Honda HR-V e:HEV RS review: Small hybrid SUV gets sportier looks – but is it worth the price hike?

The current-generation Honda HR-V has always been one of the more well-rounded members of the small SUV class, reinforced by the fact it won the Wheels Best Small SUV 2026 title earlier this year. It doesn’t chase enormous screens, huge power outputs or bargain-basement pricing, instead relying on clever packaging, solid driving manners and Honda’s excellent e:HEV hybrid system. Now the new RS flagship is carrying that flame.

RS badges have traditionally suggested something a little sportier in Honda-speak, but don’t expect a Civic Type R SUV here. The changes are all cosmetic with black exterior detailing, unique 18-inch wheels and a more colourful cabin – while leaving the familiar hybrid drivetrain untouched.

At $44,400 driveaway, it’s also the most expensive HR-V you can buy. So does the extra attitude make Honda’s smallest SUV more appealing?

How much does the Honda HR-V e:HEV RS cost to buy?

The HR-V e:HEV RS is priced from $44,400 drive-away, placing it $1500 above the e:HEV L, $4500 above the entry hybrid e:HEV X and $11,500 above the entry petrol Vi X. As pointed out above, if you’re expecting changes under the bonnet, you may be disappointed as the RS makeover is purely visual.

6

Outside, there’s a black RS-specific grille, black mirror caps, lower door and bumper garnishes, RS badging and those 18-inch alloy wheels. The cabin receives a similar makeover, with black synthetic leather, suede and cloth upholstery with red stitching and red trim across the dashboard and doors.

Otherwise, the standard equipment of the RS mirrors the already well-equipped e:HEV L, including heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air vents, a hands-free powered tailgate, keyless entry and start and automatic LED lighting.

Features I think would made the HR-V better value not offered on the Australian-spec HR-V e:HEV RS include a panoramic glass roof and upgraded 10-speaker audio system, while a wireless phone charger is a $640 dealer-fit accessory instead of being standard.

4

How practical is the HR-V e:HEV RS?

Part of the HR-V’s appeal has always been how insanely practical it is for a small SUV, and thankfully, the new RS model doesn’t change that. Its boot capacity is a not huge at 304 litres with the rear seats upright, but the figure expands to a large 1274L when folded.

Honda’s excellent ‘Magic Seats’, which are standard across the HR-V range, are arguably its most clever feature and give the HR-V a unique selling point in the small SUV segment. The rear seat bases can flip upwards to create a tall storage area behind the front seats, but the backrests also fold almost completely flat. If you’re a small SUV buyer who regularly has to lug large amounts of shopping, the HR-V is the one for you.

There is one catch, however: the HR-V remains a four-seater because there’s no centre rear seatbelt. Nevertheless, for four occupants, the HR-V makes excellent use of its relatively small footprint. While the boot could be larger, the rear-seat area is quite spacious for the segment, and two taller adults will be more than comfortable.

Moving forward, the classy RS treatment works best inside, where the red accents and stitching combine with synthetic leather, suede and cloth upholstery to give the cabin the sort of extra personality that’s missing on lower HR-V models, but without going overboard.

6

More importantly, the HR-V’s fundamentals remain excellent. Honda continues to use plenty of physical controls for important functions such as climate control and the touchscreen, while the dashboard is very logically laid out and easy to understand. The 9.0-inch infotainment display may look a bit small compared with the enormous screens fitted to many newer rivals, but it’s responsive and breathtakingly easy to use. Front-seat comfort is good too, although I wish there was lumbar adjustment on offer for longer journeys.

How fuel efficient is the HR-V e:HEV RS?

The RS uses the same 1.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain as the other hybrid HR-V models, producing adequate peak outputs of 96kW and 253Nm. The system is well suited to urban driving, where it will frequently shut down the petrol engine and rely on the electric motor for propulsion and fuel savings. Regenerative braking strength can also be adjusted using steering wheel paddles, but they don’t also control the stepped e-CVT transmission.

Honda claims combined fuel consumption of just 4.3L/100km with claimed CO2 emissions of 98g/km, and I achieved pretty close to that at 4.6L/100km in a range of driving scenarios. Importantly considering the current high fuel prices, the HR-V can run on 91 RON regular unleaded fuel, while its 40-litre fuel tank won’t cost too much to fill up. Importantly, at the fuel consumption I achieved, it’ll travel more than 850km on a tank.

What is the HR-V e:HEV RS like to drive?

Don’t let that RS badge get you too excited. Despite the sportier looks, there are no upgrades beneath the skin, unlike the Japanese-spec HR-V RS with its 15mm-lower suspension and revised steering providing a sportier driving experience. The result is the HR-V e:HEV RS still drives well for the segment with a comfortable ride and light steering, but the RS badge gives a false sense of a performance-focused edge. A boggo Mazda CX-3, for example, is more fun to drive.

5

Honda doesn’t quote a 0-100km/h sprint time, and straight-line performance certainly isn’t the HR-V’s strongest attribute. But it’s peppier than you might imagine, with the electric motor kicking in from 0rpm. Around town, it feels livelier than the numbers suggest and the smooth hybrid system lacks a noticeable jump between electric and petrol propulsion, though the drivetrain is more vocal at highway speeds.

How much does the HR-V e:HEV RS cost to service?

Honda Australia’s ownership credentials are strong, and it backs the HR-V with a five-year/unlimited km warranty for the car with five years of roadside assistance and an eight-year/160,000km hybrid battery warranty. Service the HR-V at a Honda dealership and you can unlock up to eight years of warranty coverage for the car, which is long by industry standards.

As for the servicing itself, maintenance is required every 12 months or 10,000km (whichever comes first), with the first five scheduled services priced at $279 each. That equates to $1395 over five years or 50,000km, which has been recently made more expensive by $80 per service. However, it remains some of the cheapest service pricing on the market.

Should I buy a Honda HR-V e:HEV RS?

The new e:HEV RS is a polished small SUV, but it’s not the sweet spot of the HR-V range. Sure, its hybrid system is smooth and fuel efficient, the interior is well made and well featured, the Magic Seats are genuinely clever and it still drives with a level of maturity that many small SUV rivals lack.

4

But so does a lower-spec HR-V e:HEV X or e:HEV L, and they cost at least $1500 less. The RS badge is a misnomer, too – it doesn’t drive badly at all, but it’s also not what you’d call sporty. If Honda Australia adopted the Japanese model’s dynamic changes or perhaps the turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine offered in some markets, we think it would be worth the extra cash, but as it stands, lesser HR-V models are better buys. The Honda HR-V is still an excellent small SUV, just not in e:HEV RS spec.

HR-V e:HEV RS specifications:

HR-V e:HEV RS standard features:

• 18-inch alloy wheels (with a tyre repair kit)
• Dusk- and rain-activated automatic LED exterior lighting
• Rain-sensing automatic wipers
• Heated/auto-folding mirrors
• Keyless entry with push button start and automatic walk away locking
• Electric tailgate with walkaway close functionality
• Rear privacy glass
• Cloth/suede/synthetic leather interior trim
• Heated front seats
• Heated leather steering wheel
• Dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air vents
• 7.0-inch digital driver’s display
• 9.0-inch touchscreen with live services
• Satellite navigation
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Bluetooth audio and streaming
• AM/FM/DAB+ digital radio
• Six-speaker sound system
• 4x USB ports
• 6x airbags
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist
• Lane keeping assistance with adaptive lane guidance
• Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
• Adaptive high beam
• Traffic sign recognition
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Reversing camera
• Anti-theft alarm
• Tyre pressure monitoring