The 2020 Honda Hr-v stands as a popular subcompact SUV, blending fuel efficiency, versatility, and Honda’s renowned reliability. For prospective buyers and current owners alike, understanding the safety performance of the HR-V is paramount. This article delves into the 2020 Honda HR-V safety ratings, providing a comprehensive overview based on rigorous testing and evaluations to give you a clear picture of its protective capabilities.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side Evaluation
The small overlap front crash test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end, on the driver’s side, impacts an object. This is a particularly challenging test as it bypasses the main energy-absorbing structures of the car. The 2020 Honda HR-V underwent this test, and the results provide valuable insights into driver protection in such scenarios.
Driver-Side Small Overlap Frontal Test Results
The 2020 Honda HR-V achieved a “Good” rating in the driver-side small overlap front crash test, the highest rating possible. This indicates a strong level of protection for the driver in this type of accident.
- Structure and Safety Cage: Rated “Good”, signifying that the structural integrity of the HR-V held up well during the impact, maintaining critical occupant space.
- Driver Injury Measures: All measured injury risks for the driver were rated “Good” across all body regions including head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot. This demonstrates effective protection minimizing potential injuries.
- Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: Also rated “Good”, indicating the airbags and seatbelts performed effectively in controlling the dummy’s movement and preventing excessive forces.
Action shot taken during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test, demonstrating the vehicle’s response to impact.
The technical measurements from the driver-side small overlap test further reinforce these positive ratings:
- Minimal Intrusion: Occupant compartment intrusion measurements were low, with maximum intrusion at the lower hinge pillar being 6 cm. This limited intrusion is crucial for maintaining survival space for the driver.
- Low Injury Measures: Head Injury Criterion (HIC) was low at 179, and neck tension and bending moment were well within acceptable limits. Chest compression was minimal at 23mm, and femur forces were also low, indicating a low risk of leg injuries. Tibia index and axial forces were also low, further supporting the “Good” rating for lower leg/foot protection.
Post-crash dummy position in the 2020 Honda HR-V driver-side small overlap test, illustrating the well-maintained driver survival space.
Frontal and side curtain airbags effectively worked together to protect the driver’s head in the small overlap frontal crash test.
Driver’s space remained well-maintained, and the risk of leg and foot injuries was assessed as low in the 2020 Honda HR-V driver-side small overlap test.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side Evaluation
While driver-side protection is critical, passenger safety is equally important. The passenger-side small overlap front crash test evaluates how well the vehicle protects the front passenger in a similar type of collision.
Passenger-Side Small Overlap Frontal Test Results
The 2020 Honda HR-V also performed well in the passenger-side small overlap test, achieving an “Acceptable” rating for structure and safety cage, and an overall “Good” rating.
- Overall Evaluation: “Good”
- Structure and Safety Cage: Rated “Acceptable”, a slight step down from “Good” but still indicating adequate structural performance.
- Passenger Injury Measures: All passenger injury measures for head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot were rated “Good”.
- Passenger Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: Rated “Good”, similar to the driver-side, demonstrating effective restraint system performance.
- Driver Injury Measures & Restraints: Interestingly, driver injury measures and restraints were also assessed in the passenger-side test and were rated “Good” across all categories.
Technical measurements for the passenger-side test show slightly higher intrusion compared to the driver-side test, which likely contributed to the “Acceptable” structure rating:
- Increased Intrusion: Lower hinge pillar intrusion measured 11 cm, footrest 9 cm, and right toepan 10 cm, all higher than the driver-side test. Upper occupant compartment intrusions were also higher.
- Low Passenger Injury Measures: Despite the increased intrusion, passenger injury measures remained low. HIC-15 was 295, neck forces were low, and chest compression was 21mm. Femur forces were slightly higher on the passenger side compared to the driver-side test, but still within acceptable limits, resulting in a “Good” rating for injury measures.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Test
The moderate overlap front crash test is a more traditional frontal crash test, involving a larger portion of the vehicle’s front end impacting a barrier. This test is designed to evaluate the performance of the vehicle’s primary front structure.
