger comfort and surprisingly large cargo space. Is the HR-V the best option for college kids and city dwellers, or are there competitors in the subcompact SUV class?

What's New for the 2019 HR-V

Refreshed front and rear styling
New Sport and Touring trim levels
New center screen system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Honda Sensing suite adds multiple available safety features

About the 2019 Honda HR-V

By the very nature of their size, subcompact crossover SUVs can't offer the practical benefits that larger SUVs do. Check the spec sheets and you'll find that many don't even have as much cargo space as similarly priced compact hatchbacks. The 2019 Honda HR-V is one vehicle that does a great job of overcoming its size limitations, however. A thoughtful interior layout that includes the second-row Magic Seat, which can flip up so you can carry tall items, gives the HR-V more passenger room and greater storage space than others in the class.

Honda has also made improvements this year. New front and rear styling cues differentiate the 2019 HR-V from last year's. But you'll probably be more interested in the expanded list of features, which includes a volume knob (the car previously had an annoying-to-use touch-sensitive volume slider) and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality for the 7-inch touchscreen. The Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver safety features is another new addition for EX trims and above. Shoppers looking for additional luxuries will be pleased with the new Touring trim, which bolsters the HR-V with LED headlights and foglights, alongside a power-adjustable driver's seat and a navigation system.

Unfortunately, the HR-V's underpowered engine is the same for 2019. Though fuel-efficient, the Honda HRV is slow and noisy when you mash the gas. Honda has also discontinued the manual transmission. We doubt many people were opting for it, but it helped make the most of the HR-V's available power. Overall, though, the HR-V's exceptional utility makes this pint-size Honda a top pick in the class.

The 2019 HR-V is the least expensive crossover in Honda's stable, but thanks to the number of features offered, it doesn't have to feel like an econobox special. Five trim levels are available: HR-V LX, HR-V Sport, HR-V EX, HR-V EX-L and HR-V Touring. All three models are powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine (141 horsepower, 127 lb-ft of torque) and a CVT automatic. Front-wheel drive is standard on all models except the Touring, which comes with the other models' optional all-wheel-drive system.

Honda HR-V Interior

The HR-V's interior is more useful than that of any other vehicle in the class, with a nifty rear seat that can fold or swing up and out of the way. The space for rear passengers is excellent. Average-size adults can actually fit back there, which can't be said for a lot of subcompact crossovers. But the front seats lack legroom and adjustment range for tall folks.

Read our 2019 Honda HR-V Review: https://www.edmunds.com/honda/hr-v/2019/

Make sure to subscribe to Edmunds to get all of the latest videos on car reviews, automotive news, car comparisons and shopping advice. Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/Edmundsvideo?sub_confirmation=1

Edmunds will help you find your perfect car with unbiased and useful reviews, advice, pricing and tools. Visit us at https://www.edmunds.com.