Here's What Bothers Me About the 2019 Honda HR-V on Everyman Driver 

We owned a 2016 HRV EX AWD and it wasn't a 'bad' vehicle. In fact, we had zero issues in the 6 years we owned it other than the gas cap seal drying out and triggering a warning light. We just grew tired of the lethargic acceleration and spartan interior.

this is not a sports car. flooring the gas pedal from the get go wont do anything. slowly step on the gas pedal instead, youll have different result. and ones you are within 50 you can floor it and it will accelerate as you want it. and also if your too big for this car then dont buy it. buy an american car instead if your knee keeps hitting the steering wheel🤭

I can't imagine a scenario where my knee would activate the steering wheel voice controls that isn't an MVA.

Wish we could get the 182HP HRV turbo sport manual they have in Europe

Ground clearance is less with all wheel drive because of the drivetrain going to the rear wheels. Transfer case, drive shaft and rear differential.

Hello😊 I am currently driving a 2018 HR-V, and though I love my vehicle, a lot of these issues are very true. I’m a courier and spend easily 9 or more hours on the road daily. I needed fuel efficiency #1 and so far I cannot complain about that. I needed a hatchback and /or lg cargo area to haul my ice chests/dolly etc, and I’m very happy with that! Technology...usually not an issue so long as I have auxiliary, however, this vehicle is literally my office. I needed as many bells and whistles as I could get, and I must say that I’m a bit underwhelmed in this department. The backup camera is great, but the screen size is a bit small for a 2018 in my opinion, and it’s not even touchscreen? Turning all of those knobs to select things is time consuming and honestly it’s a distraction, as I have to turn and read, turn and read, turn and read. I spend lots of my time multitasking, and yes, I’m aware of the dangers, but it is what it is, and I’ve got a job to do and a strict schedule to keep. I do a lot of knee driving as I’m filing papers, scanning barcodes etc. and I activate the voice control at LEAST 5 times a day. Usually when it activates, I’m on the phone doing business and it just ends the conversation. It’s aggravating to say the least. The radio and my iPhone appear to have a love/hate relationship. The radio has this need to discontinue whatever it is I’m doing, and start playing my music, in alphabetical order. It did it so much that I actually went into music and deleted the song “A-team” because if I’d have heard it one more time I’d have went ham on my own car 🤣 doesn’t matter though, it just starts with another song, the next A in line, always the same song, every time. It eventually has the potential to make me loathe every song I’ve got lol. Ok, big pet peeve, wtf is up with the console/arm rest? It’s just one long, slopey waste of space. Cup holders are practically behind my seat, and the lack of storage (small cubbies for things like loose change, lighters, rubber bands, crap ppl hand you downtown etc. I can’t even buy anything to modify it because the damn thing is set so high and it’s so wide! This is one of my biggest complaints. Trivial, I know, but like I said, my vehicle is my office. So basically what I do is have a sort of make shift desk on my passenger seat. A filing system, a large tote/basket to hold paperwork and orders, and a bunch of tiny containers to organize my paper clips, staples, binder clips etc. Just another distraction. Hopefully one day soon, I’ll stumble upon a way to make the most out of the space. 🙏🏻 The speed. Again, a lot of driving here. A lot of interstate driving, which includes high speeds. I do have a small case of road rage, actually no, I don’t. I have an extremely low tolerance for stupidity, and stupidity is rampant on the interstate. When I’m cruising along, making good time, and someone decides to chill in the fast lane, so they cut me off to get in front of me going 20 miles UNDER the speed limit..I get pretty heated. So I tend to floor it and get back around. This is when I truly notice the lack of power. Before my HR-V, I had a 2018 Kia Soul plus. Let me tell you....kia’s are HIGHLY underrated in the market. Ppl look at them like toys, but it’s quite the opposite. That Kia would FLY around cars. Imo double the power of my Honda. Excellent gas mileage , technology out of this world, Bose speakers throughout the ceiling, beautiful touchscreen/navigation, tons of space by console and throughout the car in general, whisper quiet, 5 USB ports and charging areas, ac vents in the backseat etc. I actually regret not getting another, but I will. I don’t mind saying I myself judged Kia simply based on the look of the little squares, but the joke was on me. Hidden gems I swear, and they are what, 10 grand less than I’ll pay for the Honda? Either way, I love my Honda, I do. But some of these minor, but significant, issues make me wonder “what’s going on over at Honda?”Lol

I went to the dealership and did a test drive with the touring but what I did not know is that the HRV is a quick answer to the CHR from Toyota. It is a Honda Fit motor that is inside bigger body. Both Fit and HRV motors come off the same assembly line in Mexico!! That is why the power suck!!! I-Vtec is more powerful!!!

