Click to enlarge.
The Honda HR-V,* America’s most popular SUV with first-time and Gen-Z buyers, is now arriving at Honda dealerships with a starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $26,2002 for the HR-V LX (excluding $1395 destination charge). HR-V is also the best-selling sub-compact SUV with Hispanic buyers. Every HR-V is offered with Real Time All-Wheel Drive (AWD) with Intelligent Control™ starting at $27,700 [Footnote 2].** The 2026 HR-V is available in three trim levels: LX, Sport and EX-L. As with the latest Toyota RAV4, the complexity of the trim levels with various packages and options present a daunting task to prospective buyers. This from Honda once famously known for a radio and television ad campaign, circa 1979-1984 with “The we make it simple,” tagline? (Read AutoInformed.com on: Toyota Debuts 2026 RAV4 Compact SUV)
“As our gateway SUV, the Honda HR-V continues to bring in a new generation of customers to our brand,” said Jessika Laudermilk, assistant vice president of Honda National Auto Sales. “Now with even sportier styling and more standard tech, the award-winning second-generation HR-V will further expand its incredible success with young and multicultural customers.”
Click to enlarge.
The powertrain is an inline 2-liter 16-Valve DOHC i-VTEC® 4-cylinder engine rated at 158 horsepower @ 6500 rpm and 138 lb. ft. torque @ 4200. It runs on Regular 91 octane unleaded fuel. (California emissions: LEV4-SULEV30) It’s linked to a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
New on the 2026 HR-V
- Refreshed exterior and interior styling details.
- Larger 9-inch HD touchscreen (+2-inches) (standard).
- Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto™ compatibility (standard).
- Wireless phone charger (standard).
- Pewter Gray 17-inch alloy wheels (LX).
- Berlina Black 18-inch alloy wheels (Sport).
- Larger machine-finished 18-inch wheels (+1-inch) (EX-L).
- Solar Reflection Metallic and striking Boost Blue Pearl paint colors.
- Privacy rear glass now standard on all trims.
- Gloss black tailgate badging (Sport).
- Silver steering wheel spokes (EX-L).
- Dynamic climate control knob lighting (EX-L).
- Front footwell lighting (EX-L).
Technical Tidbits
- The 2026 HR-V has new wheel designs on all three trims: HR-V LX now has Pewter Gray 17-inch alloy wheels and HR-V Sport has newly styled 18-inch Berlina Black alloys. The range-topping HR-V EX-L has new machine-finished 18-inch alloy wheels (up from 17-inch).
- LX adds privacy rear glass.
- Sport now comes with gloss black tailgate badging.
- Two all-new exterior paint colors are available: sophisticated Solar Reflection Metallic (LX and EX-L), and Boost Blue Pearl—exclusive to the popular HR-V Sport model.
- Inside, HR-V LX and Sport gain a larger and easy-to-use 9-inch color touchscreen (+2-inches) with a faster processor for claimed lag-free performance, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto™ compatibility, and a wireless phone charger – all standard. USB-C ports are placed “throughout the cabin.”
- The interior of HR-V has the top EX-L trim with silver steering wheel spokes, dynamic climate control knob lighting (red, blue and white) and new front footwell lighting.
Safety
- HR-V has active and passive safety technology that is standard equipment. This includes the Honda Sensing® suite of safety and driver assistance technologies, the latest version of the Honda proprietary Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure. Next-generation airbag technology designed to cradle the head and offer enhanced protection – all standard on all HR-V models.
*AutoInformed on
**Inevitable HR-V Footnotes
- Source: Strategic Vision New Vehicle Experience Study 2024.
- Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) excluding tax, license, registration, premium paint, $1395 destination charge and options. Dealer prices may vary.
- MSRP plus $1395 destination charge, excluding tax, license, registration, premium paint and options. Dealer prices may vary.
- Based on 2026 EPA mileage ratings; use for comparison purposes only; your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions, and other factors.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
First Look – 2026 Honda HR-V Sub-Compact SUV
Click to enlarge.
The Honda HR-V,* America’s most popular SUV with first-time and Gen-Z buyers, is now arriving at Honda dealerships with a starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $26,2002 for the HR-V LX (excluding $1395 destination charge). HR-V is also the best-selling sub-compact SUV with Hispanic buyers. Every HR-V is offered with Real Time All-Wheel Drive (AWD) with Intelligent Control™ starting at $27,700 [Footnote 2].** The 2026 HR-V is available in three trim levels: LX, Sport and EX-L. As with the latest Toyota RAV4, the complexity of the trim levels with various packages and options present a daunting task to prospective buyers. This from Honda once famously known for a radio and television ad campaign, circa 1979-1984 with “The we make it simple,” tagline? (Read AutoInformed.com on: Toyota Debuts 2026 RAV4 Compact SUV)
“As our gateway SUV, the Honda HR-V continues to bring in a new generation of customers to our brand,” said Jessika Laudermilk, assistant vice president of Honda National Auto Sales. “Now with even sportier styling and more standard tech, the award-winning second-generation HR-V will further expand its incredible success with young and multicultural customers.”
Click to enlarge.
The powertrain is an inline 2-liter 16-Valve DOHC i-VTEC® 4-cylinder engine rated at 158 horsepower @ 6500 rpm and 138 lb. ft. torque @ 4200. It runs on Regular 91 octane unleaded fuel. (California emissions: LEV4-SULEV30) It’s linked to a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
New on the 2026 HR-V
Technical Tidbits
Safety
*AutoInformed on
**Inevitable HR-V Footnotes
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.