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In-depth reviews

Honda HR-V review - MPG, CO2 and running costs

The HR-V offers strong real-world economy, but it’s expensive to buy compared with some close rivals

MPG, CO2 and running costs rating

4.1

How we review cars
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£30,705 £37,995
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£2,518 off RRP*
  • Impressive fuel economy
  • Flexible rear space
  • Good build quality
  • Expensive to buy
  • Small boot
  • Noisy under hard acceleration
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Buyers after lower running costs may be drawn to the strong economy figures of plug-in hybrid models – some of which quote more than 200mpg. However, in real-world conditions you would need to ensure the battery is always kept topped up, and mostly undertake shorter journeys in order to achieve such efficiency. 

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The self-charging hybrid set-up used by the HR-V means there is no need for plugging in, while the combination of the 1.5-litre petrol engine and two electric motors provides a WLTP-rated combined economy of 52.3mpg. 

Our own test of the HR-V took in lots of less-efficient motorway driving, but with an average of 55.1mpg, we still managed to comfortably beat Honda’s claimed maximum. In comparison, its Renault Captur E-Tech Hybrid rival returned 54.3mpg, while the SEAT Arona (with a standard 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine) managed 43.5mpg. We’re confident that the HR-V will easily exceed 60mpg on shorter in-town journeys.

With a starting price of around £30,000 and CO2 emissions of 122g/km, the HR-V won’t be the cheapest company car option. The Renault Captur E-Tech is around £4,000 cheaper to buy, with emissions from 108g/km.

Insurance groups

Arranging insurance cover for the HR-V may prove to be a little more expensive than for some of its close rivals. All HR-V versions fall into groups 30 to 31, depending on specification, which is pretty high for a small family SUV. Both the 1.0-litre SEAT Arona and Renault Captur E-Tech Hybrid start from insurance group 13, while a 1.0-litre Ford Puma in Titanium specification is in group 11.

You can get personalised car insurance quotes fast with our comparison tool powered by Quotezone...

Depreciation

Honda is renowned for its reliability, and buyers can be equally reassured by the HR-V’s decent residual values. The entry-level Elegance model is predicted to hold on to a healthy 59 per cent of its original list price over a typical three-year/36,000-mile period of ownership, with the Advance and Advance Style versions retaining 57 per cent and 54 per cent of their value, respectively.

To get an accurate valuation on a specific model check out our valuation tool...

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Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    1.5 eHEV Elegance 5dr CVT
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  • RRP
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Most Economical

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  • RRP
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Fastest

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    1.5 eHEV Elegance 5dr CVT
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  • RRP
    £30,705
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News reporter

As our news reporter, Ellis is responsible for covering everything new and exciting in the motoring world, from quirky quadricycles to luxury MPVs. He was previously the content editor for DrivingElectric and won the Newspress Automotive Journalist Rising Star award in 2022.

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