Electrification with sensation
As I write this review, there is one song that I simply cannot resist playing over and over.
“All for the Feeling” was released in 1989 by American singer-songwriter Clair Marlo (more famously known for “‘Til They Take My Heart Away,” a staple of seasoned Filipino videoke singers like me). Marlo’s lush and almost-delicate tone floats over an uptempo beat as she takes you through the rollercoaster of finding and losing love.
This made me think about the power of feelings in our lives – an economics textbook assumes that people primarily choose things based on price, while making some passing mention of non-price factors. But it’s the latter that companies spend millions on marketing and advertising to craft, for everything from shampoo to handbags.
Our reliance on feelings is particularly apparent with things like cars because of the sensations we get from interacting with them. While most hark for a comfortable ride and a quiet engine, others (like me) look for responsive steering, a punchy engine and easy-to-modulate brakes.
And so we have the 2025 Honda HR-V RS e:HEV, which seems to have been made for those who want a hybrid-electric vehicle that “involves” you.
Time-tested style
Like all other HR-V models, this top-of-the-line RS e:HEV stands out thanks to its distinctive back end, made all the nicer with the variant-exclusive Sand Khaki Pearl paint.
The steeply raked rear windscreen leads the eye down to the full-width LED taillights that have clear lenses, exclusive to this variant. The pert rear bumper includes gloss-black protective cladding that is tastefully applied all the way down the side of this electrified crossover, complementing the high beltline and hidden rear door handles.
Unlike the Honda City Hatchback, the HR-V RS e:HEV gets 18-inch, two-tone alloy wheels wrapped in 225/50 series tires that suit the car’s dimensions. And up front, large LED headlights flank the revised grill that was introduced late last year, while the red accents on the lower bumper includes a singular “pulse” that reinforces this car’s fondness for feelings.
Simple and elegant
Inside, this little Honda doesn’t attempt to bedazzle and frustrate you with screens and complicated controls (like in many BYDs).
It carries over the driver-oriented touches of its bigger cousins, the Civic and the CR-V – you get circular knobs for the powerful dual-zone climate control, a traditional gear selector and red trim that runs across the dashboard and door cards. Fine black leather lines the cabin, from the meaty steering wheel to the supportive seats, while the aluminum pedals connote a sporting flavor.
In addition, the HR-V RS e:HEV sports an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that is totally fuss-free to use, thanks largely to the physical buttons. However, it projects a blurry view of the LaneWatch and rear-view cameras, especially at night.
Other issues include the scratchy plastics on the dashboard and door cards, the considerable blind spots because of the small windows and the lack of toys like a panoramic moonroof and air-conditioned seats. In addition, the rear seat of the HR-V RS e:HEV can only really seat two, especially with the larger head restraints in these facelifted models.
However, that Utility-Long-Tall rear seat has the clever ability to fold up so that you can load vertically endowed items, thus adding flexibility to the already-good cargo capacity.
Sensational drive
The vast majority of hybrid-electric crossovers on the market drive pretty much the same – refined and economical, but generally unexciting.
Happily, the HR-V RS e:HEV is totally different, driving almost as well as one of my all-time favorite cars, the Honda Civic RS e:HEV. The steering is well-weighted, the brakes are strong and easy to modulate and the suspension is planted enough to handle spirited driving without shattering your spine.
I just wish that it had more power from its 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline-hybrid powertrain. Its combined output of 129 horsepower and 253 Newton-meters of torque offers reasonable acceleration, but substantially lags behind powerhouses like the MG ZS Hybrid+ and the BYD Sealion 5 DM-i that each produce at least 200 horsepower.
Fuel economy, however, is very competitive – we got 17 to 20 kilometers per liter in the city and 15 to 18 kilometers per liter on the expressway (largely because of the frequent charging of the rather small battery pack).
Another feather in the HR-V RS e:HEV’s cap is the brilliant Honda SENSING active-safety suite. Things like the adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist make not only make long journeys much easier, but also substantially safer.
Worth the price?
Overall, the 2025 Honda HR-V RS e:HEV is a hybrid-electric crossover for those who aren’t satisfied with just going from A to B.
Its diminutive dimensions and good ground clearance make it an exceptional urban warrior, while having enough juice to go on long trips with ease. But at P1,799,000, it is considerably more expensive than rivals like the impressive P1,328,888 MG ZS Hybrid+, which is not only more powerful, but also better equipped than the Japanese veteran.
However, some will pay the price for the Honda when they, as Claire Marlo sang, “start to see the signs, your heart beating loud and strong, then you know it’s worth the time, when love begins to take you on.”
