2026 Honda HR-V Road Test and Review

2026 Honda HR-V EX-L ・ Photo by Brady Holt

The Honda CR-V used to be the SUV equivalent of the Honda Civic. It was the small, affordable way to get a Honda SUV. But these days, the cheapest Honda CR-V costs more than $30,000. 

Fortunately, the 2026 Honda HR-V is a worthy entry-level alternative. Though it’s technically in the subcompact class, the HR-V is closely derived from the Civic. And it’s longer and wider than most of its competitors – in fact, on the outside, it’s almost the exact size of a 10-year-old CR-V. 

The 2026 HR-V is newly updated with revised styling details and upgraded infotainment. For this review, we spent a week testing the updated HR-V to learn more about its pros and cons. Keep reading to learn if it’s the best affordable crossover SUV for you. 

Prices for the 2026 HR-V start at $26,500 plus a mandatory $1,450 destination charge. With destination and a $455 coat of Nordic Forest Pearl paint, the top-trim EX-L AWD model we tested comes to $33,755. 

A Big Subcompact

The current-generation HR-V arrived back in 2023. Before then, the HR-V shared its underpinnings with the Honda Fit, which is no longer sold in the U.S. Other parts of the world still get an HR-V like that. But Honda decided that Americans like things bigger, so our HR-V is now based on the Civic. (If you’re passionate about Honda HR-V trivia, Honda does sell the U.S.-sized HR-V in many overseas markets, where it’s called the ZR-V.) At 180 inches long, America’s 2026 HR-V is about 4 inches longer than key rivals like the Toyota Corolla Cross, Kia Seltos, and Subaru Crosstrek. 

The HR-V isn’t as tall or boxy as a CR-V. But it’s not sleek and sporty like a Mazda CX-30, either. We’d describe it as innoffensively rounded, with few design flourishes that could either attract or repel the eye. This year brought a few design tweaks, including redesigned alloy wheels and some new color choices. But the changes are just like the overall design of the HR-V – subtle and commanding little attention. 

2026 Honda HR-V EX-L ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Upscale Interior With a Bigger Screen

While the HR-V’s exterior is unremarkable, we’re big fans of its interior. It looks and feels expensive without being visually overwhelming. It has extra-simple controls. And this year, Honda solved the cabin's biggest flaw by replacing a tiny 7-inch touchscreen with a more competitive 9-inch unit with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring. 

The HR-V's slim, minimalist dashboard evokes a luxury car, while the honeycomb vent strip – a design feature shared with other recent Hondas – keeps it from getting too dull. The buttons and knobs operate with more precision than you'd find in some cars costing twice as much. We also like how the padded center console rises up to meet the dash; it’s a more distinctive approach than the simple Civic. And HR-Vs with light-colored interiors, like our test vehicle, get a spiffy two-tone effect. Some folks might prefer the digital dazzle of even bigger digital screens, but we're happy with the HR-V's build quality, meticulous attention to detail, and super-easy controls – especially after this year’s upgrade.

2026 Honda HR-V EX-L ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Comfortable and Spacious Seats

Some subcompact crossovers embrace their “subcompact” size when it comes to passenger accommodations. Not the HR-V. It’s neither tiny nor Spartan. The front seats are comfortable and supportive, and even the rear seat has adult-friendly legroom. All but the base LX model include heated front seats, while the top EX-L model like our test vehicle has a power-adjustable driver’s seat and genuine perforated leather upholstery. 

The HR-V is not as open and airy as the larger CR-V, but it’s a viable family car – for four people, anyway. A fifth person can fit in a pinch, but the HR-V wouldn’t be our first pick to do that often. Plus, as we’ll discuss later, it doesn’t have a lot of reserve power for carrying extra weight.  

2026 Honda HR-V EX-L ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Competitive Cargo Hold

For cargo, the HR-V holds 24.4 cubic feet of luggage behind its rear seat. And you can fold down the rear seat to get a total of 55.1 cubic feet. That’s better than many subcompact crossovers, and we appreciated how easily the rear seat folds flat. 

Still, some competitors have even more room. The rear of the HR-V isn’t as upright as a Toyota Corolla Cross or Kia Seltos, which robs some space if you’d be carrying tall cargo or stacking things high. But we appreciated a good-sized floor area for fitting lots of grocery bags. The HR-V isn’t rated to tow a trailer. 

2026 Honda HR-V EX-L ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Suspension Sophistication

As with the HR-V’s unexpectedly premium interior, its suspension provides more polish to its ride and handling than the typical subcompact. 

Credit goes to its Civic roots. The Civic drives better than most compact sedans, and this carries over to the HR-V. On smooth pavement, it’s steady rather than jiggling around. And when you hit a bump, the HR-V absorbs the impact smoothly and without drama; in cheaper-feeling rivals, the whole car can seem to shudder. 

Now, the HR-V doesn’t have sports-car handling. It's not as fun to drive as a Mazda CX-30 or Volkswagen Taos. But it’s easy and natural to drive either slow or fast, with accurate steering and quick responses. Nor is the HR-V’s suspension extra-absorbent, so the ride isn’t as cushy as a Subaru Crosstrek’s. Its premium flavor is subtle, and not everyone will value it. It’s easier to notice that the HR-V isn’t a quiet car, which cuts into the luxury feel. A lot of that comes down to the engine, which we’ll discuss in a moment. 

