Category: Compact crossover

Seats: 5

Starts at: $25,300

Honda is known for its reliability, which makes its vehicles a fine choice for generations of drivers in your household. The engines are well made and will likely last you a long time, giving it a second life as a hand-me-down. Now it’s just a matter of deciding which Honda fits your family best. Let’s take a look at the 2023 Honda HR-V.

If you have small kids, a compact two-row crossover like Honda’s HR-V works well for a family needing five seats in an urban or suburban environment. Easy-access Latch anchors and tethers for car seats are helpful, though the middle tether anchor originates from the ceiling and can affect visibility when in use. The HR-V was completely redesigned for 2023, and it’s several inches longer and wider than before; huzzah!

Once the kids get to be five feet tall or so, the rear seats start feeling more cramped, and you may want to look a step up to a Honda Pilot or Passport. Keep in mind that at that point, you’ll be trading room for fuel efficiency, especially in the case of the HR-V, which offers a decent 26 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. Don’t forget the slightly larger CR-V, which is available as a hybrid and boasts 43 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. For nearly $10,000 more than the HR-V, the CR-V offers five more inches in length and more second-row legroom. 

Once you get tired of your CR-V or it’s time to upsize, and your child is getting ready to drive, this is a terrific starter car for a teenager. There’s enough room for a bike in the cargo area, and the infotainment controls are unfussy and intuitive. Plus, it comes standard with a suite of safety features like collision mitigation, a braking system, forward collision warning, road departure mitigation system, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and lane keeping assist. 

Your Test Driver’s parent-centric take on the 2023 Honda HR-V

We like it:

·       Child seats are easy to install with a visible Latch system

·       High-quality materials that wipe clean

·       Well-equipped with safety features

Eh, not so much: 

·       The front and rear seats are a bit stiff