2023 Honda HR-V Performance

If you thought that bringing in a 158-hp 2.0-liter engine to replace the old 141-hp 1.8-liter would fix the previous model's poor performance, the new Honda HR-V's mid-nine-second 0-60-mph time will come as a disappointment. It's no better than before because the new engine only just makes up for the weight increase, and the HR-V's biggest fault of lethargic performance and a chronic lack of acceleration and passing power remains. Rivals' four-cylinder engines are mostly bigger and/or turbocharged, but even the like-minded 2.0L Kona is faster than the HR-V, if not by much. The CVT sends the revs soaring, but acceleration is nothing more than limp, and it's just as well Honda doesn't list a trailering capacity because having to tow anything will suck the remaining life out of an underpowered package. Top speed is not mentioned by the automaker either, but suffice it to say you won't bother exploring the limits, because the HR-V takes a long time to get up to speed.

Unlike rivals such as the Mazda CX-30 that won't let you leave the showroom with less than 191 horsepower at the base level and offers another 60 hp on top of that for turbocharged trims, there is only a single engine in every Honda HR-V trim - a 2.0L naturally aspirated four-cylinder with 158 hp and 138 lb-ft. It is mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), with your choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The AWD system is designed to improve handling security on slippery roads, not cater to off-road scenarios.

The gas mileage of the new Honda HR-V is worse than the old one because of its larger engine and heftier curb weight. The FWD model returns city/highway/combined estimates of 26/32/28 mpg, while the AWD gets 25/30/27 mpg - a drop of 2 mpg combined in each instance compared to the old HR-V. Compared to rivals, the Honda HR-V's mpg figures are disappointing, with even the FWD HR-V's figures beaten by the 2.5L AWD CX-30 and AWD 2.0L Kona.

With a 14-gallon fuel capacity, expect a range of around 392 miles for the FWD HR-V and around 378 miles for the AWD model on the combined cycle.