Honda has a vehicle for every SUV segment, from the large, three-row Pilot to the compact two-row CR-V. New to the automaker’s 2016 lineup is an even tinier SUV, the subcompact HR-V. With seating for five and the automaker’s space-defying Magic Seat, there’s nothing tiny about its backseat and cargo area.
We tested an EX-L with leather seats, and there was ample room for two child-safety seats, though buckles that crowded the Latch anchors complicated installation.
How many car seats fit in the second row? Two
What We Like
- In both forward- and rear-facing modes, the convertible was an easy install, and we did not have to move the front passenger seat forward to make room for it. The seat also reclined to help expose the seat bight and the Latch anchors. In forward mode, we removed the head restraint so the convertible would sit flush with the seatback.
- After removing the head restraint, the booster fit well on the seat. The HR-V’s stable buckles are easier for small hands to grab than floppy buckles.
What We Don’t
- The two sets of Latch anchors sit in slits in the leather. What prevented them from getting an A was the placement of the buckles. They sit too close to the Latch anchors, crowding them and complicating access.
- The HR-V’s three top tether anchors are clearly marked and easy to connect to, but the middle anchor is in the ceiling; it will block visibility when in use.
- We moved the front passenger seat up slightly to accommodate the infant seat. Average-size passengers will still have enough kneeroom.