The 2018 Honda HR-V: a surprisingly spacious contender in the subcompact segment

The Honda HR-V arrived on the scene during the 2016 model year, which makes this subcompact crossover a relative newbie to the new Honda lineup. Rookie status aside, in just two years the HR-V has garnered a cult following for its proportions that delight shoppers who're looking for something larger and more spacious than a sedan, but still nimble enough for driving around Augusta, ME.

Today, we're going to take an in-depth look at the 2018 Honda HR-V. By the time you've finished reading you'll have an idea which trim you want test drive here at Charlie's Honda. 

What powers the Honda HR-V?

As we mentioned earlier, the Honda HR-V is part of the subcompact crossover segment. It's powered by a 1.8L engine and can seat five. You can get the HR-V in 2WD, but AWD is available and definitely appreciated here in snowy Maine. The base trim officially comes as a manual, so if you like driving stick you're in luck. However, the base (and all the other trims) also come as an automatic CVT, and that's what we mostly carry. 

View all the new Honda HR-V SUVs for sale in our Augusta, Maine dealership today!

What features does the Honda HR-V offer?

Don't let the term subcompact fool you. The HR-V has a few tricks up its wheel wells to help it stand out in the segment. Like its smaller sibling the Honda Fit, the HR-V has Honda's Magic Seat®. The unique engineering out back allows the bottom of the back seats to flip up, so you can transport taller items (think larger house plants or bedside tables) with ease. With all seats in use on the AWD model you'll have up to 23.2 cubic feet of space. If you need the entire back you'll have 57.6 cubic feet of maximum cargo space, which is a surprising amount to work with for a car this size. If you go with the 2WD option, you'll get about an extra foot of cubic feet for both setups. For size reference, the Honda HR-V is actually about 10 inches shorter than the Honda Civic, so you can impress everyone with your parallel parking skills.

On all three Honda HR-V trim levels you'll get the following standard features:

If you're looking to get the lowest monthly payments for buying or leasing a HR-V, or don't need all the bells and whistles the higher trim levels offer, the base Honda HR-V LX provides just the right number of features.

The second option is the Honda HR-V EX and we think this middle trim is a great choice for most shoppers. Highlights include:

The EX also offers more in the way of convenience and safety technologies. For convenience, you'll love the 7-inch touchscreen with HondaLink™. For safety, there's the Honda LaneWatch™ camera. Simply push a button and you'll be able to see who is in your blind spot on the passenger side. This is especially useful when traveling on the highway or even driving in an area with a lot of bikers.

If you want your vehicle to have a touch of refinement, the EX-L Navi trim is your best bet. Like all Honda-brand trims, the "L" stands for leather, which you'll find on the seats, steering wheel, and shift knob. You'll also get roof rails that you can add a rack onto, navigation with voice recognition, and SiriusXM radio.

The Honda HR-V has been a great addition to the Honda family. Its styling is both youthful and classy and that helps it appeal to a wide range of shoppers. The interior is also big enough that you can really grow into the model, even if you have a child or two. 

Find a Honda HR-V lease offer or special at our Maine dealership here!

If you're ready to get behind the wheel of something different, stop into our dealership this week to go on a test drive. And don't forget to check out our new vehicle specials to see what offers the Honda HR-V has for the month.