2022 Honda HR-V Trim Levels, Configurations & Comparisons.

Small but surprisingly might, the 2022 Honda HR-V checks a lot of boxes for buyers wanting to leave a littler footprint. Just peek inside the cabin and find an abundance of space for all occupants. You can even squeeze someone into the middle rear seat. And cargo space is more than abundant for this segment. You get 23.2 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats left in place and 55.9 cubes when you fold the rear seats down. This definitely betters some tough competitors.

Where the HR-V struggles is its acceleration. The standard 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine only drudges up 141 horsepower and 127 lb-ft of torque. With the continuously variable transmission paired to it, this makes for a slow launch time - a grueling 10.4 seconds to get from 0 to 60 miles per hour. Short merges on the highway, steep uphill grades, and a quick need to floor it for passing someone all result in this vehicle feeling drastically underpowered. Plus the engine is a noisy clunker that likes to vibrate when pushed to accelerate.

That being said, the 2022 Honda HR-V is a vehicle oriented for practicality and utility. Its above average fuel economy of 29 miles per gallon in combined driving is respectable for a subcompact SUV. You get a clear outward view, and depending on which trim level you buy, a long list of infotainment features. Plenty of safety features come on each trim.

Which of the HR-V's four trim levels will suit you best? Read on to find out.

Compare the LX vs Sport Trims. What is the difference?

Let's start by pitting the 2022 Honda HR-V's base trim - the LX - against the next level up, which is known as the Sport. As already mentioned, they are both powered by the same 1.8-L 4-cylinder engine and CVT. Front-wheel drive is standard while all-wheel drive is optional. The multi-point fuel injection engine is rounded out by a 16-Valve SOHC i-VTEC valvetrain. Other standard mechanical specs include the Eco Assist system, an automatic brake hold accompanying the electronic parking brake, hill start assist, and an engine immobilizer. The one thing that the Sport adds in this regard is Active Noise Cancellation for an even quieter cabin.

Take special note here that Honda Sensing does not come on either the LX or the Sport. If you want those driver aids, you have to upgrade to the EX. (Honda does equip this bundle as standard on just about all of its other vehicles.) These two trims both have a multi-angle rear-view camera, but dynamic guidelines are added to the one on the Sport. Traction control, brake assist, daytime running lights, and a tire pressure monitoring system are standard issue.

Let's skip right ahead to the HR-V's infotainment setup. A 4-speaker, 160-watt audio system and 5-inch color LCD screen are standard on the LX, but the Sport switches up to a 180-watt, 4-speaker sound system and 7-inch touchscreen display. Bluetooth connectivity, speed-sensitive volume compensation, a radio data system, and a 1.0-amp USB port on the front console are standard. The Sport gains a 1.5-amp USB port up front, smartphone app integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Pandora compatibility, Honda Link, and a SMS text messaging feature.

Inside of the cabin, you get standard power door locks and windows with auto-up/down on the driver's window. A basic air conditioning system and heater come equipped. The driver's window and door lock controls are illuminated. You also get cruise control, one-touch turn indicators, a bunch of beverage holders, a tilting and telescoping steering column, and sliding sun visors. Map lights, an LED pocket light, and a 12-volt power outlet are all standard too.

You will find heat ducts in the rear seat for optimal heating in that half of the cabin. A defroster will take care of the rear window on cooler days. There are floor mats throughout, and the versatile cargo area has tie-down hooks and a cargo area light. The door pulls are done in chrome, and both visors come with illuminated vanity mirrors. To this, the Sport adds Sport pedals (which are unique to this trim) and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift knob.

The driver's seat is manually height adjustable, and there are no options for power adjustability on any of the trim levels, which is certainly disappointing to any Honda buyer. The 60/40-split folding Magic Seat in the second row does fold down quite flatly for a lot of pass-through space for bulkier cargo.

What do these two trims offer on the outside that sets them apart? Both have two-speed variable intermittent windshield wipers and projector beam halogen headlights with auto-on/off. You can tell the difference since the LX has body-colored power side mirrors while those on the Sport are gloss black. They both have a fin-style antenna mounted on top of the roof, remote entry along with the security system, a roofline spoiler keyed in the selected body color, LED brake lights, and a reverse-linked washer/wiper on the rear window.

