On paper, settling for the hybrid 2022 Honda HR-V RS e:HEV seems like a compromise. Discussions online about it being 'B-segment SUV' – a term used very loosely here – in the RM 140k space is rife. That the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, being a larger car, is a better buy on that merit alone.

Yet, to say it's a hairbreadth's competition is hardly hyperbole; and there are pull factors for the plucky Honda that keep it fervently in the running, nipping away at the Toyota's heels. Obviously there's more going for it than just petty arguments of whether or not it fits a certain segment.

And in doing so, this third-gen model needs to fill gigantic shoes, considering its predecessor was for a long while an unchallenged king of the hill. Things may not be so easy now considering the blurred lines between it and the competition, so here's our thoughts...

Exterior: Heart on its sleeve

We'll get to the heart of the matter in a bit. Looks comes first, and the HR-V wins points aplenty for its pert physique; it's a well-packaged thing. Honda says the slim body helps enunciate the wheels more (18-inches in this case), and not looking like a gymbro that skips leg day is a great start.

Except elsewhere, it's not too swole either. Keeping things tight means it gifts relative nimbleness in navigating city life – it's a fairly easy car for first-time drivers or the diminutive, with the wide field-of-view offering unobtrusive vision, while the stubby rear simplifies parallel parking

Also read: Crossover vs SUV, what's the difference? The chief behind the 2022 Honda HR-V explains

Some touches are a little too tryhard (we'd sooner have the JDM body-coloured grille than this 'diamond-studded' one), yet some hit it out of the park, such as the distinctive full-length LED lightbar on the rear.

Interior: Ergonomically sound, clean look

You’ll quickly identify that the HR-V’s cabin build quality is equal to most cars in Honda Malaysia’s stable. Sure it's majorly built from plastic as is anything else in this category, but there's a thoughtful variety in material texture and design touches that breaks monotony yet remain sufficiently functional.

Using the 8-inch infotainment touchscreen will be familiar if you've been in the recent crop of Honda cars. It's one of the few aspects where it's just flat out better than the Toyota's; LaneWatch that shows up here is hassle-free to operate, and Android Auto / Apple CarPlay integration works so much better.

Also read: Review: Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid - Come on HR-V, give it your best shot

As a driver, I find the physical knobs and buttons extremely useful, and the same can be said for the semi-digital instrument cluster. It's the same one you'll find in the City, Civic, and Accord, with the same levels of customisability and rich information to tell you what's going on.

Ah yes, the air diffusion system. The concept is that it drapes air over the cabin like a curtain, with the intended benefit of cooling that envelopes better.

 Does  it work as  it should? 50-50. I suspect its powers were slightly neutered by the hot weather – good quality tint should help – but at least it's quiet, and makes it easy to keep family members who have a mix of temperature sensitivities happy because you don't need to resort to the aircond on-or-off argument.

Speaking of which, having remote start the car ready and cool by the time you get in it is a godsend. One of the best features ever to come in a brand-new car today. 

If said family want to try things out for themselves, you wouldn't baulk at the thought of ferrying three of them. Clever use of interior space net an extra 2 degrees seat recline at the back, leading to a nice recline with the added bonus of awarding enough space for them to wiggle their feet beneath the front seats.

Also read: Check out how spacious the all-new 2021 Honda HR-V is!

Not too comfortable though, that’s still where the Corolla Cross sits unchallenged. Blame the HR-V's sloping roofline (plus black headliner, which makes the cabin feel tighter than it is) which eats into headroom, meaning a not-so-fun time for those at the back if you accidentally yeet off a speedbump.

Practicality: Holiday or relocation, it'll do it all

Versatility is big with buyers of SUVs, and the HR-V does not disappoint. It's not too much of a stretch to say that it'll fit more than some bigger cars can handle; that's essentially the sui generis nature of Honda cabins.

Also read: Just how practical is the 2022 Honda HR-V? Let us show you in 22 photos

Don't worry too much about the 335-litre bootspace, that can always be expanded to more than double when the multi-utility seats come into play. The world's truly your oyster with them, and the peace of mind knowing you can fit just about anything is almost worth the price of admission.

The walk-away close of the boot is extremely useful; adds a touch of class to the car besides aiding practicality.

Performance: Great fuel economy, swift handling

Same small-car platform, same powertrain as the hybrid City RS, but with extra power tickled out of the hybrid system, but don't be mistaken to think it's a City on stilts. More power's tickled out of the two-motor hybrid system, with the electric motors now responsible for 131 PS and 253 Nm.

