Honda HR-V vs Chevrolet Bolt

The 2026 Honda HR-V was available in three trim levels: LX, Sport, and EX-L, with prices in Canada ranging from $33,446 to $41,846, including a $2,000 destination charge and other fees. The EX-L trim, which we tested, featured a Nordic Forest Pearl paint and had an MSRP of $42,246. The HR-V's design was not universally appealing, with its blobby grille and unusual profile, but the green paint and 18-inch alloy wheels under gloss-black wheel arches enhanced its appearance. The 2026 model introduced new wheel designs across all trims and added new paint colours like Boost Blue and Solar Silver. Inside, the HR-V's cabin was more attractive, especially with the grey upholstery available only in the EX-L trim. The EX-L also boasted genuine leather seats with Z-pattern stitching and upgraded cabin lighting, adding a touch of luxury to the interior.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt retained a familiar look, with slight styling changes that made its front end resemble a conventional gas-powered car. The 2027 model continued with the EUV body style, offering a tall and narrow stance that prioritized utility and interior space. The RS model added gloss black exterior trim for a subtle enhancement. Inside, the Bolt underwent a more significant makeover, featuring a larger digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The push-button gear selector was moved to the steering column, freeing up storage space in the centre console. Despite the hard plastic surfaces, the cabin offered some padded touchpoints, and the RS trim upgraded to Evotex synthetic leather with red stitching. The rear seating area, however, lacked padding for the door armrests.

The 2026 Honda HR-V was powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 138 pound-feet of torque at 4,200 rpm. Weighing up to 1,510 kilograms, the HR-V's engine worked hard, especially when paired with the continuously variable transmission (CVT). While the CVT performed well in urban settings, the HR-V struggled with acceleration on highways and steep grades. Despite its modest power, the HR-V's fuel economy was not particularly impressive, averaging 9.5 L/100 km on our test loop. The HR-V's dynamic tuning, however, was commendable, with a multi-link rear suspension and Agile Handling Assist providing a lively driving experience. The EX-L's 18-inch wheels offered good grip, and the 18.5 centimetres of ground clearance allowed for some off-road capability.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt featured a new 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron phosphate battery pack and a motor from Chevy's Equinox EV, delivering 210 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels. The Bolt's acceleration was quick, with a 0-100 km/h time in the low seven-second range. One-pedal driving was available, with adjustable brake regeneration levels. The Bolt's ride was firm but not overly stiff, and its low centre of gravity contributed to agile handling on curvy roads. On a full charge, the Bolt offered an estimated range of 422 kilometres, an improvement over previous models. The Bolt also featured a Tesla-derived North American Charging Standard (NACS) charge port, with increased charging speed allowing for a quick recharge from 10% to 80% in 25 minutes.

The 2026 Honda HR-V's interior space was less innovative than its predecessors, lacking features like the original "Magic Seat." The rear seats folded flat, but the HR-V did not offer a fold-flat front passenger seat or a 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat. The cargo area provided 691 litres of space behind the rear seats, with a total of 1,559 litres when folded. The driver and front passenger enjoyed reasonable storage, though the surfaces were plastic. The back seat offered adequate space but lacked comfort features like a centre armrest and cupholders. The HR-V's practicality was enhanced by its boxier roofline, but it missed out on features like rear climate control vents and USB charging ports.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt offered an upright driving position with ample space for larger occupants. The rear seats provided good headroom and thigh support, with a flat floor reducing discomfort for centre-seat passengers. The Bolt's cargo capacity was 459 litres behind the rear seats, with a large bin underneath the floor for additional storage. The rear seatbacks folded flat with the cargo floor, and the release latches were easily accessible. While the Bolt lacked a frunk, it offered ample storage for personal items, including a large bin with dividers, a floor tray, and a deep centre armrest bin. The Bolt's interior storage solutions were practical and well-designed.

The 2026 Honda HR-V featured a 9-inch touchscreen with a faster processor, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless smartphone charger. However, it lacked built-in navigation and SiriusXM satellite radio. The base LX had four speakers, while the Sport and EX-L trims had six and eight speakers, respectively. The infotainment system was user-friendly, and the EX-L's audio system delivered good sound quality. The HR-V's tech was simple but effective, though it lagged behind competitors like the Hyundai Kona in terms of features.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt came with an 11-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.3-inch centre touchscreen, running on a Google-based operating system. Apple CarPlay and standalone Android Auto were not supported, but the system offered some built-in features. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, and a wireless charging pad. The infotainment system was intuitive, with sharp graphics and quick responses. The Bolt's navigation system helped locate charging stations and preconditioned the battery for optimal charging. The Bolt also offered vehicle-to-load charging, allowing it to serve as a backup power source for a home.

The 2026 Honda HR-V was equipped with Honda Sensing, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centring assist, adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. In Canada, blind-spot monitors and rear cross-traffic alert were standard. The EX-L trim added front and rear parking sensors with low-speed automatic braking. While Honda Sensing was generally unobtrusive, the adaptive cruise control occasionally failed to perform as expected, requiring driver intervention. The HR-V received favourable safety ratings from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for the 2025 model year.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt's crash test results were not available at the time of writing, but it was expected to achieve high scores based on its platform. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitors with active steering assist, and a safety alert seat. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, rain-sensing wipers, rear pedestrian alert, and traffic-sign recognition. The Bolt also offered GM's Super Cruise hands-free automated highway driving system for an additional cost.