Also, don’t expect as much off-road capability as a Crosstrek. Despite its optional all-wheel drive, the HR-V has less ground clearance and a suspension that’s engineered primarily for the pavement.

2026 Honda HR-V EX-L ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Not Upgraded Under the Hood

The HR-V’s biggest weak point is under the hood, and Honda didn’t choose to change it in this year's update. We mean its 2.0-liter non-turbo four-cylinder engine, which makes a modest 158 horsepower and just 138 lb-ft of torque. This is the same engine you’ll find in base models of the Civic, and it’s no powerhouse even there. In the HR-V, this engine has reasonable pep around town. But when you put your foot down for max power, there’s nothing waiting in reserve. Expect to need about 10 seconds to reach 60 mph, slower than most competitors. 

This engine isn’t only noisy and sluggish. It’s not especially economical, either. In EPA testing, the HR-V gets 28 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg combined with front-wheel drive. AWD models like our test vehicle drop to 25 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined; we matched that estimate during our weeklong test. 

Honda could have done more. The recently introduced Acura ADX is a luxury version of the HR-V, and it uses a 1.5-liter turbo engine borrowed from the base CR-V (and previously available on upper-trim Civics). This engine is quicker, quieter, and more economical than the HR-V’s 2.0-liter. Better still, Honda could have followed the example of the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid and Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid with an optional gas-electric powertrain. Honda recently introduced a powerful yet fuel-efficient hybrid option on the Civic, and more than half of Honda CR-V buyers are choosing its hybrid model. But every HR-V sticks with the old 2.0-liter. 

2026 Honda HR-V EX-L ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Three Trim Levels to Choose From

Honda sells the 2026 HR-V in a choice of three trim levels. The base LX, $26,500, makes a good first impression with dressy 17-inch alloy wheels, the proper-sized touchscreen (instead of last year’s 7-inch unit), a wireless smartphone charger, push-button starting, and advanced driver-assistance features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping steering assistance. 

Still, Honda reserves key features like a six-speaker stereo (instead of four speakers) and a blind-spot monitor for the next-up Sport, which costs $28,300. This upgrade also buys heated front seats, trendy blacked-out alloy wheels, and leather trim on the steering wheel and gear selector. The top EX-L like our test vehicle starts at $30,350; in addition to leather upholstery and a power driver’s seat, it adds a sunroof, an eight-speaker stereo, front and rear parking sensors, and dual-zone automatic climate control. You won’t find any HR-V with a premium sound system, a panoramic moonroof, a power liftgate, a surround-view parking camera, a built-in GPS navigation system, ventilated front seats, or the ability to use your phone as a key.

AWD is $1,500 extra, and the mandatory destination charge is $1,450. Overall, the HR-V isn’t an expensive SUV. But especially if you’re interested in certain features, it can get expensive for its class, even without some of the premium amenities you'll get on some rivals.  

2026 Honda HR-V EX-L ・ Photo by Brady Holt

HR-V vs. the Competition

Compared with most competitors, the HR-V has more polish to its ride, handling, and interior, along with more interior room. But most of them tend to cost less and have more standard features, a longer list of high-end luxury options, or both. Most rival crossovers are quicker, too. 

Our other favorite subcompact crossovers include the well-rounded, value-priced Hyundai Kona and Kia Seltos cousins; the comfortable and capable Subaru Crosstrek; the roomy and fun-to-drive Volkswagen Taos; the fun and luxurious Mazda CX-30; the quick and economical Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid; and the extra-affordable Chevrolet Trax and Buick Envista cousins. 

Each of them has its own downsides. The Kona and Seltos are flashier than the pricier HR-V, but they feel less fancy. The Crosstrek isn’t as agile, has less cargo room, and has a slow-to-respond infotainment system. The Taos’s controls are annoying to use, and its interior isn’t as well finished. The CX-30 has a cramped rear seat and cargo hold. The Corolla Cross Hybrid isn’t as roomy or expensive-feeling as the HR-V, and the hybrid model – our pick over the underwhelming base version – isn’t cheap. Finally, the Trax and Envista lack an option for all-wheel drive. 

2024 Hyundai Kona Limited ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Upscale Yet Simple

We like the 2026 Honda HR-V. It provides an unexpectedly premium feel to its ride, handling, and interior quality. And it does so with subtlety rather than lots of flash. 

We’re not sure how many people are looking to pay extra for such a subtle dose of luxury. It’s easier to see where your money’s going in a competitor with more standard features, a more powerful engine, or a flashier design. And when you’re looking for simple functionality, you can find competitors that cost less. 

On the other hand, in most ways, the HR-V takes “simple functionality” to an elevated level. Its execution is top-notch, including in ways that don’t jump out instantly. A more powerful and more efficient engine would solve its biggest shortfall. And some people will pick a more extroverted-looking competitor. But overall, the HR-V is likable, practical, and not wildly expensive. That’s a solid combination. 

2026 Honda HR-V EX-L ・ Photo by Brady Holt