The Sport does add a few more elements to help set itself apart from the pack. It is the only vehicle in the line-up to feature underbody spoilers (done in gloss black). It also adds an exhaust finisher, fog lights, privacy glass for the rear, and roof rails.

Compare the Sport vs EX Trims. What is the difference?

You're probably wondering how different the EX trim level is from the Sport. The answer is "a lot". All of the Honda Sensing driver aids come equipped. This gives the vehicle a collision mitigation system for braking, adaptive cruise control, a system for road departure mitigation, lane keep assist, a lane departure warning, and forward collision warning. You also get Honda LaneWatch and automatic high beams.

In terms of technology, the upgrade to the 6-speaker, 180-watt sound system is pretty justifiable since it delivers crisper sound throughout the cabin. In addition to that, you can utilize HD Radio and a trial subscription to SiriusXM Satellite Radio.

The cabin also receives some pretty big upgrades. The automatic climate control system that Honda swaps in comes with a nifty electrostatic touchscreen for easy use. You also get push button start and programming for the power door locks. On top of that, the front seats gain a standard heating function to warm your spine on a cool wintery morning - or to relax those sore muscles after a good workout at the gym. Whatever you use it for, the heaters in these seats are really effective.

On the outside, the EX ditches the Sport's gloss black and other unique, sporty elements in favor of a few more upgrades. Instead, you get a one-touch power moonroof with a tilting function and walk away auto lock on the smart entry system. Also, the EX is equipped with upgraded variable intermittent windshield wipers. The side mirrors are heated and power-operated in the body color with turn indicators built into each one. Also, this trim level gets 17-inch machine finished alloy wheels done up with chic Gloss Shark Gray inserts.

Compare the EX vs EX-L Trim. What is the difference?

The line-topping EX-L trim is, on many other Hondas, not a line-topper. That generally gets left to the Touring trim. However, Honda does not include the Touring on the HR-V, so buyers only get a handful of upgrades from the EX trim. Let's take a moment to assess if buying the EX-L will actually be worth it or if the EX holds more overall value.

As far as safety features go, the EX-L does not have anything extra that it offers. What comes on the EX also comes on the EX-L, and that's it. The same thing goes for the EX-L's list of infotainment features - nothing changes. At least the interior sees the return of the leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift knob that come on the Sport trim level. There is also an auto-dimming rear-view mirror added, but it does not seem to include the Home Link universal transceiver for opening your garage and controlling paired smart electrical devices.

Leather seats are included on this trim level, but that is the only change in terms of seating. As already mentioned, power adjustability is absent from the HR-V line-up, and lumbar support is also nowhere to be seen. Ventilated front seats and heated rear outboard seats are also left off of the list of standard features.

And, just so that you are aware, there are no changes whatsoever to the exterior of the EX-L. Aside from the EX-L badging, you could easily mistake it for the EX trim level. No one could blame you for that.

Final Thoughts

The 2022 Honda HR-V isn't exactly a bad vehicle; for a subcompact SUV, it does well on space and fuel efficiency. But it lacks a lot of the good ol' Honda finesse that you will find on the more popular Honda models (such as the Accord, Civic, CR-V, and Pilot). There are reports that Honda has axed the HR-V from its UK line-up, and it might be only a matter of time before this trend crosses the pond. People just don't get excited about the HR-V like they do about other Honda models. And, with no changes made from the 2021 HR-V line-up, you could save money by buying last year's model.

If you have your heart set on owning the 2022 HR-V, though, I definitely recommend spending more to get the EX trim level. It has a respectable amount of added features over the LX and Sport (which isn't a sporty trim, really) for the price. Avoid going to the EXL since it offers so little in the way of extras. The EX-L's price jump cannot be justified.

Here is what I will tell you sells the HR-V - and the EX model in particular: the safety features and ratings. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) assigned the HR-V a full overall five-star rating, and most of its individual crash tests scored five stars. It is also a vehicle that is highly regarded as being safe for teen drivers. In fact, the HR-V was named U.S. News' Best New SUV For Teens in 2019 - a trend it still upholds.

The HR-V might not be the best Honda model out there, but if you have a new teen driver in the family, its slew of driver aids and respectable smattering of comfort and infotainment features should suit a teen driver's needs. They sure won't be wanting to push hard on the accelerator, as that will send the engine into vibration mode. But is the EX trim level a safe and value-packed option for this line-up? Absolutely.