OMG, you have to Physically lift the trunk gate??

My 2021 HR-V must have different software because it immediately revs to the power band and sounds like a school bus when accelerating. It makes sure you get all of the power it can offer.

I rarely ever floor the gas so that annoying problem you have with it won't be a problem for me. And I have short legs.

Dave, love your videos and all the links are useful to me...keep up the great work! As far as the HRV, I'm with you, I am tall at 6'5" and just don't fit in there. Wife has the 2018 CR-V which has much more room than the 2015 CR-V but just can't fathom what Honda is doing with the HR-V, the MPG isn't much better and the price also so why bother with the HR-V?

lower the seat if its bumping broski

AWD is lower to the ground on the HRV to encourage people to not take that thing off road...

HRV is actually a really solid and decently powerful vehicle

Helpful tip: If you want to accelerate quickly with a CRV, don’t just stomp on the gas. Instead, press smoothly and evenly on the gas pedal. You will feel when you’re getting maximum acceleration and you won’t over-rev the engine. Another tip: If you’ve got a CRV, you can get better fuel economy by feathering the gas pedal - it’s counter-intuitive and the opposite of what you do with a normal automatic transmission, but it works. My car has a little graphic that shows me the instantaneous fuel consumption, and I like to play a little game by taking my foot off the gas when I’m up to speed or coming to a red light and watching the fuel consumption rate drop right down. Try it yourself on your next test drive.

Could you please do a review of Goofy’s tow truck!

I managed to make it to 2:38 and realized the 1 thing that annoyed me, was this Video.

I have a 2018 H-RV EX and I love it! Great gas mileage. Lots of room. No issues with noise.

I really like mine. Road trips are a bliss and fuel economy is acceptable for me. Power is low but enough to get you around reliably with no drama. For me it was the hardest part to get used to since I was stepping down from a 3.5 Altima. Anyway if you're thinking about getting one of these you won't regret it.

From personal experience, the HRV is a great choice for a younger driver. They get all the features, reliability., MPG and safety but the engine doesn't allow them to get into trouble with racing and speeding. We live in MN and purchased the AWD version. We have had no issue with snow. We also drove the HRV on the highway for about 4 hours and it did great and had enough engine to pass without issue. The engine, once up to speed, quiets down considerably. With that said, IMO the HRV is more of a teen/first car or an empty-nester choice. Keep in mind, for a teen driver, that the under-powered engine means the insurance rates are lower than those for a more powerful vehicle. Lastly, the magic seats are phenomenal.

did you turn off the ECON button and put it on S mode??? you have to do that for she goes out like a missile!

In person, the HRV looks stylish and trendy. I purchased a Honda after viewing a Honda review from Everyman Driver back in January 2019.

So your big gripes are that you can't get from 0-60 in less than 9 seconds (5:07 to 5:16 on the video) in a very small car and that you can't drive with your knees instead of your hands? I'm 6'3" and couldn't get out of a 2012 Ford Focus rental without my knees turning the headlights on while brushing the dashboard, but I never tried to control the steering wheel with my knees! If those are your major gripes, the HRV will remain on my next-car list. My brother-in-law, a former auto mechanic, drag racer and big-engine lover, was impressed with the similar acceleration in my Honda Fit - it's enough acceleration to safely change lanes on busy interstates, etc.

Normal drivers don't floor the accelerator...

Thanks for the shoutout Dave! I love the space and magic seats of the HR-V but definitely understand your complaints! Sweet toys by the way

I'm not the biggest fan of CVTs but it's the norm for most Subcompact SUVs for fuel efficiency. But Honda CVTs are quite good. I do wish they'd get the turbo from the Civic but that might come in the next gen HRV. The HRV Sport with AWD is just below $25k which is a heck of a bargain. I've looked at other Subcompact SUVs and the competition just doesn't have the space or adjustability of the magic seats like the HRV. After all I would assume utility is what these vehicles are used for. Looked at the Crosstrek but they're a lot pricier.

