In its third iteration, Honda’s compact SUV is a cracking small car, offering “interesting but not unique styling” with “pretty good specifications”, said The Daily Telegraph. Inside, it feels comfy and reasonably spacious – though the boot is small at 319 litres – and on the road, it is a decent ride, refined and, for the most part, fairly quiet. Performance is “brisk rather than swift, with a top speed of 106mph and 0-62mph in 10.7sec”.
In its interior design, Honda says it has followed a principle it calls “man-maximum, machine-minimum”, which “sounds like something weird RoboCop would come out with if you spilt a glass of water on him”, said Top Gear. In practice this means Honda has done away with any tech for tech’s sake. The result is a simple and “pleasant” cabin, with plenty of legroom all round.
Practical and well-built, the HR-V ticks many of the compact SUV boxes, said Auto Express. Build quality is good and it “feels as plush as anything else in the class”, plus it is equipped with a great infotainment system with a nine-inch touchscreen. Unfortunately, it’s also at the pricey end of its sector, which may be a deal-breaker for some. Still, this is “the most convincing family car Honda has produced in years”. Price starts from £26,960.
-
‘Capitalism: A Global History’ by Sven Beckert and ‘American Canto’ by Olivia NuzziFeature A consummate history of capitalism and a memoir from the journalist who fell in love with RFK Jr.
-
Frank Gehry: the architect who made buildings flow like waterFeature The revered building master died at the age of 96
-
6 lovely barn homesFeature Featuring a New Jersey homestead on 63 acres and California property with a silo watchtower
-
Film reviews: ‘Marty Supreme’ and ‘Is This Thing On?’Feature A born grifter chases his table tennis dreams and a dad turns to stand-up to fight off heartbreak
-
Heavenly spectacle in the wilds of CanadaThe Week Recommends ‘Mind-bending’ outpost for spotting animals – and the northern lights
-
It Was Just an Accident: a ‘striking’ attack on the Iranian regimeThe Week Recommends Jafar Panahi’s furious Palme d’Or-winning revenge thriller was made in secret
-
Singin’ in the Rain: fun Christmas show is ‘pure bottled sunshine’The Week Recommends Raz Shaw’s take on the classic musical is ‘gloriously cheering’
-
Holbein: ‘a superb and groundbreaking biography’The Week Recommends Elizabeth Goldring’s ‘definitive account’ brings the German artist ‘vividly to life’
