Honda Reviews

Peter Barnwell road test and reviews the Honda Accord Sport Hybrid with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

When the Honda CR-V was first sold in Australia in October 1997 it was a considered to be a genuine 4WD, albeit one intended only for mild conditions. That was almost 20 years ago and the SUV situation has changed markedly in the meantime. Today so-called small SUVs are really station wagons, are frequently driven by

The Jazz arrived here in 2002 and quickly won fans with its easy driving nature and roomy and flexible cabin.

Honda's mini-SUV revives a badge and relies on a winning — but cheaper — formula.More than 1000 people voted for the Honda HR-V last month.Their first preference in showrooms reflects both the success of the mini-SUV class and the acceptance of the born-again Honda tiddler.I say born again because there was an HR-V from 1999 to 2006, although it would not have remotely qualified for The Tick. It was small outside, even tighter inside, underpowered and underdone.This new one is a fresh idea, based on the all-new Jazz, and aimed at filling the gap that's emerged below today's CR-V.So it's a youthful newcomer that is virtually the same size as the original CR-V, which was introduced as a high-riding Civic in the early days of the SUV takeover. It's aimed straight at first-time new-car buyers, people in their 20s, and older drivers who are downsizing to something that treads lightly and is easy on their hips and legs.My first impression is not greatThe starting price is $24,990, it comes with a 1.8-litre petrol engine, the cabin is quite roomy, it has good boot space for the class and it has that "H" badge that has won so many people for so many years.It drives well enough, has some classy stuff including a seven-inch multimedia touchscreen, and each of the four models gets a standard reversing camera.My time with the HR-V comes as I'm cycling through the newest mini-SUV arrivals, including the Renault Captur and Mazda CX-3. So it comes into crisp focus from the get-go.And my first impression is not great. Why? Because of the cover over the luggage space.I find a flimsy piece of fabric where other companies have some sort of cardboard and it rings alarm bells. This is cost cutting of the worst kind and the cover is not even strong enough to support a single bag of groceries.This discovery sends me looking for more and I discover cheap plastics, seat covering that looks flimsy and poorly stitched, and seat padding that is less than supportive.That's all fine on a Jazz from $14,990, but the HR-V costs another $10,000 — at least — and it's up against classy rivals led by the CX-3.There is plenty of room in the cabin, and it's quiet and relaxed at freeway speedsBut I park the early prejudice and find I like the way the HR-V drives. It's nicely spritely despite a CVT auto that never wants to work with me, there is plenty of room in the cabin, and it's quiet and relaxed at freeway speeds.The ride is a bit bouncy but the fuel economy is good on standard fuel.The warranty is much improved from Honda's earlier package, and there is a capped-price service package for five years, but the yearly service interval at 10,000km does not match some rivals. We're tipping good resale figures from Glass's Guide.On the safety front, I like the camera, the parking radar and the rest of the basic package, so I'm fairly certain it will hit Honda's five-star ANCAP target. But I am driving a heavily loaded VTi-L and that means a bottom line of, gulp, $32,990.The multimedia system has a huge display, and the basic boot space of 437L is among the best in class. Honda says folding the back seats opens up 1032L, sufficiently open to carry a pair of mountain bikes.That's good news for weekend escapers and also young families who have to haul prams and the rest of a baby-support package.Yet, despite all the good things about the HR-V, I keep coming back to its rivals and asking which one I would choose. Would I prefer the funky looks and the cabin comfort of the Renault Captur, or would I go for the CX-3 that sets the class benchmark?Or would I go instead for a Nissan Qashqai or a Subaru XV (that one is a no) or any of the other mini-SUVs?The HR-V is a lineball callYou see, the HR-V is good, but it's not great. I like the drive, apart from the annoying CVT, and I really like the space. But I can't get past the cheapoid work around the cabin and the feeling that Honda could and should have done better on a car that costs $10,000 more than the one on which it is based.

Graham Smith road tests and reviews the used 2009-2013Honda Odyssey.

Derek Ogden road tests and reviews the Honda HR-V with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Kia Grand Carnival and Hyundai iMax go head-to-head in this comparative review.