Moderate Overlap Frontal Test Results
The 2020 Honda HR-V earned a “Good” rating in the moderate overlap front crash test, demonstrating robust frontal crash protection.
- Overall Evaluation: “Good”
- Structure and Safety Cage: Rated “Good”, indicating excellent structural performance in this type of frontal impact.
- Driver Injury Measures: All driver injury measures, including head/neck, chest, and leg/foot (both left and right), were rated “Good”.
- Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: Rated “Good”, confirming effective performance of the restraint systems.
Technical measurements in the moderate overlap test show minimal occupant compartment intrusion and low injury risks:
- Minimal Footwell Intrusion: Footwell intrusion measurements were generally low, with a maximum of 10cm in the left and center footwell areas.
- Low Injury Measures: Head HIC-15 was 323, neck forces were low, and chest compression was 23mm. Leg injury measures were also very low, with minimal femur forces and tibia index.
Side Impact Crash Test: Original Test
Side impact crashes are particularly dangerous due to the limited protection offered by vehicle doors. The original side impact test evaluates the vehicle’s ability to protect occupants in a perpendicular collision.
Original Side Impact Test Results
The 2020 Honda HR-V achieved a “Good” rating in the original side impact test, indicating strong side crash protection.
- Overall Evaluation: “Good”
- Structure and Safety Cage: Rated “Good”, demonstrating the structural integrity of the side structure.
- Driver Injury Measures: All driver injury measures (head/neck, torso, pelvis/leg, and driver head protection) were rated “Good”.
- Rear Passenger Injury Measures: Similarly, all rear passenger injury measures were rated “Good”.
- Driver & Rear Passenger Head Protection: Both driver and rear passenger head protection were rated “Good”, highlighting the effectiveness of side airbags.
View of the 2017 Honda HR-V after the original side crash test, demonstrating the vehicle’s structural response.
Interior view after the original side crash test, illustrating side airbag deployment and the maintained integrity of the occupant compartment.
Greasepaint on the driver dummy’s head indicates effective protection by the side curtain airbag during the original side crash test.
Greasepaint on the rear passenger dummy’s head demonstrates head protection from the side airbag in the original side crash test.
Technical measurements from the original side impact test show good occupant protection:
- Minimal Intrusion: B-pillar intrusion was measured at -18.5 cm, indicating the crush stopped short of the driver’s seat centerline, a positive outcome.
- Low Injury Measures: Head HIC-15 was 149 for the driver and 177 for the rear passenger, both low. Neck, shoulder, torso, and pelvis injury measures were also low for both driver and rear passenger.
Side Impact Crash Test: Updated Test – A Point of Concern
An updated side impact test was introduced which is more stringent and represents a more severe side impact scenario. In this updated test, the 2020 Honda HR-V’s performance raises some concerns.
Updated Side Impact Test Results
In the updated side impact test, the 2020 Honda HR-V received an “Poor” overall rating. This is a significant downgrade compared to the “Good” rating in the original side impact test.
- Overall Evaluation: “Poor”
- Structure and Safety Cage: Rated “Poor”, indicating significant structural issues in this more demanding side impact scenario.
- Driver Injury Measures: While head/neck and driver head protection remained “Good”, torso injury was rated “Acceptable” and pelvis injury was rated “Marginal”.
- Rear Passenger Injury Measures: Similar to the driver, head/neck and rear passenger head protection were “Good”, but torso injury was “Acceptable” and pelvis injury was “Marginal”.
View of the 2021 Honda HR-V after the updated side crash test, highlighting the vehicle’s deformation and structural challenges.
Interior view after the updated side crash test, showing side airbag deployment amidst significant damage to the occupant compartment.
Greasepaint on the driver dummy’s head indicates head protection by the side airbags in the updated side crash test.
Greasepaint on the rear passenger dummy’s head shows head protection from the side airbag in the updated side crash test.
Technical measurements from the updated side impact test reveal substantial occupant compartment intrusion and higher injury measures, particularly in the pelvis region:
- Significant Intrusion: B-pillar intrusion was -2.5 cm, much less than the original test, indicating greater intrusion into the occupant space.
