Honda HRV 1.6i-DTEC SE Navi long-term test review - the fourth report

Over the past few years, I have attended many new car launches; and, by association, I also spent quite a lot of time with the combined ranks of the great unwashed Her Majesty.

On this occasion, there is usually a fairly predictable pattern of events. After the initial exchange of hostilities journalism and general smearing each publication, a temporary truce broke, before the subject car - or more specifically, the long-term test car - crop up.

Now, I've run all kinds of motors during my time as a hack, so I'm not phased one bit when someone casual advertise the fact that they just happen to be schlepping around in a Porsche California, McLaren Aventador, or supercar at which happens to be flavor of the month.

Or me a little worried when I was dealing with a raised eyebrow and a sharp intake of breath every time I tell people my time bashing in a Honda HR-V. Because, you know what, if I had only one word to sum up my time has been spent with our long term HR-V so far, the word would be 'respectful'.

In principle, this is because, no matter what I threw at the Honda compact SUV, like a Pavlov dog, always come back, wagging his tail for more.

For example, on a recent trip to Brittany to put some concrete foundation creaky farmhouse in the 15th century, Honda had to endure humiliation act as bus crew; and, it was done with not so much as a murmur, though we cram every inch of the cabin's ceiling. Pickaxe, shovel, spirit level, heavyweight HILTI ground-breaker, luggage week for three people and four-legged friend knick-knack paddy-whack this - all found their way into the HR-V at some point during our efforts.

Ok, so understandably, the car weighed down to the gunwales with all this kit, there is a wee bit of a drop-off in performance, but not to the point where the 1.6-liter diesel engine dare HR-V ever felt overwhelmed. After reaching Peage-speed cruising, it was humming along with the usual unflustered manner.

Of course, a trip to France seldom without drama, and this trip was no exception.

After finishing our hard work, and just before leaving to catch the Brittany Ferries' best, we called in at the local French supermarket to stock up on some cheap beer, pâté and gasoil. Oh, and while I think of it, just why the French diesel the same price per liter in Euro as at the pound here, Mr Osborne?

Maybe it’s because you can’t actually buy French diesel. 

Well, not when the unions go on strike, fire up a few dozen Michelin retreads and block the oil refinery gates. 

Unperturbed by Breton unrest, and applying some quick back-of-a-fag-packet maths - well, actually we just looked at the remaining range on the HR-V’s trip computer - the distance we needed to cover didn’t seem achievable. However, based on some numbers I’d achieved on an economy-biased cruise I’d carried out when I took delivery of the HR-V, I guestimated that, driven with enough restraint, the Honda might just make it on what remained in the tank. Just. 

Sure enough, after a gentle three-hour sojourn, with the HR-V’s digital readout showing an average 68.7 mpg for the journey, we rolled into Cherbourg on fumes and palpitations, just in time to catch the rocket-propelled Brittany Express back to Blighty. 

As I said previously: Respect. 

• Model: Honda HR-V 1.6i-DTEC SE Navi
• Price as tested: £23,050
• Engine/gearbox: 1.6-litre 4cyl turbodiesel, six-speed manual
• Power: 118bhp
• Torque: 221lb/ft
• Top speed: 119mph
• 0-62mph: 10.2 seconds
• Economy: 70.6mpg
• CO2/BIK tax liability: 108g/km/24%
• Boot space: 470 – 1533 litres

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