2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar vs 2023 Honda HR-V

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar exuded a sense of luxury and sophistication that was hard to match. Its design was a testament to Land Rover's long-standing tradition of crafting elegant SUVs. The Velar's sleek silhouette, with its pop-out door handles and trapezoidal roof, was unmistakably a Range Rover, drawing inspiration from its larger sibling while maintaining a sporty, lowered stance. The vehicle's exterior was a blend of blocky and streamlined elements, highlighted by features like the flush door handles and distinctive taillight lenses. Inside, the Velar's cabin was a showcase of high-quality materials and exemplary fit and finish, even in the base trim. The interior design was sleek, with a polished black center stack and three sharp screens that provided a sophisticated user interface.

In contrast, the 2023 Honda HR-V underwent a significant styling update, presenting a more modern and sophisticated appearance. The new design featured a lowered beltline and simplified detailing, resulting in a sleeker look with cleaner lines. The HR-V's interior was thoughtfully designed, offering a comfortable and well-sized cabin despite its subcompact SUV classification. The EX-L trim, in particular, boasted perforated leather seats and dual-zone climate control, contributing to a premium feel. The HR-V's interior followed the refinement trend set by the 2022 Civic, with a metal honeycomb grille and touch-sensitive lights adding to the sense of thoughtful design. Despite its fastback look, the HR-V maintained good visibility, with larger rear seat windows and door-mounted mirrors enhancing the range of vision.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar shared its chassis with the Jaguar F-Pace, offering a driving experience that was distinct from previous Land Rover models. Its lower center of gravity and lighter weight improved cornering and braking, while the optional air suspension provided a plush, isolated ride. The base engine was a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four, producing 247 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. The Velar also offered a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, available in two states of tune, delivering up to 395 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain provided the high performance expected by luxury buyers while reducing emissions.

The 2023 Honda HR-V featured a single powertrain option: a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. This was an improvement over the previous model, and the updated continuously variable transmission (CVT) included a Step-Shift function to mimic traditional automatic transmission sounds. The HR-V offered Normal, Snow, and ECON drive modes, with Sport mode available for a more engaging driving experience. The new front and fully independent rear suspensions, along with widened tracks, made the HR-V surprisingly fun to drive, though it was not overpowered. The HR-V's competitors offered multiple powertrain options, but the HR-V's single engine option was adequate for its segment.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar's interior was tighter than midsize SUVs and only slightly roomier than compact SUVs. Its stylish exterior compromised headroom, especially for rear-seat passengers, and limited visibility due to thick B-pillars and small rear windows. Cargo space was modest, with 16 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 49 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Velar's design choices, such as the lack of a discrete parking brake control, were frustrating, and the new shifter design obstructed access to volume and climate controls. However, the Pivi Pro infotainment system improved the user interface, making it faster and easier to use.

The 2023 Honda HR-V, being a subcompact SUV, offered a comfortably sized and well-thought-out interior. The center console featured a shelf for drive mode controls, parking brake, and hill-descent control, with two USB ports for convenience. The HR-V's fastback design sacrificed less than half an inch of rear-seat headroom, with cargo space measuring 24.4 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 55.1 cubic feet with them folded. The HR-V's cargo capacity was among the largest in its class, and the new hinge design for the 60/40 split rear seats allowed for a higher seating position and a nearly flat floor when folded. The HR-V's interior dimensions varied slightly between trims, with the EX-L offering slightly more passenger volume.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar's Pivi Pro infotainment system was a pleasant surprise, offering a simplified layout with fewer icons and more logical arrangements. The system included features like a voice assistant, PM2.5 air filter, and a heated windshield. The navigation system could identify frequent routes and suggest traffic detours, while the 4x4 app provided off-road measurements. The instrument panel offered various layouts, though the driving assist display was less detailed than competitors. Standard features included LED headlights, automatic high beams, and a 12-speaker Meridian stereo.

The 2023 Honda HR-V's infotainment system featured a tablet-style touchscreen with physical knobs for power and volume. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard across the lineup, with wireless versions available on the EX-L trim. The EX-L also offered a 9-inch infotainment display, a Qi-compatible wireless charging pad, and an eight-speaker audio system. The HR-V's infotainment system included Smart Shortcuts, leveraging machine learning to adapt to user preferences. Standard features included a 7-inch digital gauge cluster, three USB-A ports, and Bluetooth connectivity.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar had not been crash-tested by U.S. agencies, but it scored well in the European New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) with a five-star rating. Standard safety features included forward emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and traffic sign recognition. Optional features included 360-degree cameras and adaptive cruise control with steering assist.

The 2023 Honda HR-V came standard with the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including adaptive cruise control, collision-mitigation braking, lane-keeping assist, and forward-collision warning. New features for 2023 included traffic-sign recognition, traffic jam assist, and automatic high-beams. The HR-V had not yet been crash-tested by U.S. agencies, but the 2022 model received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and mostly "Good" scores from the IIHS.