Honda’s HR-V entered its second generation a couple of years back, and when we first tested it, we loved it. Since then, we’ve had the pleasure of testing other great compact crossovers, and we must say, you have to go out of your way to find a bad one. The segment is super competitive with each manufacturer putting its best foot forward. Rather than a formal review, let’s focus in on some of the reasons we love the 2026 HR-V AWD EX-L.
2026 Honda HR-V - It’s So Roomy
One sacrifice with compact is that it’s well, compact. However, the HR-V doesn’t feel compact. It’s quite roomy up front and in the back outboard seats. This is a vehicle that can seat four very comfortably. We didn’t formally test it, but eyeballing the back seat leads us to conclude that car seats would work well in the HR-V. Try yours to confirm. The cargo volume is very generous. 24.4 cu ft with the rear seats up. By contrast, a Volvo EX30 has just 12.4 cu ft. The Crosstrek from Subaru is a great vehicle, but offers just 19.9 cu ft. And under the cargo floor of the HR-V is another storage cubby for your gear, and then a spare tire below that with even more space for supplies. The HR-V is weirdly huge inside. This is one of Honda’s tricks we’ve seen in other models like the Fit.
2026 Honda HR-V - Absolutely Perfect Infotainment System and HVAC Controls
Jump into the HR-V for the first time, and you will intuitively know how everything works. The HVAC has knobs you can work with your gloves on. The heated seats are a physical button with three settings you can work without looking. And they STAY ON when you restart the car the next time. The shifter works as every shifter should. The cupholders are easy to use. There is a perfect phone holder, and it’s not slippery. The center console works like it should and can carry your necessities.
The infotainment screen is right-sized. Not stupid big. The Android Auto and Apple CarPlay immediately sync to your phone, come on every time you restart quickly, and they never glitch. There is a volume kbob! Key the angels’ singing sound. This system is utterly perfect.
2026 Honda HR-V - Price
The 2026 Honda HR-V LX with front-wheel drive starts at $27,950, including the Destination and Handling fee. Add Dealer Doc fees to get your final price. The top-of-the-line EX-L has a price of about $34K if you opt for all-wheel drive. These prices put the HR-V well under the price point of a Mazda CX-30. Given its room, we fell the HR-V is a great bargain.
2026 Honda HR-V -A Special Feature You Cannot Get In a Top-Trim CR-V
We recently tested the top trim of the CR-V. With its hybrid engine and all the boxes checked, you would assume it has everything the “lower” model HR-V offers. Right? Well, it doesn't have a spare tire, and the HR-V we tested did.
2026 Honda HR-V - Highest Possible Safety Rating
Our last reason to get the HR-V is for those of you who value safety. Maybe moms and dads. Or anyone who wants to live a full life. The Honda HR-V earns the IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus designation. The highest possible safety rating in the land.
There you have it. Five reasons to buy a 2026 HR-V. If you’d like more on this great vehicle, check out our video review here. Tell us in the comments if you think the HR-V is as good as we think it is.
John Goreham is the Vice President of the New England Motor Press Association and an expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE int). In addition to his fourteen years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can connect with John on LinkedIn and follow his work on his personal X channel or on our X channel. John employs grammar and punctuation software when proofreading, and he sometimes uses image generation tools.
Image by John Goreham
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