Experienced by Kimatni D. Rawlins
It was a celebratory week in Maryland for this Fit Father since my “1st born” daughter turned 19 years old. That meant an array preparations and errands to run to various stores from enlarged balloons to picking up the catered food. No problem since I possessed the keys to a Nordic Forest Pearl themed 2023 Honda HR-V AWD EX-L. The sporty, urban crossover is the gateway vehicle into the Honda SUV family and slated for young buyers transitioning into a life of added responsibility, but still covet good driving dynamics and new tech features.
Powered by a competent 158-horsepower 2-liter 4-cylinder engine, I zipped around town with efficiency picking up supplies for the festivities. I even had a bit of fun around winding Maryland roads with the all-wheel-drive Honda which connects to 215/60 R17 all-season Hankook tires for road confidence while electric power steering provided nimble movements. A “drive mode” button assists with Snow Mode for wintry environments and Hill Start Assist will help in hilly cities like San Francisco. Expect 25 city and 30 highway miles-per-gallon from the little guy.
The 2nd-generation HR-V will attract young families and couples with its longer and wider body and more stimulating ride quality than the model it replaces. In fact, this new HR-V is so far ahead of the earlier HR-V in styling, that it is hard comprehending that the two share the same name. The interior is comfortable and freshly updated with leather-trimmed seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, 8-way powered driver’s seat, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate controls, and a respectable 8-speaker audio system. When heading out on drives, I wirelessly connected my iPhone to Apple CarPlay for mapping through the 9″ color touchscreen that also features a Multi-View Rear Camera. Wireless phone charging and a few USB ports are also at your disposal. However, I’m not sure why Honda didn’t shift over to USB-c yet with this 2023 model. The second-row seats laid flat for simple storage of my hybrid Specialized Sirius road bike to burn off a few calories.
Design-wise, the 2023 Honda HR-V fits with today’s modern crossover look. A bit edgy but simple and unique in its own way. Black trim surrounds the vehicle and add-ons consist of a tailgate spoiler, heated power side-view mirrors, LED headlights and taillights, rear exhaust covering, and a larger honeycomb-style grille. But I’m not a fan of the new quirky front fascia. Available in LX, Sport, and EX-L grades, my EX-L started at $28,950 and featured a bevy of safety from Honda Sensing. This technology suite consists of Traffic Jam Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Road Departure Mitigation, and Collision Mitigation Braking System.
But, of course, it’s that time of the year for your last family vacation or get-a-away before school hits. So why not advance the journey in your new 2023 HR-V.
