Though it has only been available in the U.S. since 2015, the HR-V has proven to be a very durable compact SUV with numerous examples already pushing over 100,000 miles with plenty of life left.
Key Points
- The Honda HR-V is based on the Honda Fit, which means despite its tall ride height and SUV body, it’s a basic economy car underneath, and very affordable to service.
- Though the HR-V has been available in the U.S. for less than a decade, there are plenty of examples on the used market pushing 100,000 miles or more.
- If you opt for an HR-V with the CVT, make sure to keep a close eye on the transmission fluid level. Honda recommends replacing the fluid every 25,000 miles if you regularly drive in hot or mountainous areas.
- If you don’t want to worry about changing the transmission fluid regularly and don’t mind shifting for yourself, a six-speed manual was standard on the HR-V from 2016 to 2018.
- There are a few recalls for the Honda HR-V. The most concerning recalls are for fuel pump failures and poor coating on the rear brake calipers.
Honda’s HR-V should Easily Reach 100,000 Miles and More with Regular Service
The Honda HR-V was the automaker’s entry into the compact SUV market when it hit North American showrooms in 2015.
The HR-V shared a platform with the Honda Fit, a relatively simple car with a strut front suspension, torsion beam in the rear, and an economical 1.8L inline-four engine.
Today, a nationwide search of used HR-Vs online shows no shortage of examples with over 100,000 miles on the odometer, and several with over 150,000 miles. This means many owners put far more than the national average of 14,000 miles per year on their HR-Vs.
Fortunately, the cost to maintain that mileage and vehicle longevity is comparable to other subcompacts, such as the Toyota Yaris and Nissan Versa.
According to Repair Pal, the HR-V costs $301 annually to maintain. This is cheaper than the Fit, which costs an average of $390 annually to service.
Maintain a Long HR-V Lifespan by Staying On Top of Servicing SUV’s CVT, including Changing Transmission Fluid Every 25,000 Miles if Driving in Mountainous Areas
One of the most important details of keeping any continuously variable transmission (CVT) working is regular fluid checks and changes. The automatic transmission on all HR-Vs is a CVT, so it’s important to keep up with the service or know the history if you’re buying a used example.
Honda does not have a suggested maintenance interval for the CVT listed in the owner’s manual.
Instead, they direct owners to follow the prompts on the HR-V’s Maintenance Minder, which monitors the condition and mileage of its fluids and other components.
However, Honda says that if you regularly drive in mountainous areas or in conditions that result in higher-than-normal transmission temperatures, you should have the transmission fluid changed every 25,000 miles.
If servicing that CVT seems like a pain and you don’t mind rowing your own gears, a six-speed manual was the standard transmission on the HR-V from 2016 to 2018.
Honda HR-V’s Minimal Recalls Indicate a Longer Lifespan than its Competitors in the Compact SUV Market
Though the Honda HR-V has proven to be relatively trouble-free, there have been a few recalls for various issues.
The 2018 and 2019 HR-Vs had recalls for premature fuel pump failures. According to the NHTSA, the low-pressure pump in the fuel tank was the culprit.
If the pump fails, the engine may not start or potentially shut off while driving. Any affected HR-Vs are eligible to have the pumps replaced by Honda.
Another important recall that affected 2016, 2018, and 2019 HR-Vs was for poor coating on the rear brake caliper pistons. The issue could potentially cause gas pockets to form and reduce overall brake performance.
To correct the issue, Honda offered to repair any affected vehicles by bleeding the brake system free of charge.
While these are important issues to be addressed, they are well documented and should already be taken care of before you take delivery of any used HR-V. The better news is that 2020 and newer models do not currently have any open recalls and very few owner complaints.
Honda HR-V is a Great Pick for a Reliable and Affordable Compact SUV, Offering Mostly Trouble-free Experience
Small SUVs have become very popular in the U.S. thanks to their blend of compact car affordability and SUV practicality.
With their simple but robust design, many of them are capable of easily hitting the 100,000-mile mark and more with regular service.
The modern HR-V is no exception and should last you a decade or more thanks to its durable powertrain, solid chassis, and typical Honda build quality.
You can’t really go wrong with any year of HR-V, but the 2020 and newer models seem to be the best of the bunch, while 2017 seems to be the sweet spot for the earlier models.
Photos: Honda