Two things: One; Your annoyance with the HR-V's acceleration doesn't really have to do with the CVT itself, its the engine. The 1.8L (R18) engine is incredibly outdated and lacking power compared to the engines Honda makes today. Honda could easily fix this by using the 2.0L (K20) engine from the 10th gen Civic. This would most likely improve the fuel efficiency of the HR-V as well. Two; The ground clearance is reduced on the AWD modes due to undercarriage packaging. The HR-V is based on the Fit platform, which utilizes a torsion beam rear suspension to accommodate the Magic Seat system in the rear. The Magic Seats are why the fuel tank is located under the front seats. Due to lack of space under the rear of the car, adding the AWD differential means more is hanging down under the car's frame and reducing the ground clearance even further.

Not being able to burn rubber and drive like an assassin is not a negative in my book.

10:00 maybe AWD is heavier for the car ... I have a 2020 and also annoys me the slow acceleration specially coming from a V8 4.6 😁 but I love it 30 bucks regular at the pump compared to 65 premium 👍

"I'm holding the steering wheel with my knee".....Um.....you're not suppossed to DO that Dave!

Why not put the 2.0 from the Civic in this? Would give you similar fuel economy and 10-15 more HP and 5-10 Torque. More tolerable?

I own 2016 HRV and drive this thing everywhere. I drove from Ohio to NYC, 500 miles trip and it did just fine not a single complaint. Very reliable, comfortable and good gas mileage. Love my car. Only one wish - auto tail gate opener!

I purchased a 2016 HRV , no frills basic car , really like it...

The Touring trim should have the Civic's 1.5L turbo engine. Despite its CVT, the AWD option would make this best in its class.

The reason for shorter clearance on awd is the drive shaft going to the rear wheels...

I love my touring. Wish it had more horsepower, but nevertheless, it's a good car.

Ive never lifted my knee into my steering wheel in 31 years of driving. Also the acceleration seems ample. My prius is much quicker, however its not awd. So driving in the snow is a gamble.

You knew it was underpowered when you bought it. Kinda funny that you are actually driving that.

Hi, I’m 6’4” with long legs and just test drove the 2019 HRV. When I adjusted the seat and pumped the seat all the way down, I couldn’t get my knees to hit the shifters unless I adjusted the steering wheel almost all the way down. So I’m not sure about the issue in the video. I was very impressed with the roominess in this crossover. While this vehicle isn’t the fastest horse out of the gate, it’s certainly not the slowest. There is some CVT drone when you mash on it, but it’s not objectionable compared to other CVT equipped vehicles. For someone looking for a SUV but doesn’t want a larger one, this crossover is very practical and reasonably priced vehicle with exceptionally good safety features.

Hi ,could you do a comparison between hrv n civic, as the price are almost same with d same engine capacity

"Here's the thing that really annoys me. Now listen to this noise (while you shout over that noise explaining how much you hate the noise and narrate your annoyance)." LOL

HRVs are everywhere! Those 2 annoying things can be annoying. Safe car for your family though. Nice job with the video 👍

The Hrv would be perfect if they turbo it and redesign and also I had a 2018 Hrv

Have anyone with 2021? Its head is a little bit different from the another

I own a a 2021 HRV it's an amazing SUV fun to drive great mileage lots of room great for camping the CVT is not that big of a problem and I only have the two wheel drive front wheel drive model and I go through everything if you want to increase your horsepower and give yourself more usable power replace your stock air cleaner with a k and N performance reusable air cleaner you'll notice a huge difference and be even happy

We have a 2022 HRV LX CVT Front Wheel Drive. There are sure a lot of negative comments about the HRV's 141 hp. Horsepower has been steadily increasing in the US for decades. Yes, a small displacement turbo can provide high hp and mpg, but not at the exact same time. In the end its a choice made at the gas pedal. Our basic front wheel drive HRV is fun to drive and has plenty of power given its light weight. For those needing AWD the HRV does lose some acceleration and efficiency. Our HRV meets or exceeds EPA mileage ratings. With all the negative comments about CVT transmissions, this HRV's powertrain is nicely matched and similar to a car with traditional automatic transmission. Differences are only apparent under full acceleration or on high-speed steep uphill freeway grades. On long grades rather than hunting for the appropriate gear (since it has none), the engine rpm will rise and fall repeatably. If you enable Sport Mode using the gearshift on these long climb's the rpm will quickly steady itself. Great car for the money and for me all of the tech complaints are avoided by simply purchasing the less expensive LX trim.

When you put it on sport you have to use the shifter. Sports turns it into like a manual drive. They rpms go up cause you are not changing gears

The 2023 model is nicee I like those better but I couldn't wait I needed a car fast

I don't think this was intended to be an off road vehicle more like a on the paved or dirt road with snow.

