How Sporty Is the 2025 Honda HR-V Sport?

Even in the ultra-crowded subcompact SUV market, Honda's smallest and most reasonably priced SUV remains a serviceable entry-level choice we can readily suggest even though we have never been enthralled with the HR-V.The HR-V is sluggish, but it's also really useful. Among competitors are the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Subaru Crosstrek, and Toyota Corolla Cross.Though all trim levels see a little price increase, Honda has not made any notable changes to the 2025 HR-V. With more matured appearance, enhanced interior tech, standard Honda Sensing driver assistance, and a more powerful engine, the carmaker unveiled the current-generation model for 2023. Given the HR-V shares a platform with the present Civic, we expect a midcycle revamp for the 2026 model year and a hybrid HR-V vehicle is perhaps on route.Honda's most approachable crossover uses some of the Civic platform's best features to a small SUV form factor. Buyers get the same elegant interior design with a honeycomb mesh pattern spanning the cabin's breadth. The user experience benefits from tactile buttons and knobs over doing everything on a touchscreen. Generous safety and entertainment elements help the HR-V avoid feeling cheap.Since introduction, the sole engine choice available for the current HR-V has been a 158-hp 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder running under a CVT transmission. Though all trim levels are equipped with AWD, more reasonably priced models are sold with FWD. Fuel efficiency runs at 25/30 mpg AWD and 26/32 mpg city/highway with FWD. Given the HR-V's slow 9.8-second 0–60-mph run, those figures are just average for the sector, which is disappointing.Along with a 7.0-inch touchscreen for infotainment, Lite and Sport models feature a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster display. EX-L customers get a 9.0-inch touch display with wireless smartphone mirroring, even though Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. Instead of the six-speaker arrangement on other trims, that top trim also features eight-speaker audio and a wireless charging pad.