Honda HR-V Named "2016 Green SUV of the Year" by Green Car Journal

Jan 21, 2016 - WASHINGTON D.C.

• 2016 HR-V delivers unsurpassed fuel economy¹ in the subcompact crossover segment in combination with fun-to-drive performance, sporty design and spacious, versatile packaging
• HR-V is third Honda model honored by the magazine within the last five years

The 2016 Honda HR-V (http://automobiles.honda.com/hr-v/), the brand’s stylish and versatile crossover vehicle, has been named "2016 Green SUV of the Year™" by Green Car Journal. The "Green SUV of the Year" award recognizes the all-new HR-V for its class-leading environmental performance – a top fuel economy rating of 35 mpg highway¹ (2WD CVT) and additional designation as an Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV2 ULEV).

"The Honda HR-V is a truly unique new subcompact crossover, delivering the space, utility, comfort and feature content of a larger vehicle, with the sporty driving dynamics and class-leading fuel economy ratings on par with a small car," said John Mendel, executive vice president of Auto Sales for American Honda. "All of us at Honda truly appreciate Green Car Journal for recognizing the HR-V as Green SUV of the Year and as the latest in a growing lineup of products with class-leading efficiency and low emissions."

"With its active styling, smart features, and fuel economy leadership, the 2016 Honda HR-V gives car buyers an entirely new option in the small SUV category," said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and CarsOfChange.com. "The HR-V brings true environmental performance to this fast-growing category, and drivers are taking notice, as are we here at Green Car Journal, making HR-V the perfect choice to take home 2016’s "Green SUV of the Year" honor."

The 2016 HR-V is the third Honda brand vehicle honored by the magazine in the past five years, joining prior Green Car of the Year™ Award winners, the 2012 Civic Natural Gas and the 2014 Accord.

2016 Honda HR-V
The 2016 HR-V is available with an all-new continuously variable transmission (CVT) that delivers both fuel efficiency and fun-to-drive performance at a high level. When equipped with the available CVT, the HR-V has an EPA city/highway fuel economy rating¹ of 28/35 miles per gallon when equipped with front-wheel drive, and 27/32 miles per gallon when equipped with Real Time AWD™. With a 6-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive, the HR-V has an EPA city/highway fuel economy rating¹ of 25/34 miles per gallon.

About Green SUV of the Year
The award-winning Green Car Journal has focused on the intersection of automobiles, energy, and environment since its launch in 1992. As part of its mission, the magazine hosts events, produces ride-and-drives of advanced and clean fuel vehicles, and conducts various outreach efforts to educate consumers on better and more environmentally positive vehicle choices. The magazine's content is featured online at www.CarsOfChange.com.

Honda Environmental Leadership
Based on its vision of "Blue Skies for our Children," Honda is taking a comprehensive approach to reducing the environmental impact of its products, advancing fuel efficiency, low emissions and fun-to-drive performance with new powertrain technologies, including more fuel-efficient engines and transmissions and advanced electromotive technologies. Honda will offer several next-generation, advanced powertrain vehicles, including the launch of the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell sedan in 2016, and an all-new Honda plug-in hybrid model by 2018. Honda also will expand the use of its advanced two- and three-motor hybrid systems in the years to come. Together, these vehicles will offer significant sales volume, enabling Honda to bring ultra-low carbon transportation to consumers in the U.S.

¹ Based on 2016 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions and other factors.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/releases/honda-hr-v-named-2016-green-suv-of-the-year-by-green-car-journal

Forbes: 2016 Honda HR-V: Honda Joins the Rapidly-Expanding Small SUV Segment

by Karl Bauer of www.forbes.com

Don’t look now, but yet another subcompact SUV is about to join the seemingly endless parade of small sport utilities vehicles introduced over the past 6 months. I’ve personally written about three of these vehicles since mid-December, and with the all-new 2016 Honda HR-V going on sale May 15th it marks an average of one new small SUV arriving in dealer showrooms every month for the past 4 months. That’s a run rate I’ve never seen in my 20 years covering the industry. It’s enough to give one pause while asking the obvious question: can the U.S. market absorb so many all-new models, all focused in a single vehicle segment, in such a short timeframe? With over two million compact crossovers and SUVs sold last year, representing an annual growth rate of 14.5 percent, the answer looks like a resounding “YES!”