I have the 2022 sport not with sunroof an all those other features but it is awd drive

I have had an HR-V for 3 years, never bumped the back of the steering wheel with my knee. If you do, you are probably a gigantic klutz.

Is it normal for this car that you can easily move the shift lever to any position even without pressing the lock????

Thank God Mazda hasn’t gone to a CVT. Still love my Mazda6. My girlfriends 2014 CRV has the same steering wheel button issue, and I HATE driving it.

They should use the 2.0 base engine from the civic who's with me?

The command is- don’t drive with your knees!

I just bought my first Honda. The HRV - EX I really like it. I got rid of my Jeep Renegade. I'll never buy Jeep again.

One of my female cousins has one of these, a 2017 I think. Even though she is a big fan of Hondas, she does not like her HR-V. I will bet the AWD version has LESS ground clearance because the AWD hardware hangs "lower". Rather than lift the AWD version, that will require different springs and shocks, Honda keeps costs in check by using the same suspension pieces for FWD and AWD.....I am guessing.

If you ever drive behind an AWD HR-V in traffic, you will see why less ground clearance. Rear diff hangs quiet low.

Why are Americans so loud ?

My 2016 HRV LX w/ manual transmission is consistently averaging 34 mpg (mixed driving). I think this is because I typically keep the rpms under 3k. I appreciate the non-touch A/C and radio controls on this basic model since I can access these functions w/out taking my eyes off the road. This car is simple, basic transportation, and so far it's been very reliable.

No you bother me ...lol ! Great car 🚗 May be this car was made for short people ...like me! Thanks dude !

Ahhhh, I remember those days of having toys in the car like that!

Good Review！I think the 1.8L engine with CVT is okay. Absolutely love the handling and the versatility!

Nice video as usual god bless your family,keep up the good work

How the hell did you manage to not leave any snow tracks behind the front wheels only at the very beginning of your video???

Huge like for Goofy riding in the car seat :) Huge DISLIKE for eliminating the traditional HANDBRAKE.

So many better choices at the price of HR-V...Shop around.

You are kidding..? Here in the UK my wife has the same model and it averages 48mpg... petrol, cvt gearbox...

Either put a 2.4L engine or add a turbo on this car.

I had this model chaising work for the railroad drove through a blizzard through the Colorado Rockies and this car was a champ highly recommend this brand

ED, learn to drive a cvt, it's not a gaspedal, it's a revpedal in a cvt. Don't floor it, hold the revs between 3-4k. 🤓 In Europe we are getting the 1.5l 182hp turbo in the HRV, but no AWD😰

Most of the cars n their features u dislike, I like. But still I enjoy yr vids.

How tall are you I am 6'3'' and own a 2019 HR-V and never hit the phone call button in all the time I own It . Is there a secret to hitting it LoL .I am A American living in Europe so my HR-V has a 1.5l with 130ps (almost the same as HP) with a 6 speed manual , 2WD (honda does not sell the 4WD in Europe) . The problem I have it hard to tie down the specs of a HR-V from country to country . the other problem is I am tall and My HR-V has the sunroof and my head touches it if I do not lower the seat . Yes 0 to 60 can be a little slow but it a Crossover made for user room not speed . Funny Part I drive my HR-V faster than most of you ever will (living in Europe were the speed limits are much higher than in the States . DID I say I am A American so dont try to BS me on how fast you drive .😘😘

Sales of the Honda HR-V are down almost double-digits from last year and currently there are 15,000 for sale on cars dot com. So what is the problem with Honda sub-compact SUV sales in one of the hottest segments?

Luv my 2019 hr-v, sport

Hi Dave, could you check to see if the warning message is still always on (by default) every time you turn on the truck? It is super annoying on my wife 2016 HR-V that you have to press OK every time you turn on the truck to use the system. There was no option to turn it off like in the Accord.

I think its that the AWD system has more components on the underbody which might impact ground clearance

Never had an issue with the second problem tall long leg problems I guess

What about top things you love about it tho? I went into the dealership today and found myself surprisingly smittened by it's driving position and compact size... yes, it sounds like it's gonna be under powered, but given it's price range and size as well as intended use purposes, I think it's a shortcoming that most people can live with. There is always, always room for more power... let's be honest. Also, what is your daily driver dave?

i was in love with this car before I realized I must be too tall for it. I have the 2017 ex and my legs are cramped. I'm only 5'6" :(

The AWD on the HR-V is not meant to take off road, it’s meant to get You up a slippery hill on a snowy day! I never floor My HR-V when accelerating. I hold the RPM’s at at a steady 2500 - 3000 rpm and the cvt is smooth quite and no dreadful rubber band effect! Never have had a problem keeping up with traffic. I get 32 mpg local driving and 37 mpg on the highway. It idles quieter than most other cars some much more expensive. I think it’s a great car and I love the cvt!

