First Generation Honda HR-V - JDM Off-Road Obscurity 

I bought a 2-door back in 1999 (98 model) when it first came out in Australia and I still drive it as my daily driver to this day. 25 years of very reliable service compared to my previous Alfa Romeos and Fiats. Still many more years of life in this car. A great investment. :)

Tips: I did some research long ago when my dad bought this car. If you're thinking of buying one. Consider these things: 1.) Rarity: I'm not sure about Europe but 3doors in Japan are so rare that according to some people, they were only produced for only 3 years ever since it's release at 1998. And finding one this clean, especially without paint fade is indeed something special so if you're thinking about adding one as a daily or as a collection. You're in for a treat. Cool colors of these include Sunburst Yellow, another yellow, Supersonic Blue and Orange Metallic.(It'll be cool if you put this beside an Integra or a RSX.) 2.) Variants: The HR-V in Japan has 3 variants, J, J4, and JS4. Very peculiar but I think from what I see with this HRV and the features it has. I'm pretty sure it's a D series VTEC as 4 wheel drives come with VTEC and FFs only have PGM-FI. I'm not sure about J4 but I think it'll be a VTEC as well. Correct me if I'm wrong. Mines a Type J which is the barebone stock variant but surprisingly. It comes with almost everything the top range has other than the sunroof and those pretty cool spoilers. Seats have various options but mine has a lot of eccentric markings which screams 90s Honda. 3.) Reliability: No words about anything breaking other than the usual stuff you might expect such as oil changes etc. Especially this being a 20+ year old car. Hondas of this era, especially the early and mid 2000s in my experience ironically never breaks. They just seem to last forever. 4.) Experience: This car screams Youth. Seeing my dad ride this just makes him feel like a 20 year old again. This car is very similar to a 2door Rav4 and I wish Auto Detailers would give this car some attention like the CRV since like the CRV. It comes with a lot of cool decals, bodykits, and wheels. 5.) Performance: It's brisk. I might say it's quick. Not sports quick but like what he says, Hondas of this time tend to have unique ability to be really peppy. And it's something I kind of miss in today's cars. A joyful acceleration yet it feels smooth at the same time. My Fit is fun but I just wish it feels a tad smoother. 6. Cool Factor: This car came out at a wrong time when most people are into SUVS and that crossover are an emerging trend. The design too is very quirky. It took me a while to get used to it but then, I started loving it. HR-Vs would look good given it has the right color and bodykits. It may not be as cool as it's CR-V sibling but it is certainly there with what I call the underrated eccentrics (CR-Z, Torneo, SM-X, Saber, Z, Today, and Dunk Turbo).

I'm driving one everyday here in France, and this car is putting a big smile on my face everytime.

The best review I've seen of this wonderful classic Honda HRV.

Nice video. I imported my HR-V last fall and it’s been a fun little vehicle.

we have those in the philippines as well and also saw one yesterday as a 5-door.

I just got one of these cheap, low milage, no rust! 4 door non vtec but what a great looking car with that spoiler

Great polyvalent car I own one left drive 4x4 since mars 1999, a Joy Machine and still runs brilliantly on a daily basis. Most of its D series engine parts are from Civic and are available but not the body parts and the glass (the junkyard in case of emergency repair).

I'm on my second MK1 HR-V. My original was a ’99 2 Door with (AWD) 4WD. Identical to the one in your video. Man, I loved that car. It was a little rocket it was but sadly I drove it into the ground... Loved it so much that I now have a 2003 1.6 CVT Automatic 4 Door. I put that into sport mode and it just melts the tarmac.... Love seeing those folks surprise when I fly off the line and seeing those newer cars trying to catch up. Probably one of the most fun cars ever built, even better is the general nod you get from other MK1 drivers. Like there is just this greeting, a kind of acknowledgement that says Yeah... I'm having a blast too 👍 Those who know? KNOW!!!! One common fault though is the ABS pump goes resulting in a horrid vibration when pulling off from stand still. The pump doesn't release the wheels when you drive off. The other thing is that it is a 4 seater. There is no fifth seatbelt in the middle of the back seat. If you can source one of these though, oh man... I recommend you do. They are such fun cars. I let my ex wife borrow it to take the kids to school when her mercedes a160 broke down. Her face said it all when she walked back in the door.... she was like Oh My God, that was so much fun. I loved it. All I could do was Nod and Smile 😉🙏 Not particularly interested in the new gens. They're not really HR-V's in my mind and only once you've driven an MK1 will you truly know that. It is lovely to see a review of this car so many years after release.

HR-V actually means Hater Resistant Vehicle 😄

Honda sell this one in Europe, its not rare to find one of these in Portugal.

i love how in the states its 12grand but here in bulgaria is like max 2 or 3 XD

Just to clear up, it's not actually constant four wheel drive. Basically when the front wheels spin at a fast rate, the rear kicks in and also starts spinning the rear wheels. In the snow you can really tell when you're turning without accelerating hard enough.

This kinda reminds me of my 98 Forester, but if they made a 2-door version. I wish they had brought this to North America to compete with the Forester! Instead we got the CR-V, which is similar, but kinda different

Are the cars you show available, I hear you are in Dayton. I’m in Cleveland TN

My mom has one with 5 doors in black

Hello, I have a Honda HR-V built in 2003 in a 1.6 petrol automatic 4x4. As soon as I switch to D and accelerate a little, there is a vibration, so to speak, the entire body vibrates. Can someone maybe give me a tip? But otherwise the car drives well. It only happens when starting off

Why don't people import a lhd version from Europe?

I'm about 6'2" or a hair more... hows that head room? I have a 95 Del Sol that i drive and get made fun of for driving that too lol