Verified against primary sources
| Cost category | Estimate |
|---|---|
| 5-year depreciation | $8,136 |
| Insurance (annual) | $1,827 |
| Fuel or charging (annual) | $1,875 |
| Maintenance (annual) | $430 |
| Tires (annual) | $300 |
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (combined) | 28 MPG |
| Fuel economy (city / highway) | 26 / 32 MPG |
| Engine | 2.0L 4-cyl DOHC i-VTEC |
| Horsepower | 158 hp |
| Torque | 138 lb-ft |
| Seating capacity | 5 passengers |
| Cargo space | 24.4 cu ft |
| Pillar | Score (0–100) | Class median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of ownership | 91 | 73 | +18 |
| Powertrain | 62 | 63 | -1 |
| Safety | 79 | 94 | -15 |
| Driver assistance | 43 | 43 | +0 |
| Livability | 54 | 49 | +5 |
The 2026 Honda HR-V scores 91/100 on cost of ownership — 18 points above the compact suvs median. The Compact SUV class median 5-year ownership cost is $49,048 (15,000 mi/yr, national average rates). Largest annual recurring expense: fuel or charging.
The 2026 Honda HR-V scores 43/100 on driver assistance. All scores reflect standard equipment at base MSRP; optional driver-assistance packages are not scored.
The 2026 Honda HR-V scores 62/100 on powertrain. Key figures: 28 MPG combined, 158 hp.
Verdict
The 2026 HR-V is one of the most affordable ways into a genuinely safe, well-equipped SUV. It earns an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and a five-star NHTSA rating, and Honda Sensing driver assistance is standard on every trim. Running costs are low and it holds its value reasonably well. The trade-off is a modest 158-horsepower engine that feels leisurely, and cargo space trails larger compact rivals. For budget-focused buyers who want safety and low ownership costs in an easy-to-park package, the HR-V is an easy recommendation.
Good fit for: Budget-focused
Best for
- IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and five-star NHTSA rating
- Honda Sensing standard on every trim
- Low ownership costs and easy to park
Watch out for
- Modest 158-horsepower engine feels leisurely
- Less cargo room than larger compact SUVs
2026 Honda HR-V
Five measured pillars, weighted into one score.
Cost, Powertrain, Driver Assistance, Livability, and Safety — each scored against its class, then combined into a single MotiveGrid Score. Built by our engineering team and benchmarked against independent sources like NHTSA, IIHS, and CarEdge. How it’s calculated →
Verdict
Based on median-price trimThe 2026 HR-V is one of the most affordable ways into a genuinely safe, well-equipped SUV. It earns an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and a five-star NHTSA rating, and Honda Sensing driver assistance is standard on every trim. Running costs are low and it holds its value reasonably well. The trade-off is a modest 158-horsepower engine that feels leisurely, and cargo space trails larger compact rivals. For budget-focused buyers who want safety and low ownership costs in an easy-to-park package, the HR-V is an easy recommendation.
Good fit for: Budget-focused
Budget-conscious buyers who want the lowest total cost of ownership
Cost of Ownership
Five-year cost is driven mostly by energy; tires is a minor share.
- High resale demand in the compact SUV segment
- Depreciation is lower than the category average
- Insurance cost is typical for the segment
- Ownership cost is moderate for a compact SUV
- Fuel usage is average for the class
- Maintenance costs are in line with segment norms
Ownership costs are predictable and average for its class.
Adjust for your situation
State
Ownership Cost
Powertrain
Fuel efficiency weighed with long-term ownership confidence.
Reliability is marked Provisional until this model has enough complaint history to rate — we don't invent a number.
Combines real-world energy efficiency (EPA-verified MPG or MPG-equivalent vs. class) with long-term ownership confidence (warranty coverage, platform maturity, and reliability data). Methodology →
Driver Assistance
Strongest in highway driving support, but parking convenience and hands-free automation are limited.
💡 Tracks where the car can drive itself (highways vs. local roads) and how much driver supervision is needed (up to fully driverless).
PoorStandard driver assist — no hands-free operation
Combines highway support, parking convenience, and hands-free automation capability into one score. Methodology →
Livability
Easy to maneuver, but tighter on interior space.
Combines how comfortably this vehicle fits passengers and cargo with how easily it maneuvers in real-world conditions — normalized within its Compact SUV segment for fair comparison. Methodology →
Safety
Top crash-test results paired with a full crash-avoidance suite.
Combines crash-test protection — NHTSA frontal, side, and rollover ratings plus the IIHS crashworthiness sub-tests (small- and moderate-overlap front, side, headlights) — with standard crash-avoidance technology. New model years without published crash tests are scored on crash-avoidance features alone and capped until tested. Methodology →
Frequently asked questions
- What is the MotiveGrid Score for the 2026 Honda HR-V?
- The 2026 Honda HR-V earns a MotiveGrid Score of 78 out of 100. The score combines five pillars — cost of ownership, powertrain, safety, driver assistance, and livability — into one number, so you can weigh a vehicle's all-round strength at a glance.
- Is the 2026 Honda HR-V safe?
- The Honda HR-V carries an NHTSA overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars. MotiveGrid's safety pillar pairs federal crash-test results with the standard active-safety equipment fitted at base price.
- What is the 2026 Honda HR-V safety score?
- The 2026 Honda HR-V earns a MotiveGrid safety score of 79/100. The score combines NHTSA and IIHS crash-test results with the standard active safety equipment included at base price.
- What driver assistance features does the 2026 Honda HR-V include?
- The 2026 Honda HR-V scores 43/100 on driver assistance. MotiveGrid evaluates only standard equipment — features included at base MSRP — across four areas: highway automation, parking support, collision avoidance, and visibility aids. Optional driver-assistance packages are not scored.
- What is the 2026 Honda HR-V fuel economy?
- The 2026 Honda HR-V is EPA-rated at 28 MPG combined. MotiveGrid uses this figure as the basis for its annual fuel or charging cost estimate.
- How does the 2026 Honda HR-V rank among compact suvs?
- The 2026 Honda HR-V is in the top 49% of compact suvs on the MotiveGrid composite score. All vehicles in the same segment are scored on an identical five-pillar framework, making the percentile a direct comparison.
- How does the 2026 Honda HR-V compare to the Subaru Crosstrek?
- See the MotiveGrid side-by-side comparison page for a full breakdown across cost of ownership, safety, powertrain, driver assistance, and livability. Both vehicles are top-scored options in the compact suvs segment.
- Is the 2026 Honda HR-V spacious and practical?
- The 2026 Honda HR-V scores 54/100 on livability, which covers interior passenger space, cargo capacity, and maneuverability. This score is compared directly against other compact suvs in the same segment.
Analysis by the MotiveGrid Engineering Team · MotiveGrid Score last computed 2026-07-03