Families come in all shapes and sizes, and thankfully so do our winners. For families on the smaller side or those looking for an inexpensive crossover SUV, the 2017 Honda HR-V can’t be beat. Practical, reliable, efficient and a stellar value, Honda’s subcompact crossover SUV is a big draw for young families.
Outsized aspirations
The Honda HR-V is the smallest among our picks for best family cars, but don’t let its exterior size fool you. Like Honda’s similarly versatile Fit hatchback, the HR-V crossover has far more interior space than you may think.
With nearly 60 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, the 2017 HR-V easily boasts more room than its rivals. Beyond these figures is the way the HR-V uses them. The rear seats flip and fold to accommodate gear of all shapes and sizes. The front passenger seat can will even recline all the way to make room for long items.
In the upright position, the rear seats exceeded our expectations when it came to installing child seats. There’s plenty of space for booster seats, which this little SUV handled better than rear-facing seats. We also give the HR-V high marks for lower and upper anchor access.
Value player
With a starting price just over $20,000, the 2017 Honda HR-V is the least expensive pick among this year’s best family cars. Even a top-line model loaded with leather interior, navigation and all-wheel drive comes in at just over $27,000.
What’s more, the Honda HR-V is this year’s Best Resale Value Award winner in the subcompact SUV category, meaning more money back in your pocket when it comes time to sell.
Fuel efficiency and creature comforts
For all its economical ways and small size, the HR-V feels substantial in both its road manners and amenities. The HR-V’s standard 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine, which is linked to either a crisp-shifting 6-speed manual transmission or refined continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), provides adequate power for around-town duties and moderate-distance highway cruising. What’s more, it’s good for up to 34 mpg — the kind of fuel economy number that will further help the household budget. For families in cold-weather states or those who enjoy a trip up the mountain for a day of sledding and snowmen, all-wheel drive is available on models equipped with the CVT automatic transmission.
The HR-V hides a few more tricks up its sleeve that make for satisfying ownership. We really like the Automatic Brake Hold, a standard feature that automatically holds the brake at stop lights so you don’t need to keep your foot on the pedal. Other nifty features include the optional LaneWatch system that provides a live camera image of the right-side blind spot, and the heated leather seats on EX-L models.
No matter which 2017 HR-V model you choose, you can know you’re getting a reliable, efficient and easy-to-drive crossover with an interior that accommodates young families and has the flexibility to adapt to the task at hand.
More 2017 Honda HR-V
To learn more about the 2017 Honda HR-V, you can read our full review. If you’re ready to take the next step, build and price your own HR-V to unlock its Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own and more.