In fact, just 3 months into the year Kelley Blue Book is tracking the segment’s growth at an additional 9.5 percent, and that’s with many of these newer models still ramping up to full production. This means Honda’s 2016 HR-V will face a full formation of competing compact SUVs when it goes on sale next month. Yet Honda knows a thing or three about selling small SUV’s. The company’s CR-V has been tearing up sales charts for over a decade, and the new HR-V uses much of the same philosophy in a smaller, more affordable package. The recipe starts with a functional-yet-sporty exterior design wrapped around a space efficient cabin. With over 100 cubic feet of interior volume (including 24.3 cubic feet behind the second-row seat and 58.8 cubic feet behind the front seats when the second row is folded down), the HR-V packs plenty of utility inside a small, easy-to-manage frame. That frame features 27 percent ultra-high strength steel, and Honda reps told use they are confident the HR-V will earn top safety scores from the NHTSA and IIHS.

A solid structure pays dividends beyond crash protection. In the case of the HR-V we noticed trademark Honda refinement in the small ute’s ride and handling characteristics. With an approximate 3,000-pound curb weight the HR-V feels light on its feet, and its electric power steering was calibrated to provide a proper balance of responsive feedback and confidence. An independent front suspension and torsion beam rear suspension smoothed out road irregularities while allowing minimal lean around corners. Engaging driving dynamics have accompanied Honda vehicles for decades, and the HR-V continues this tradition. The 141 horsepower and 127 pound-feet of torque on tap from the HR-V’s 1.8-liter, 4-cylinder i-VTEC engine stays true to yet another Honda trait — adequate engine power. Many competitors offer higher horsepower and torque numbers and better power-to-weight ratios. So while not exactly sporty, the HR-V doesn’t feel underpowered in either front- or all-wheel-drive form. A 6-speed manual is offered on front-wheel-drive HR-Vs while a CVT is optional on front drivers and standard on all-wheel-drive models. Fuel efficiency is rated at 24 mpg city, 34 mpg highway and 28 mpg combined with the manual transmission and front-wheel drive. The CVT gets 28 city, 35 highway and 31 combined on front-drive models and 27/32/29 on all-wheel-drive HR-Vs.

Augmenting the 2016 HR-V’s space efficient cabin and refined driving dynamics is a comfortable interior with functional storage space and plenty of room for full-sized adults. Interior materials deliver a sense of quality, including a bright, clear gauge cluster and thick steering wheel with standard audio and Bluetooth controls. Like the Honda Fit with which is shares a platform, the HR-V is easy to reconfigure from passenger to cargo mode. The second row “Magic Seat” (Honda’s term) folds away quickly and easily, creating a flat load floor to maximize the small ute’s interior volume. This seat’s lower cushions can also be folded up to create a wide, open area ahead of the cargo area if needed.

For the rest of the Article, follow this link;
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kbrauer/2015/04/30/2016-honda-hr-v-honda-joins-rapidly-expanding-small-suv-segment/2/

Globe and Mail: Road Test Review: 2016 Honda HR-V is a solution to the bursting Civic

by Jessica Leeder of www.globeandmail.com

To say the Honda Civic has enjoyed cult status for years is a no-brainer. Many a Civic loyalist has taken pride in stretching the economical little coupe from a starter car into their 30s when, bursting with hockey sticks, strollers, car-seat bases and the inevitable accoutrements that accompany the onset of family life, the sporty relics are surrendered – grudgingly (perhaps even tearfully).

Well, Civic Nation, take heart. This summer marks the arrival of Honda’s solution to your problem: The all-new HR-V “subcompact crossover” will be rolled out across the country. Designed specifically as a solution for coupe-loving drivers whose lives are pushing the limits of their vehicles – but who aren’t ready for the upgrade to a full-scale SUV – the 2016 HR-V aims to deliver the pleasure wrought by bombing around in a sporty coupe combined with the utility of, well, a utility vehicle. Honda has wrapped this pursuit in a beautifully designed, not-too-big-not-too-blah package that will undoubtedly turn heads. With a wide, strong stance and a meaty but aerodynamic grill, the HR-V demands attention in the way that coupe diehards like to get it.

In what is perhaps the most blatant sign of the design team’s commitment to hitting coupe lovers’ sweet spots, the HR-V bears concealed rear door handles that are tucked neatly into the rear window panes. While the handles are a bit wonky to get used to – and to manoeuvre with arms full of groceries – the HR-V’s designers get points for even considering that four conventional door handles might jar prospective drivers who equate sportiness with two doors.

