Why we’re running it: To see if hybrid power can make the Honda HR-V mini-SUV into an efficient long-distance commuter car
Month 1 - Specs
Life with an HR-V: Month 1
Adaptive cruise control and road departure mitigation cause trouble - 30 March 2022
Benevolent soul that I am, I’ve agreed to exchange my new Skoda Kodiaq (which you will meet soon) for Luc Lacey’s Honda HR-V. A high-mileage photographer with a penchant for extreme sports and camping with his friends clearly has more need of a capacious 4x4 than I do. Compact crossover for me it is, then.
I must be honest: the HR-V hasn’t made a great go of ingratiating itself. That’s not because it’s bad to drive, ugly or nasty inside. In fact, it’s the opposite of those things. Instead, it has irked me through its technology. My struggle to get the infotainment system to accept my iPhone for Apple CarPlay set the tone (I did manage it eventually, but I haven’t any idea what I did different on the fifth try).
I was driving home from the office on the adaptive cruise control when I suddenly felt myself slowing, but this time not to match the vehicle in front. Huh? I looked down at the digital dial display and saw the system was off. Perhaps I had accidentally knocked the button on the steering wheel. So I tried to reactivate it, only to be met with a bong and ‘OFF’ by the cruise symbol. This weird self-cancellation has occurred several times since, and in perfect conditions – so surely not due to obscured sensors. To test this theory, I pulled over and restarted the car, at which point it let me use cruise again.
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After reading the review the active safety systems sound scarey and unsafe, perhaps the system should be renamed, give you anxiety system.
I've had this car for aa month and a half now and just used a full tank. With city driving in London using the B (regenerative braking) mode, I clocked in 51.5 mpg and did 500 miles, so it hit the efficiency as promised by Honda. It's a comfortable drive and loves a sensible driver offering a smooth experience in return. Things get a little louder when you want more but that suits me and keeps me in check, alas you'll never beat a high-end brand like Audi, BMW or Mercedes off the line. I went for the top spec HRV and got upgraded audio, interior and wireless charging which is a dream for anyone who hates wires and keys as the car becomes really easy to just get in and drive, no fumbling about. Safety features are great for a car of this year - I've got all safety systems turned on and its since provided me collision warnings and road departure mitigation and I simply love the oncoming traffic sensors when backing out my driveway onto a main road. I wanted a comfortable, efficient, stylish and versatile car and I got that with the 2022 HRV.
I tend to read a lot of criticsm of active safety systems, mostly in that they suddenly cut in unexpectedly. It was good to read comments from someone who has knowledge and experience of using various systems and that he understood the reasons for their reactions and is well used to dealing with them. We have had them and used, in particular, a variety of adaptive cruise systems over some 9 years. The best at traffic creep was the 2016 Insignia auto and had best ease of use too.