Jazz is the smallest Honda model sold in Australia. Launched here in October 2002, the latest edition Jazz was introduced in 2014. It has caused quite a few of the older models to be traded in, so there may be some bargains as dealers work to shift the trade-ins from their yards.To keep the price down the Jazz is built in Thailand. We have visited Honda's Thai plant and can attest to Honda's emphasis on quality control.Honda Jazz has a high roofline to maximise interior space in what is a relatively small bodyHandling of the little Honda is good if roads are reasonably smooth, but it can be bounced about on bumps. On surfaces that suit it, the Jazz turns in easily, is happy to change direction in corners and is generally well set up for everyday driving. Enthusiastic drivers may find it a little lacking in steering precision.Honda Jazz has a high roofline to maximise interior space in what is a relatively small body. It can seat four adults without too much compromising on legroom. In Australia it's more likely to carry one or two people, but we've spoken to families with young children, who say their Jazz meets their needs and are more than impressed with the car.The Jazz has one of the best folding rear seat designs of them allThere's reasonably easy entry to the back seat, but some may find the rear door opening is a little tight in the original 2002 model. Those sold from the new model of August 2008 are much better.The Jazz, indeed many Hondas, has one of the best folding rear seat designs of them all. The seat slides backwards and forwards to let you juggle between people and/or luggage. Even better, it can be folded in a few seconds to create a very large luggage area. The front passenger seat backrest can be reclined all the way down to let you carry long loads extending from the dashboard to the rear window.August 2008 saw the introduction of the second generation Jazz. It kept the same general styling theme as the gen-one, but is larger overall and sits on a longer wheelbase. The result is significantly more room inside, particularly in the rear area of the cabin. Boot space increased and the 60/40 split rear seats can be folded flat without having to slide the front seats a few notches forward as in the original model.At the same time the body was more rigid to improve NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) entry into the cabin.Honda Jazz comes with a 1.3- or 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine. Though the engine sizes remained in the second-generation Jazz, they were an all-new design. Power and torque were increased, yet fuel consumption and exhaust emissions came down. The torque graph was stretched to give more grunt at the bottom end of the rev range.The gen-one Jazz has a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The 1.5 CVT comes with a sports mode offering seven preset gear ratios, it's controlled though steering wheel paddles. The 1.3-litre engine runs purely as an automatic.Controversially, Honda decided to go back to a conventional torque-converter automatic transmission in the gen-two Jazz, saying some drivers didn't like the characteristics of the CVT.While the Jazz is reasonably easy for the amateur mechanic to work on, there is some under-bonnet crowding that's inevitable on a car of this size. Keep a workshop manual at your side and don't attempt any safety related work unless you're qualified to do so.If you want a Honda Jazz with a larger boot you can choose the Honda CityThe Honda Australia dealer network is widespread in the heavily populated areas, but isn't all that established in remote areas. We seldom hear of any real hassles with getting hold of spare parts, but if you are concerned about this it may be smart to make local enquiries before falling too deeply in love with one of these cute little models. Spare parts prices for Hondas are more reasonable now than they have been in the past.Insurance costs for Honda Jazz generally sit in the mid-range of the field. There doesn't appear to be any real differentiation between companies on premium charges. It's always wise to spend some time shopping around for the best deal, though.If you want a Honda Jazz with a larger boot you can choose the Honda City, a Jazz with a four-door sedan rear end.Check that the engine starts easily and responds quickly and positively to the throttle, even when it's completely cold.A continuously variable transmission should react quickly to changes in throttle position and road conditions. As a CVT sounds and feels different to conventional automatics, have an expert drive it if you are not confident it's working correctly.Make sure the brakes stop the car without any pulling to one side and that no one wheel locks while the others are still turning.It makes a lot of sense to get a professional inspection after carrying out initial checksLook over the interior to make sure it hasn't suffered at the hands of uncaring owners, especially bored young kids.Bodywork should be undamaged and free from rust. Corrosion is not common unless the car has been poorly repaired after a smash.As always, it makes a lot of sense to get a professional inspection after carrying out initial checks to the best of your ability.

Malcolm Flynn road tests and reviews the new Honda HR-V VTi, VTi-S and VTi-L, with specs, fuel economy and verdict.

Joshua Dowling road tests and reviews the 2015 Honda HR-V at its Australian launch.