Honda also deserves kudos for the utility it has managed to wring out of this model. The HR-V’s strongest selling point, its five-seat capacity, has five set-up modes designed to accommodate the flotsam of real life. Want to lug home a small tree? No problem. The rear seats flip backward into the trunk to allow access to flat floor space. You need to transport a surf board? The HR-V can handle it (inside the car), too.

This newcomer is also loaded up with much of the technology drivers have come to expect, including double smartphone plugs in the front console, an excellent rear backup camera and lane assist. While it misses on small details such as power seats and automatic rear gate lift (presumably to keep sticker prices down), it delivers on the road. Above all, the HR-V is a pleasure to drive. It has a higher driving position than a coupe, but fittingly so. The only caution worth issuing concerns the six-speed manual model: while stick shifts often make smaller vehicles more fun to drive, the opposite is true here. The HR-V’s manual transmission was cumbersome and made the vehicle’s quality seem cheap. Buyers ought to trade up for the automatic CVT – and prepare to see a slew of fellow HR-V drivers out on the road.

You’ll like this car if ... You’re bursting at the seams in your two-door coupe but can’t envision upsizing to something too big, high or SUV-esque.

TECH SPECS

• Base price: $20,690; as tested: $29,990
• Engine: 1.8-litre four-cylinder
• Transmission/drive: CVT (four-wheel and two-wheel drive) or six-speed manual (two-wheel drive)
• Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 2WD CVT: 8.3 city, 6.7 litres highway; 2WD manual: 9.3 city, 7.0 highway; 4WD CVT: 8.8 city, 7.2 highway
• Alternatives: Fiat 500X, Mazda CX-5, KIA Rondo, Nissan Juke

RATINGS

• Looks: This crossover emanates strength and agility with a wide front end, stance and sleek, powerful lines that hint at the vehicle’s target sweet spot: that magical place where sporty and functional align.
• Interior: The cabin is modern and minimal with black and stainless accents. While the front seat is comfortable for two, three adults would be sardined in the back.
• Performance: While the 4WD CVT model was sporty, peppy and never felt underpowered, the six-speed manual was the opposite.
• Technology: The HR-V is jammed with technology, including a multiview rear camera, a lane-assist camera mounted to the passenger mirror, a smart-touch dashboard display, heated front seats and two USB ports for smartphones. Missing, though, are a slew of power functions such as power seats, power tail lift and a regular old volume dial.
• Cargo: Storage is the HR-V’s strong suit. Designed with a mind to making the interior as functional as possible.

The Verdict

9.0

Honda set out to make a big impact with this little can-do crossover and its neat combination of utility, efficiency and sporty good looks makes it a great buy.

The writer was a guest of the auto maker. Content was not subject to approval.

Source;
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/reviews/new-cars/review-2016-honda-hr-v-is-a-solution-to-the-bursting-civic/article24168014/#

Honda HR-V Could be delayed up until August 2015

And the long anticipated wait, gets longer.
The 2016 Honda HR-V, has been delayed until July or August 2015.  No reason for the delay as of yet.  Stay tuned.

Driving.ca: First Look: 2016 Honda HR-V (comparing the HR-V to the CR-V)

Check out this article by David Booth showcasing the all new 2016 Honda HR-V (expected here in May 2015 for Canada), with a really good comparison it's big brother CR-V.  (more pix too!)
http://driving.ca/honda/reviews/road-test/first-look-2016-honda-hr-v

2016 Honda HR-V Video's

All-new 2016 Honda HR-V Crossover Makes North American Debut at 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show

2016 Honda HR-V crossover – arriving early next year – delivers dynamic styling, incredibly spacious and versatile cabin and fun, fuel-efficient performance

Nov 19, 2014 - LOS ANGELES 

 

The all-new 2016 Honda HR-V crossover, unveiled today at the 2014 Los Angeles International Auto Show, blends the styling of a coupe, the toughness, space and utility of a SUV and the quality of a Honda in one sporty, personal and versatile multi-dimensional vehicle. The well-equipped HR-V, launching at Honda dealerships nationwide early next year, will enter the fast-growing entry crossover market with dynamic yet refined exterior styling, fun-to-drive performance, class-leading fuel economy ratings and unmatched interior spaciousness and cabin versatility.

