For the holiday season I was equipped with 2023 Honda HR-V and there was no better time to put this compact to the test.
As a base model Honda there are no bells and whistles to report on. Just a reasonably priced vehicle, ideal for taking you from A to B and everything in between. A practical car when driving in the city with lane assist, 4 corner motion sensors, and automatic high beams. All of which has this mid-size and its passengers feeling safe. With the 2023 Honda HR-V you get the space an SUV provides, but with more forgiveness due to its compact size. Easier to glide along on narrow stretches. Though without the additional creature comforts I have been spoiled, with I would not gravitate to it for an extended drive or road trip.
My loan coincided with Vancouver’s extreme winter bout. Artic chills had the city covered in more snow than it knew how to handle, with our first “Snowmageddon” alert of the season early in the week. Luckily for me, not only was the HR-V equipped with snow tires, but it also comes with 3 driving modes, one of which is “snow”. With a toggle of the switch, I could feel the difference in the handling of the HR-V. “Snow” mode had the car feeling heavier and more steadfast. The tires seemed to suction onto the wet and slushy pavement. It did not prevent slipping and skidding, but with the correct amount of care and just enough speed it felt like I was planted in my drive. It was at least a lot more capable than all the other sedans with all season tires on the road.
Given the colder weather, the one thing I wished the HR-V had was a wheel warmer. It did come with heated seats, although it and the general heating took a longer time to start up in the 2023 Honda HR-V. At least a longer wait than what I am use to. I was left with a fully zipped parka and mittens driving, until 15 minutes in when things would start to warm up.
And even then, you could not feel the heat from the seat all that much. I believe this is in part to the scoop bucket curve of it. No lumbar support, only the standard manual plastic lever to have the back of the seat swing up or down. I found myself curving to conform to it and pushing myself in to find back support. However, when it came to my regular routine of micro-naps, I did not have to climb to the back seat to extend myself. The same plastic lever I mentioned before, allowed the seat back to fully recline to a 180-degree line, ideal for myself who sleeps flat on her back. Whereas the bucket-style seat hugs you in place as you rest, making the HR-V up there on my list of great cars to sleep in.
And when the snow melted and there was pavement once more, I opted for the eco mode to keep my already reasonable fuel consumption even lower. Only towards the end of my two-week stint, with a Monday to Friday 33km commute one way and another 33km to get home, did I have to fill up. And even then, at 165.9 it was just under $70 for regular. And best of all, the eco-mode stayed set, even after I had turned the car off and taken a break in my travels. Once I returned, the eco-mode was still in place. Whereas in other vehicles it would reset, and I would forget to switch it back on.
In closing, a solid everyday vehicle, built to take you through all the seasons and one that got me safely out of Snowmageddon in one piece.
