2025 Honda HR-V 1.5L S Review

In Malaysia's B-Segment SUV market, practical and reliable family cars remain the core choice for consumers. The 2025 Honda HR-V 1.5L S was officially launched on July 17, priced at RM115,900, focusing on flexible space and basic smart features, targeting family users who value a balanced performance. In this test drive, we focused on its practicality for daily commuting, space utilization efficiency, and whether its powertrain meets household needs, to see if it can hold its ground in the highly competitive segment.

From the exterior, the 2025 HR-V 1.5L S continues the family design language, with an overall style leaning toward simplicity and robustness. The front features a slim black grille, with LED headlights on both sides connected to the grille, extending the visual width; the lower bumper incorporates a trapezoidal air intake, paired with a silver skid plate to add a touch of SUV ruggedness. The side profile features smooth lines, with the waistline running from the front to the rear, complemented by 18-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels with harmonious proportions. At the rear, the LED taillights adopt a horizontal layout, echoing the front design; the rear bumper has a solid shape, equipped with rear fog lights and a reversing camera, offering a high level of recognition.

Inside the car, the interior predominantly uses black as the main color, with the center console covered in soft-touch materials and decorated with silver accents, providing a texture that matches its price range. The center console layout is clear, with an 8-inch touchscreen in the center supporting basic multimedia functions; below, physical buttons and knobs are retained, making it convenient to operate the air-conditioning system while driving. The instrument panel features a 4.2-inch TFT LCD display, showing key information like speed, RPM, and fuel consumption, which are easy to read. In terms of equipment, the car comes standard with keyless entry, push-button start, automatic air conditioning, and rear air vents. The front seats support manual adjustment, and the multifunction steering wheel includes audio controls and ACC cruise control buttons, ensuring adequate convenience for daily use.

Space performance has always been a traditional advantage of the HR-V. The 2025 1.5L S has dimensions of 4347mm×1790mm×1591mm and a 2610mm wheelbase, offering ample legroom in the rear. A 175cm passenger can sit in the back with two fists of knee room remaining. The rear seats support a 60:40 split-fold design and angle adjustment, combined with the ULTRA Seat multi-function configuration to achieve a variety of space arrangements - folding down increases the cargo volume to 1492L, enough to accommodate a stroller or large luggage. In terms of storage, the front door panels feature storage slots for two water bottles, the area under the center console offers storage compartments, and the rear center armrest comes with cup holders, meeting the storage needs of family trips.

In terms of power, the car is equipped with a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine with a maximum power of 89kW (121PS) and a maximum torque of 145N·m, paired with a CVT transmission. During daily driving, the initial acceleration is smooth, making it suitable for city traffic; acceleration response below 60km/h is prompt, but overtaking requires pressing the accelerator harder, with the engine revving above 4000rpm to deliver noticeable power output. The driving modes only include a standard mode, and the overall tuning leans toward comfort, making it suitable for household commuting.

The handling and chassis performance align with its family-oriented positioning. The steering wheel has moderate turning resistance and minimal play, with clear directional accuracy when cornering. The front MacPherson strut and rear torsion beam suspension combination filters out minor road bumps well, and the vehicle shows minimal body vibration when crossing speed bumps. The chassis stability is good at high speeds, with no noticeable floating even at 120km/h. As for fuel consumption, the measured fuel consumption under mixed road conditions is approximately 6.2L/100km, slightly higher than the official figure of 5.9L, but still at an excellent level compared to competitors in the same class.

In terms of driving and riding comfort, the sound insulation performance is average, with minimal tire and wind noise below 80km/h, while wind noise starts to penetrate into the cabin at speeds exceeding 100km/h. The seats are made of fabric material and offer good support, making long periods of sitting less tiring. The rear air conditioning vents ensure the comfort of rear passengers, and features like automatic headlights and rain-sensing wipers enhance everyday convenience.

In terms of safety features, the car comes standard with 4 airbags, ABS, electronic stability control, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and ACC adaptive cruise control. The comprehensive basic safety configurations meet the safety needs of family users.

Overall, the 2025 Honda HR-V 1.5L S’s core advantages lie in its space flexibility, practical features, and reliable fuel economy. Compared to similar competitors like the Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8G (around 120,000 MYR), the HR-V is priced lower and offers better space performance. Compared to the Proton X50 1.5T Standard (around 85,000 MYR), the HR-V has higher brand recognition and better fuel efficiency.

This vehicle is suitable for family users who prioritize space practicality, fuel economy, and brand reliability, especially for those who need to frequently transport goods or travel with multiple passengers. Its balanced performance meets the needs of various scenarios such as daily commuting and family outings, making it a highly recommended choice as a family SUV.