Utilizing a new global platform, the all-new Honda HR-V has one of the most spacious and versatile cabins in its class. Utilizing its unique platform design with a center-mounted fuel tank and reconfigurable second-row "Magic Seat," the completely new HR-V has voluminous interior space along with a flexible cabin featuring multiple seating/cargo modes. With 100.1 cu. ft. of passenger volume (LX) and 58.8 cu. ft. of cargo volume with the second row seats down, the HR-V has space to rival some competitors' mid-size SUV offerings.

"The new HR-V crossover is a true segment-busting vehicle, unlike anything else on the market today," said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and general manager of the Honda Division. "It's got all the essential elements of our Honda DNA, our packaging innovation, fuel-efficient powertrain technology, leading safety technology and, above all, Honda quality, to make this an incredibly compelling, sporty and value-packed new member of the Honda family."

2016 HR-V Key Packaging Specifications
Wheelbase, in.	102.8
Length, in.	169.1
Width, in.	69.8
Height, in.	63.2
Passenger volume, cu. ft.	100.1 (LX), 96.1 (EX, EX-L)
Cargo volume, cu. ft.	24.3 rear seats up 58.8 rear seats down
Seating capacity	5

The HR-V's dynamic appearance and sporty, solid stance is aided by its coupe-like cabin shape and bold and powerful face, complemented by distinctive side contours, including a sharply upswept character line, deeply sculpted lower body form and the strong horizontal taper of both the front and rear fascia. Concealed rear door handles further enhance its coupe-like appearance.

The HR-V's sporty and sophisticated interior features an expansive, airy cockpit with an abundance of soft-touch materials and premium detailing punctuated by precise bezels, sophisticated stitch lines and upmarket brushed chrome and piano black highlights – all fitting its mission as a youthful yet refined personal crossover vehicle. The three-meter driver's instrument cluster features "floating" illumination rings and Honda's ECO Assist feature, wherein the speedometer illumination changes from white to green depending on the fuel efficiency of the driver's vehicle operation.

Power comes from a highly refined and responsive 1.8-liter SOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine with i-VTEC valvetrain producing a peak 138 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 127 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,300 rpm (both SAE net). The engine is mated to a sporty and fuel-efficient continuously variable transmission (CVT) with Honda "G-design" shift logic, or a slick-shifting 6-speed manual transmission (2WD models only). The HR-V is available in either two-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive drivetrain configurations. All-wheel-drive models feature Honda's Real Time AWD with Intelligent Control System for outstanding all-weather traction and control. Driving efficiency, handling performance and cabin quietness are further aided by an aerodynamic shape and a lightweight yet rigid body structure with significant noise-insulating materials and design features.

In keeping with Honda's commitment to safety, the HR-V is expected to deliver top-in-class collision safety performance and incorporates Honda's next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) front body structure, designed to more efficiently absorb and disperse the energy from a frontal collision. Standard safety and driver-assistive features include four-channel anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Brake Assist and Hill Start Assist; Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control; an Expanded View Driver's Mirror; a Multi-Angle Rearview Camera; dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, driver and front passenger SmartVent™ side airbags and side-curtain airbags for all outboard seating positions; and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). The HR-V is anticipated to earn top collision safety ratings from the NHTSA (5-Star Overall Vehicle Score) and IIHS (Top Safety Pick).

Standard equipment on all HR-V models, available in LX, EX and EX-L trims, include power windows, power mirrors and power door and tailgate locks, electronic parking brake, rearview camera, aluminum-alloy wheels, tilt and telescoping steering wheel with audio and cruise controls, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® phone interface and Pandora radio. Higher trim models can be equipped with premium features including Honda's 7-inch touchscreen Display Audio telematics interface, Honda LaneWatch™, Smart Entry/Push-Button Start, paddle shifters, SiriusXM® radio, HD Radio™ and Honda Digital Traffic, heated front seats, a power sunroof, embedded navigation and leather trim.

The 2016 Honda HR-V is covered by a comprehensive 3-year/36,000 mile new vehicle limited warranty and a 5-year/60,000 mile powertrain limited warranty. Additional benefits of ownership include Honda Roadside Assistance, which provides free 24-hour roadside assistance during the 3-year/36,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty term. The HR-V will be manufactured alongside the Fit at Honda's newest North American auto plant, in Celaya, Mexico.

For More Information
Consumer information about all Honda vehicles is available at automobiles.honda.com. To join the Honda community on Facebook, visit https://www.facebook.com/Honda. To keep up with the most current media information about the 2016 Honda HR-V visit hondanews.com/channels/honda-automobiles-hr-v.