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Honda's HR-V is a major success

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It is Honda's return to the SUV market after it left the supermini-SUV segment back in 2005 after just six years with the first HR-V. Since then, the segment has been packed with many models such as the Vauxhall Mokka, and leader in the segment, the Nissan Juke.

But my favourite is the Honda and here are the reasons why.

It looks great with a distinctive sculpted line rather like a coupe, but still with the robustness required of an SUV.

Inside it has class-leading interior space and no, I won't use the 'Tardis-like' comparison!

But this will carry five people in some comfort and there's a substantial boot. That space is largely down to the centre fuel tank location which maximises cabin roominess. Plus you get versatility for load space. The boot can take 470 litres, fold the rear seats down and there's 1,533.

And the added bonus are Honda's Magic Seats which can be folded up against the seat backs allowing tall items to be carried inside the car as opposed to rolling around in the boot. Plus, in my test was the panoramic open glass roof which made the cabin seem even bigger.

Interior finish is good quality and for the tekkies the HR-V gets Honda's CONNECT infotainment system which includes a good sized seven inch touchscreen and almost all the gizmos you would expect including internet browsing.

There are just two engines available - a 128bhp 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol which is quiet and smooth, and a 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel. Some may say too simple a choice but I think those engines are well matched to potential buyers.

The diesel is the better option, unless you do well under average mileage, as you can get up to 68.9mpg on the top drawer EX model which I drove and road tax is just £20.

You get more choice with trim levels with entry level S, then SE, SE Navi and EX. As well as features like the City-Brake Active System, Honda's advanced driver assistance safer technologies are also standard on most models in the range including the intelligent speed limiter which combines traffic sign recognition with the speed limiter to identify changes in the speed limit (very useful!) and then restrict the top speed of the car as needed.

On the road the HR-V performs very well in terms of comfort and handling and there's less body roll, even when pushing through lanes at speed. Steering is well-weighted and the car is very nimble as a result while on open, faster roads it is firm and purposeful.

This year the already popular new SUV, which arrived the UK late last summer, picked up the prestigious New Car of the Year award at the AM Awards. With the winner of the New Car of the Year decided by AM's dealer audience bu online voting earlier this year, the award requires the winner to have exceptional quality, impressive driving performance and to be designed for maximum appeal.

Stephen Briers, Editor in Chief at AM magazine, commented: "It was an important launch for the brand in 2015 and took Honda back into a rapidly growing market segment. Now AM readers have the HR-V a winner, thanks to its coupe-like looks, impressive practicality, efficient engines and keen pricing.

"Although supply is constrained, this car will do wonders for its dealers and is attracting new customers out of other brands." And I couldn't agree more.

Phillip Crossman, managing director of Honda UK, said: "This is a fantastic accolade for the new HR-V to pick up and just shows how popular the car is proving with both dealers and customers alike. Sixteen years after the original HR-V launched and our return to the crossover segment, which we pioneered with the first generation HR-V, has been massively successful with overwhelming demand across our retail network.

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