- Elevated Pelvis Injury Measures: Pelvis injury measures were significantly higher in the updated test, leading to the “Marginal” rating for pelvis protection for both driver and rear passenger. Torso injury measures were also higher, resulting in “Acceptable” torso protection.
Roof Strength Test
Roof strength is crucial in rollover accidents. The roof strength test assesses how well the vehicle’s roof can withstand forces in a rollover scenario.
Roof Strength Test Results
The 2020 Honda HR-V achieved a “Good” rating in the roof strength test, demonstrating a strong roof structure.
- Overall Evaluation: “Good”
- Strength-to-Weight Ratio: The HR-V exhibited a strength-to-weight ratio of 5.14, significantly exceeding the minimum requirement for a “Good” rating. This indicates that the roof can withstand over 5 times the vehicle’s weight before significant crush.
Head Restraints & Seats
Head restraints and seats play a vital role in preventing whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions.
Head Restraints & Seats Evaluation
The 2020 Honda HR-V received a “Good” rating for head restraints and seats, indicating effective whiplash protection.
- Overall Evaluation: “Good”
- Dynamic Rating: “Good”, based on simulated rear-impact testing.
- Seat/Head Restraint Geometry: “Good”, based on geometric measurements of the seat and head restraint.
Headlights
Headlight performance is critical for nighttime visibility and accident prevention. The IIHS evaluates headlights based on visibility and glare. The 2020 Honda HR-V has different headlight options depending on the trim level, resulting in varying ratings.
Headlight Ratings by Trim Level
- Touring Trim (LED Reflector): Rated “Acceptable”. These LED reflector headlights offer “Fair” to “Good” visibility on straightaways and curves, with high beam assist.
- EX and EX-L Trims (Halogen Projector): Rated “Marginal”. These halogen projector headlights provide “Fair” visibility on straightaways but are “Inadequate” on curves, despite having high beam assist.
- LX and Sport Trims (Halogen Projector): Rated “Poor”. These halogen projector headlights, without high beam assist, offer “Fair” visibility on straightaways but are “Inadequate” on curves, resulting in the lowest rating.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Front crash prevention systems are designed to mitigate or avoid frontal collisions. The 2020 Honda HR-V offers an optional Collision Mitigation Brake System as part of the Honda Sensing suite.
Front Crash Prevention Evaluation
With the optional Collision Mitigation Brake System, the 2020 Honda HR-V earns a “Superior” rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention.
- Overall Evaluation: “Superior” (with optional equipment)
- Forward Collision Warning: The system meets requirements for forward collision warning.
- Automatic Emergency Braking: The system successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Child seat anchors (LATCH) make it easier to install child safety seats correctly. The IIHS evaluates the ease of use of LATCH systems.
Child Seat Anchor Evaluation
The 2020 Honda HR-V received an “Acceptable” rating for child seat anchors.
- Overall Evaluation: “Acceptable”
- Number of LATCH Positions: The HR-V has 2 rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor and ability to borrow lower anchors.
- Ease of Use: While rated “Acceptable” overall, specific positions have varying ratings for tether and lower anchor ease of use, as detailed in the original report.
Conclusion: 2020 Honda HR-V Safety Performance
The 2020 Honda HR-V demonstrates a mixed bag of safety performance. It excels in many crash tests, including driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side impact, and roof strength, achieving “Good” ratings in these critical areas. Head restraints and seats also provide “Good” whiplash protection, and the optional front crash prevention system is “Superior”.
However, the “Acceptable” rating in the passenger-side small overlap front test and the concerning “Poor” rating in the updated side impact test are important points to consider. Furthermore, headlight ratings vary significantly by trim, with only the Touring trim achieving an “Acceptable” rating, while lower trims receive “Marginal” or “Poor” ratings. Child seat anchor ease of use is rated “Acceptable”.
For potential buyers of a 2020 Honda HR-V, it is crucial to weigh these safety ratings in the context of their individual needs and priorities. While the HR-V offers strong protection in many crash scenarios, the weaknesses identified in the updated side impact test, and headlight performance in lower trims, should be carefully considered alongside the vehicle’s other positive safety attributes.
