JOHN MURDOCH'S DRIVE TIME: We get behind the wheel of the latest Honda HR-V and turn the spotlight on special event planned for Knockhill Racing Circuit
The HR-V has been with us for more than two decades and this current generation is only available as a fuel efficient hybrid.
In this instalment of John Murdoch's Drive Time, John gets behind the wheel of the latest Honda HR-V and admires its build quality and smart design, and turns the spotlight on a special event planned for Knockhill Racing Circuit.
Now in its third-generation the Honda HR-V is a compact SUV that nicely combines practicality, efficiency, technology and great build quality in an attractive stylish package.
The HR-V has been with us for more than two decades and this current generation is only available as a fuel efficient hybrid.
It may have more style than before but it will keep its loyal following because it is still reliable, safe and priced to compete in a crowded sector.
Built for comfort rather than sporty performance the HR-V takes 10.7 seconds to reach 62mph and tops out at 106mph - but that will be good enough for most of its buyers.
The boxy looks have been dumped and replaced by a coupe-like design thanks to a sloping roofline, hidden door handles, nice light clusters, smart alloys and black wheel arches.
The interior has a premium feel with upmarket upholstery, a good sound system, full smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a nine-inch dash-mounted infotainment touchscreen with voice control and many other features.
The HR-V is powered by a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine paired to two electric motors to deliver a combined 131ps and 253Nm or torque.
The battery pack has also been enlarged to increase the EV-only driving range. It is the same set-up introduced in the Jazz model.
The HR-V cruises nicely at motorway speeds and is quiet and responsive.
On country roads it provides lots of grip and is agile. In town it is a good companion because of its light steering and parking aids and cameras.
There are three drive modes called Eco, Normal and Sport that alter the characteristics of the car's performance and single-pedal driving is possible when in the highest setting for regenerative braking.
The high driving position means there is excellent all-round visibility.
Honda claims a combined 52.3mpg and this is easily achievable - on some longer runs I was clocking almost 60 mpg without really trying.
The CVT transmission can be a big grumpy if you push it too hard but take it smoothly and you will be rewarded by refined progress.
There are stacks of room for four adults to travel in comfort - five for shorter journeys - and the clever Honda Magic Seats make it really practical.
The boot takes 335 litres of luggage, increasing to 1,305 litres with the rear seats dropped flat. There is also lots of storage space inside the smart cabin.
The HR-V is packed with safety features and driver aids and has the maximum five-star rating from Euro NCAP.
Honda SENSING brings collision mitigation throttle control, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, low speed following, traffic sign recognition, road departure mitigation and eCall in Europe.
This is along with the likes of blind spot warning, cross traffic monitor, tyre pressure monitoring, vehicle stability assist, brake assist, and a full suite of airbags.
The HR-V Advance Style Plus model I sampled looked great in Seabed Blue Pearl paint and cost £39,525. It came with all the equipment you could ever want.
It may not be flashy but it does everything very well and is definitely worth checking out if you are in the market for a compact family SUV.
FAST FACTS:
Price: £39,525.
Mechanical: 1.5litre petrol hybrid, 4cyl, 129bhp engine driving front wheels via automatic gearbox.
Max speed: 106mph.
0-62mph: 10.7 seconds.
Combined mpg: 52.3.
Insurance group: 31.
CO2 emissions: 122g/km.
Bik rating: 29 per cent.
Warranty: Three years/60,000 miles.
Overall rating (out of 5): 4.5.
Also making the news is the announcement that racing drivers from the 70s, 80s and 90s, as well as members of the Kinnaird family whose father Tom built the track, will be at Knockhill on Sunday, May 18, to mark 50 years of car racing at Scotland's National Motorsport Centre.
The drivers range from a number of whom raced at the first event in 1975 to multiple BTCC champions John Cleland and Gordon Shedden, together with seven other Scots who have raced in the Touring Cars Championship.
Drivers are coming from all four corners of Scotland and beyond to join in the celebrations, with many of them bringing their original race cars to go on track for some fast laps.
The clock will be turned back as the 50th celebration will feature strongly within an eleven-race programme, including track parades and grid walk, interviews with star drivers, a recreation of the opening ceremony and track sessions for race cars from the 70s, 80s and 90s and a group photograph of all 100 drivers reunited on the grid.
The event programme will reflect the nostalgia of the occasion with a special display of 70s road cars complementing the race machinery on track.
A special feature within the event is the welcome return of Karting Legends drivers with their long-circuit 250cc racing karts from the 80s and 90s.
Knockhill uniquely hosted rounds of the World Karting Championships in the early 90s, and the drivers will be demonstrating many of the karts that competed at Knockhill three decades ago.
The event also marks the 25th season of Scottish Legends racing in Scotland.
These motorcycle engine single-seat race cars are a crowd favourite, and from a formative start with six cars, it is anticipated that up to 40 drivers will be racing for the 2025 title.
Stuart Gray, Knockhill director of events, said, "The response from champion and race-winning racing drivers across the five decades has been fantastic.
"Every day, we are receiving interest from drivers, with champions from 1975 to the present day, all sharing the same fondness and recollections of Knockhill.
"Every one of them has played their small part in the history of Scottish motorsport, and all are welcome.
"We truly believe it will be a walk into the past and stir so many racing and spectating memories for all attending."
During the weekend, there will be racing for the Scottish Legends, Fiesta ST's, Citroen C1's, ModSports, Mini Coopers and Scottish Classics, with action starting at 9.15am each day, finishing around 5pm, with the opening ceremony recreation timed for 1pm on Sunday, May 18.
Tickets and full information can be found on www.knockhill.com/events and tickets are also available at the gate each day over the weekend.
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