2026 Honda HR-V vs 2025 HR-V Review

Shop New Honda HR-VCheck SpecialsValue Your Trade

Future Honda of Citrus Heights presents a review: 2026 Honda HR-V vs 2025 HR-V

The Honda HR-V remains a top contender in the subcompact SUV market, combining practicality, style, and value in one versatile package. Following its complete redesign for the 2023 model year, the 2025 Honda HR-V carried over unchanged, and now for 2026, Honda continues this successful formula with minimal updates, including new wheel designs, two new paint colors, and some new standard features.  Both the 2025 and 2026 Honda HR-V models are powered by the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable transmission, producing a reliable 158 horsepower. This setup delivers a comfortable, smooth drive that’s perfect for daily commutes around Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom, Carmichael, Elk Grove and beyond, with impressive fuel efficiency to keep your trips economical.  Interior spaciousness continues to be a highlight for both model years, with the HR-V offering one of the roomiest cabins in its class. Whether you choose the 2025 or 2026 model, you’ll enjoy a modern, clean dashboard design, user-friendly controls, and ample cargo space to handle everything from grocery runs to weekend getaways.  While the 2026 Honda HR-V carries forward with minimal changes, its combination of refined design, practical space, and dependable performance ensures it remains a smart choice for drivers seeking a subcompact SUV that does it all.  Visit us here at Future Honda of Citrus Heights to test drive the HR-V and see firsthand why it continues to lead its class year after year.  But first, take in our comprehensive review where we detail the engine specs, interior highlights, and any changes to the latest iteration of the Honda HR-V.

Engine Specs and Efficiency

Both the 2025 and 2026 HR-V models are powered by a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable transmission, delivering a solid 158 horsepower. This powertrain continues to provide a smooth, efficient, and confident driving experience ideal for city commutes and weekend errands around Sacramento, Citrus Heights, and beyond.  Drivers will appreciate the pleasantly sporty feel in both model years, with meticulous steering, responsive braking, and agile handling that makes the HR-V enjoyable to maneuver through tight parking lots and busy streets. While it’s not built for track performance, there’s ample power for merging onto highways or passing slower traffic with ease.  For those who regularly drive in rain or snow, Honda’s Real Time all-wheel drive system remains available across all trims in both the 2025 Honda HR-V and 2026 HR-V, enhancing traction and confidence on slick roads.
Fuel efficiency ratings remain consistent, with the front-wheel drive models achieving an EPA-estimated 26 mpg city and 32 mpg highway, while the all-wheel drive variants offer slightly lower ratings at 25 mpg city and 30 mpg highway.

Interior Highlights

The 2025 Honda HR-V interior is known for its clean ergonomics and signature honeycomb trim spanning the dashboard, adding a touch of sophistication while hiding the air vents seamlessly. This design carries over to the 2026 Honda HR-V, but new for this model year are updated interior color options and slight enhancements to trim materials on upper trims, giving the cabin a more premium and tailored feel.  Storage remains a strong point for both years thanks to the HR-V-exclusive two-tiered center console, offering practical solutions for storing your phone, keys, and daily essentials. Quality materials are used throughout both cabins, ensuring a high-end finish that feels sturdy and refined whether you’re sitting in the front or rear seats.  Passenger space is unchanged, comfortably seating five passengers. Cargo capacity also remains impressive, with 24.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 55.1 cubic feet with the second row folded flat, making grocery runs, weekend getaways, or moving bulky items a breeze.  Both the 2025 and 2026 HR-V models feature a recently improved infotainment system that is intuitive and responsive. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remain standard across all trims, while the 2026 HR-V adds improved voice recognition and updated software features for smoother connectivity and navigation integration.

Trim Options

For 2026, the Honda HR-V lineup continues to cater to drivers across Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom, Carmichael, and Elk Grove with three well-equipped trim levels: LX, Sport, and EX-L. All trims come standard with front-wheel drive, with Honda’s Real Time AWD system available as an option for enhanced traction in varying conditions. Let’s review what each trim brings to the table.
The entry-level LX trim remains a practical and budget-friendly choice. For 2026, it retains its 17-inch alloy wheels and LED brake lights, with the new addition of upgraded interior seat fabric patterns for a more refined look. The cabin includes plush cloth seating, automatic climate control, a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen, front and center console USB ports, push-button start, a 7-inch digital gauge cluster, hill descent control, and 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks for versatile cargo needs.  The Sport trim continues to stand out with its athletic black exterior accents, but for 2026, it receives a refreshed gloss-black rear spoiler design and new 18-inch alloy wheel styling for an even more assertive stance. Other signature features remain, including the mesh grille, chrome exhaust tip, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, remote engine start, and a 6-speaker 180-watt audio system to keep your drives energized.  The range-topping EX-L trim delivers a premium experience. For 2026, it gains enhanced interior ambient lighting and expanded wireless connectivity features. You’ll continue to enjoy leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, a large 9-inch infotainment touchscreen, dual-zone automatic climate control, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless charging pad. The eight-speaker premium audio system and front and rear parking sensors make every drive more convenient, while newly added Rain-Sensing Wipers for 2026 further enhance your daily comfort.

Future Honda of Citrus Heights

Located in the heart of Citrus Heights, Future Honda is not just a car dealership; we are a community business that cares about each and every customer.  Whether you are coming from Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom, Carmichael or Elk Grove, we want to create a lasting relationship with our customers.  We accomplish this by retaining a kind, considerate and knowledgeable staff who want to earn your trust and your business. Both the 2025 Honda HR-V and the  2026 Honda HR-V present as capable compact SUVs with a long list of technology specs and safety features, as well as the benefit of a fuel efficient system that will save you money!  We appreciate you taking the time to read this review of the 2025 Honda HR-V and the 2026 Honda HR-V, but there really is nothing like experiencing it for yourself!  So come on over and let all of us here at Future Honda of Citrus Heights help you discover the wonder of the Honda HR-V!