Improvements also extend to the lithium-ion battery which now packs 60 cells (the City RS has 48), equating to slightly more all-electric range. If you're adapt with the deceleration selector paddles, you can adjust the brake regen to charge the battery faster, and stay away from petrol power for longer.

That's not a perfect solution however as the brake regen annoyingly resets to its lightest intensity after a short while, which has the unintended effect of you flicking the paddles like an F1 driver down a backroad. But at least it's one way the car tries to involve the driver a little more, you get none of this stuff in the 'Cross Hybrid.

Also read: Here’s why the all-new 2020 Honda City RS with i-MMD doesn’t need a gearbox

On highways however this becomes less of a concern as the petrol engine powers the wheels directly. Coaxing it to the national speed limit is fairly undramatic, but show it some extra load (say, going uphill or overtaking) and the engine tends to be a little buzzy.

The noise dials back quickly as you ease off though, reverting to its generally unobtrusive nature.

The HR-V needs just 10.48 seconds to complete the century sprint, a couple of seconds faster than the Corolla Cross Hybrid, if that sort of thing is important to you. Braking is also commendable, as it takes just 38 metres to come to a stop from 100 km/h.

Also read: Review: 2021 Honda City RS e:HEV – Hybrid perfomance for the common man

Average numbers there, but what you should celebrate is that the HR-V RS e:HEV dang nails the fuel efficiency test: we got 4.05 litres/100 km (25 km/l) out of it, meaning it only sipped 23 litres after 562 km.

Better news await in handling. Honda says this RS variant gains suspension and steering tweaks – as most hybrid cars do, to factor in the added weight of the battery – and perhaps it's most notable in the way it flows through twisties, particularly like the ones I've felt going up and down the route to Tekala Waterfall.

Though it somewhat lacks the comparitive heft the Corolla Cross Hybrid offers, what you get in return is an SUV that's nimbler and quicker on its Continentals. Steering lies a little on the light side of things, but it communicates enough to tell you what's going on, and you'll be no less confident to tackle turns with it.

Ride comfort: Toyota reigns supreme  

Toyota's recent crop of models are hard to edge in terms of comfort, and the HR-V too can't quite match up to what the Corolla Cross offers. Seat quality makes a world of difference, and while the Honda's aren't particularly bad by any means, it's just that the ones in the Toyota – from the contours to the way it hugs you –  are way more cossetting.

Also read: Pros and Cons: 2022 Honda HR-V e:HEV RS, is it better than the Corolla Cross Hybrid?

Despite similarities in the suspension array (torsion beam at the back), tuning highlights further differences. The lumbering 'Cross is, like we said, a little bit less acrobatic, but that also means it feels just that much more planted when sailing across highways.

Safety: Sensing over TSS

We'll give this one to Honda. The HR-V's Honda Sensing driver assistance suite (ADAS) is more intuitive to use than Toyota's Safety Sense (TSS), thanks to its friendlier user interface versus the Corolla Cross' cluttered instrument panel.

In the Honda, displays for Sensing-related functions are grouped together in the middle, and all the buttons for it are focused on the right side of the steering wheel. You may remember that in the 'Cross, those are scattered on both sides of the tiller.

We like the Sensing's adaptive cruise control (ACC) which adds stop & go (LSF, for Low Speed Follow in Honda's parlance) because it works just as it should, and the electric parking brake (EPB) makes it far more relaxing whenever you're caught in a slow crawl on the highway.

Also read: From foggy roads to congested cities, Honda Civic’s Sensing is one of the best

Toyota’s Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) can also bring the car to a stop, but its mechanical footbrake means it's unable to resume the function after stopping.

Verdict

If you've been sold on the small-medium SUV thing as a whole, the 2022 Honda HR-V RS e:HEV will tick a lot of boxes. It does well on practicality and versatility, isn't a chore to steer, and offers a convincing enough drive.

Though it has no glaring faults, there's places where it could've benefitted from a final polish. Wind noise intrudes, and better seats could've closed the gap to rivals even closer.

Up against the likes of the Toyota Corolla Cross, neither variants of the HR-V is a bad choice. Except this hybrid HR-V RS may be more convincing yet when you live with it for a while (remote start is a personal favourite) – or when fuel prices aren't as cheap as they are today.