For years, manufacturers have been on a seemingly never-ending mission to produce smaller and lighter automobiles that also retain the function of their larger counterparts. Sometimes, the results can be fascinating, as is the case with the new 2021 Honda HR-V. Built upon the foundation of last year’s model, this HR-V takes many cues from its predecessor, adding a few new additions to the popular lineup. You’ll find this lineup and more at Ralph Honda, your go-to car dealer in Rochester. This new HR-V continues the current generation of the beloved lineup that has been in place for several years now, and those familiar with the HR-V will notice a very similar shopping experience.
Available Trims
The base trim for the HR-V is known as the LX and has a starting MSRP of $21,220.1 This trim includes plenty of the amenities that you’d expect to find standard in a vehicle within this price range, such as Bluetooth connectivity and a Rearview Camera. However, unlike other base-model rear-view cameras seen elsewhere, the HR-V allows for multiple viewpoints, which is not entirely commonplace on base model vehicles. The next available trim is the Sport, and this trim swaps out the wheels from the base model for a set of 18-inch sport wheels along with paddle shifters behind the steering wheel to give your vehicle a more sporty feel. Additionally, this trim integrates Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to its upgraded infotainment center, amongst other tech-centric features.
The EX is the next trim for the HR-V, and this trim is well regarded for its introduction of more luxurious aspects, and of course, reliability. Honda manages to achieve this by including the likes of a moonroof to greatly enhance the lighting and atmosphere of your vehicle, along with heating elements in the front seat. Safety is taken to a whole new level with the EX as it includes the Honda Sensing safety suite, granting drivers a host of noteworthy advanced safety features such as Lane Keep Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control, for example. While this trim is undoubtedly full of quality-of-life amenities, it’s the EX-L that aims to impress drivers with its leather interior and powerful speaker system that pumps 180-Watts of power to 6 high-quality speakers situated throughout your cabin. Add all of this to a majority of the preceding trim’s feature sets, and the EX-L becomes a highly intriguing offer.
Performance
The 2021 Honda HR-V doesn’t make any changes to its powertrain configuration, meaning you’ll be seeing the same setup as years prior. While some HR-V fans may have been seeking greater performance, it appears that those drivers may have to wait until the next generation of HR-V vehicles is properly unveiled. This familiar powertrain, which consists of a 1.8L 4-cylinder engine paired to a Continuously Variable Automatic Transmission that produces 141 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque, means the HR-V remains vastly fuel-efficient. It’s this fuel-efficiency that makes this smaller engine a much more palatable choice for aspiring shoppers as this engine allows the HR-V to achieve EPA-estimated ratings of up to 28 MPG city, 34 MPG highway, and 30 MPG combined with front-wheel drive.2
Interior Features and Enhancements
As you may expect with the HR-V, it won’t provide as much space as other vehicle types, such as full-size SUVs, for example. However, this doesn’t mean the HR-V isn’t spacious as Honda has made excellent use of the available space within this vehicle. Firstly, the HR-V has always sat a maximum of five passengers, and this continues to be the case. As mentioned, the quality of your interior can be highly dependant on the trim level you have chosen. A perfect example of this is with the aforementioned EX trim offering heated seats up front, while the EX-L then replaces the cloth seats with leather, while the base LX trim and Sport do not receive said enhancements.
Total headroom in the front-row is slightly altered when purchasing a higher-tier trim such as the EX or EX-L. However, the difference is minimal and means you’ll go from 39.5-inches of available headroom to 37.6-inches, while the rear-row remains unchained with 38.3-inches of headroom. Available legroom will also not be changed regardless of trim level, meaning the front-row will always have 41.2-inches of legroom while backseat passengers will receive 39.3-inches of space. Keeping up with its SUV foundation, the HR-V offers excellent cargo space, perfect for any everyday luggage or even cargo for longer vacations. This is because of a maximum of 58.8 cu.ft. of space when the back seats are folded downwards and still offering a respectable 24.3 cu.ft. of space with the seats folded upright.
Any vehicle worth its salt in today’s market needs to offer some tech-centric features. Fortunately for HR-V shoppers, the lineup does offer a robust infotainment center with a 5-inch screen on the base model and 7-inch screens on higher trims. Even at just the base model, you will enjoy Bluetooth capability that allows wireless connectivity between a Bluetooth enabled device and your speaker system. The upgraded infotainment center is much more akin to the type of systems you’d find in plenty of competing models. This infotainment center swaps out the 5-inch screen of the base offering and replaces it with a sharper and larger 7-inch screen. Thanks to this increase in screen size, it’s easier to navigate your infotainment center while on the road and helps to make the contents of the screen more accessible.
Bluetooth carries over from the base model; however, the most notable improvement over the two is the inclusion of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the Sport, EX, and EX-L. With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the infotainment center inside of your HR-V becomes a much smarter and far more intuitive tool to use while driving. Setting up these software suites is simple; all you’ll need is a USB cable as the HR-V offers two USB ports on trims that support the feature. Once you’ve connected your smartphone, you can utilize your phone’s navigation capabilities, answer important phone calls, ask Siri for the weather; the list goes on.
Purchase an HR-V Today
We’re Ralph Honda, and we’re proud to be one of the highest-rated car dealerships in the greater area of Rochester, NY. We’re committed to serving you with an unforgettable shopping experience and building a better community. No matter what kind of Honda vehicle you’re shopping for, whether it’s a brand new 2021 HR-V or one of several different pre-owned offerings, we’ve got you covered with the best Honda vehicles around.
Our dealership offers a host of different services like an on-site finance center that will help you find the best plan to purchase or lease your next vehicle. Once you have your car, bring it by our service center for regular repairs or our collision center when your car needs major repairs or bodywork. When you’re ready to buy or get your vehicle serviced, visit us at 3939 West Ridge Road in Rochester and discover what makes us a cut above the rest.
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1MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $1,175 destination charge and accessories. Dealer prices may vary. MSRP does not include $395 charge for select premium colors. $395 charge applies to 2021 and newer models.
228 city/34 highway/30 combined mpg rating for 2WD trims. 27 city/31 highway/29 combined mpg rating for AWD LX trims. 26 city/31 highway/28 combined mpg rating for AWD Sport, EX, & EX-L trims. Based on 2021 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.