...with all due respect, it seems that this post was hired by Honda, since the only 2 "issues" weren't issues at all. How do I know? I have an HRV. Issue #1: Not even with a huge bump on my knee could I possibly touch the wheel buttons - they're inside the wheel.! Issue #2: I didn't understand. What about the CVT? I have a HRV, and I was reluctant to buy one, thought that the engine tech was old, and the design on the back , looked awful . Now that I drive one, the biggest issues I find, beyond the awful design: it lacks some horses, making you pray to over take on the highway. And the sound sucks. C'mon Honda, why installing toy speakers? But, the HRV is a car that the more you use it, the more you like it: it has a cavernous space , you can basically throw any thing at it. It has a composed ride for its class, comfortable, silent. And the CVT is a marvel, perfectly matched to the (old-tech) 1.8, making the car fun to drive and peppy in the city (but again, lacking on the highway ramp). And the best nice surprise : my average gas mileage: 30 mpg 80% city 20% highway.

Hi I love your intro, great video. "It's going back!" I want to buy a shirt & bumper stickers .

they claim this is a replacement for the Honda Element. none of these vehicles have the "usable" cubic feet. you can give me a bunch of alternatives but only these convert to mail vehicles is the element and HR-V. wish all these car manufacturers stop rounding off their vehicles and trying to reinvent the wheel. I want to base model with the only option being air conditioning and a phone jack instead of a stereo. weight is how you get better gas mileage not toys.

I knew you were gonna say your number one annoyance with the hrv was the cvt.

I don't really understand the things that annoy you. Most cars today have cvts for example Subaru, which are incredibly slow and because they are cvts the engine revs near Red Line and then just stays there when accelerating. This isn't any different from any other car with a CVT. If you want a fast car don't buy one with a CVT. Also the Honda CVT is a lot more reliable than any Subaru.

My 2016's Back seat very uncomfortable after an hour . All warning lights came on stealership couldn't find the problem they claim the abs brake module was causing all the lights to go on they couldn't fixed so I drove it like that Trouble free for 180.000 miles until new transmission was needed always keep it well maintained don't know what happened 🤔

As long as you don't have to carry a good pair of hushpuppies in trunk

You're annoyed with the car because you want to be able to "hold the steering wheel with my knee" and it throws off your pod cast...that's hilarious. Why not just drive with BOTH HANDS like you're SUPPOSE TO!!

I don’t really get why people buy these types of vehicles and then complain that they don’t accelerate like a sports car. Yeah, my CRV could have a bit more acceleration but in no way was I expecting it to accelerate like crazy from a stop.

We test drove the CVT version only in NL it's a 1.5 130hp. We went for the manual version because we also disliked the sound and the lack of accelleration. It still isn't a fast car especially compared to the turbo civics but it's all flat here so we'll cope. Touching the voice command buttons never happens in real live though or you must have abnormal long legs and have set the seat very much to the front

Had 2 Nissans with a CVT and now 2919 Honda HRV. Absolutely zero issues with the CVT on all 3 vehicles. For it is suppose.ti be the HRV is a perfect car.

I can't believe these idiots got rid of the manual transmission, that the only thing that makes this vehicle remotely appealing.

That must suck having long knees. Lol

It seems like a Fit but, boring. Although it would be cool the AWD with that engine and manual in a Fit.

Does the rear and front bumper have sensors? Asking for my mom who can't drive cautiously lol

I have the 2016 ex manual transmission hrv. I have no problems with speed. Drop it a gear or two and it gets up and goes just fine. It also out performed many of my friends awd vehicles in ice and snow. Everyone but me was getting stuck. I love this car.

wanna see more of the cars and less of you. you're not doing a selfie

Your Number 1 bother of acceleration is only a big deal if you're going racing or want hard acceleration to feel the real hp but seriously how often do you really do that, obviously not for aggressive drivers. Number 2 issue is non issue for the owners I know. Still faster and roomy than Toyota Chr.

Can you fit two adults in the back seat with that child seat there? I have a similar one and need to fit 4 adults and a child.