HOnda HR-V 1.6i-DTEC SE NAvi long-term test review – fifth report

I've been living with our bold long-term HR-V since early February and, on average, I've been racking smidgen more than 2,000 miles every month since. At that time, I've become quite familiar with the workings of the deepest Honda.

For example, when the machine is never the strongest - break-neck performance I did not expect from a 1.6-liter diesel - it's not the most quiet, good; especially when the rev counter would exceed 3000rpm mark. However, this is rarely a problem that I can be short-shift through the gearbox, keeping the motor in the comfort zone and still making progress fast enough.

More recently, though, I've seen a fair bit more ghost turbo roar as I tip in and out of the gas pedal. It's not like I could play a song with the right pedal and never got to the point where it becomes annoying, but it is definitely increasing in volume as the miles have been stacked.

Something that has become more and more disturbing, though, is a collision warning system HR-V is too sensitive. While the 'safety first' is all well and good, HR-V too often react like a scared kitten almost every sense a stationary object on the road, flashing warning lights dazzle and screeching out the horn of the impending disaster.

Although it is not easily frightened, low-speed autonomous braking system has the same disposition smooth. On one occasion, when I tried to park in front of a wooden fence, it really clamped the brakes in full emergency stop mode, bring the process to an abrupt halt long before I judged necessary to slow down.

In addition to this, I can honestly say 11,000 last mile has been completely trouble-free, but by no means the first service HR-V is now imminent.

Ok, so I may quicken mile from the HR-V owners on average, but the 12,000-mile scheduled service still feels like it has come a wee bit premature, especially since many modern diesel engine can go 20,000 miles between pit stops. At least the first service will not break the bank, for a fixed price at a reasonable £ 215.

I'm pretty sure that where the money will stop, because most of the miles I've covered have spent trawling up and down the highway, so consumables such as tires and brake pads front still to be almost brand new. Equally, HR-V remains fully squeak- and free toys, and the last time I pulled over to check the tire pressure and fill the windshield washer bottles, oil is still relatively clean and well until the dipstick.

Honda is known for customer service, come on, or close to the peak, almost every customer satisfaction survey you care to name. As a consequence, find a trusted dealer to carry out the work should not be a problem. I will let you know how everything is going in the next report.

key specifications:

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

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