2026 Honda HR-V: Not Much Change, For a Change

Motor Trend

22-05-2025

Has it been three years already? Yes, we suppose it has. Honda launched the latest iteration of the HR-V subcompact SUV for the 2023 model year, and now it's time for the usual mid-cycle model refresh. Except we're starting to wonder if Honda isn't getting as cynical about this as we are, because the updates are so minor as to be practically nonexistent. And you know what, that's just fine. Granted, we got nothing on our wish list—in particular, more power!—but the HR-V is a fine little vehicle otherwise, currently ranked third among subcompact SUVs in MT's Ultimate Car Rankings. Why change for the sake of change?
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What's New with the 2026 Honda HR-V
Honda's press release touts 'refreshed exterior and interior styling details,' but perhaps that was written by AI, because the only differences seem to be new wheels for all three trims (including a change from 17-inch rims to 18s for the EX-L; previously on the Sport had 18s) and a gloss-black badge for the Sport model. There are also two new colors, Solar Reflection Metallic (read: gray) and a rather fetching shade of blue called Boost Blue Pearl. Tinted glass is now standard on the LX, whereas it previously only came with Sport and EX-L models.
Inside, all HR-Vs now get the 9.0-inch center touch-screen that was used to be the exclusive domain of the EX-L; in the past, entry-level LX and mid-level Sport versions got a 7.0-inch screen (dark days, those, how did we live?). Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a wireless charging pad, also formerly reserved for the EX-L, are now standard in all HR-Vs.
So what's left to differentiate the EX-L? Along with its leather interior, that model now gets silver spokes on the steering wheel, illuminated footwells, and 'dynamic climate control lighting,' which means that the dials change color when you dial in different temperatures. Nice.
A Little More HR-V, A Little More Money
And, of course, prices are up—by $1,145 for the LX model, $845 for the Sport, and $895 for the EX-L. The range now starts at $27,595 (including destination fee) for a front-wheel-drive HR-V LX, running up to $32,945 for an all-wheel-drive EX-L.
Truth be told, it's kind of nice to see a good SUV left alone. Granted, we don't know if there's anything here to propel the HR-V past the Hyundai Kona and Subaru Crosstrek in our Ultimate Car Rankings. We'd love it to have more power—it's ridiculously slow—and better fuel economy, and we wish it were quieter. In other words, we fully expected Honda to shove the same excellent hybrid powertrain it added to the related Civic sedan and hatchback last year, which has both plenty of power and better efficiency than the HR-V's pokey 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine—but alas, Honda did not. But the HR-V has found a strong buyer base, and Honda was right not to change it too much. See, a little cynicism is never a bad thing.