Honda HR-V Tune-Up & Maintenance Costs (Complete Guide)

The Honda HR-V is a highly reliable subcompact SUV that debuted in the United States in 2015.

In this article we’ll give you all the info about its maintenance, tune-up and running costs.

Here is the short answer to are Honda HR-V expensive to maintain:

The Honda HR-V has very affordable maintenance costs. It would cost you around $301 to maintain a Honda HR-V every year, which is lower than the average of $466 annually for subcompact SUVs. A tune-up will be around $212, including the replacement of spark plugs.

Are Honda HR-V Expensive to Maintain?

The Honda HR-V is incredibly affordable to maintain and this is thanks to its excellent reliability, which means repairs are infrequent.

When looking to buy a new vehicle it’s important to assess maintenance costs to ensure you’re able to properly look after it.

Failing to stay on top of routine servicing and repairs will lead to poor reliability and shorten the lifespan of your vehicle.

Below you’ll find a complete price breakdown for some of the most common costs for the Honda HR-V, all data is from RepairPal:

Honda HR-V MaintenanceCost
Average annual repairs and maintenance$301
Tune-Up Cost$212
Alternator replacement $523 – $825
Oil change$99 – $115
Wiper blade replacement$162 – $169
Air filter replacement$67 – $75
Battery replacement$189 – $201
New brakes$191 – $230
Coolant change$123 – $155
New tires (set of 4)$500 – $512
New tire (one only)$125 – $128
New spark plugs$129 – $274
Tire & wheel assembly rotate & balance$79 – $100
New transmission$3500
Insurance$1316 / year (average)

How Much is a Tune-Up on a Honda HR-V?

This will vary greatly depending on where you take your Honda HR-V and you’ll likely have to pay more at a Honda dealership than your local mechanic.

Honda recommends having a tune-up every 5,000 miles or six months whichever comes first.

You can expect to pay in the region of $212 for a fairly comprehensive Honda HR-V tune-up that includes, but is not limited to:

  • New spark plugs
  • Thorough inspection of engine components
  • Filters changed
  • Coolant flush
  • Cleaning IAC valve (idle air control)
  • Throttle body clean
  • Transmission and differential fluid change

Whilst your Honda HR-V is under warranty it is advised you get it serviced at a registered Honda dealership.

Regular tune-ups are highly recommended because:

  • They can bring more power back to your engine.
  • Helps your engine run efficiently and start smoothly, which equates to lower emissions and better fuel economy.
  • Ensures long-term engine health and performance

Alternator Replacement Cost?

A new alternator on a Honda HR-V will set you back between $523 – $825 for a replacement which should last around 80,000 to 150,000 miles or 5 – 10 years

While the battery is used for starting your car when the engines off, the alternator keeps your car alive when the engine is running. 

The alternator powers most electronic components while you’re driving around or idling and is also responsible for charging the battery of your car while driving.

Oil Change Cost?

The cost of an oil change should cost in the region of $99 – $115, this includes parts and labor, however does not include taxes and fees. An oil change is one of the most meaningful and vital services for your car.

  • An oil change should be performed on the Honda HR-V every 3,000 – 5,000 miles for conventional oil. 
  • Synthetic oil typically should be changed every 7,500 – 10,000 miles.

At most, oil change intervals should not exceed 10,000 miles, twelve months, or 350 hours of engine run time (whichever comes first)

Wiper Blade Replacement Cost?

This is a relatively simple and quick fix, and you can easily save yourself a few bucks by buying your own wiper blades and installing them yourself, there are plenty of YouTube tutorials on this. 

Most Honda HR-Vs use a 26″ wiper blade on the driver’s side, 18″ on the passenger’s side and 10″ for the rear.

Wiper blades for the Honda HR-V can be picked up for around $30, and installed by yourself for free. 

However, if you want a professional to fit them for you then you can expect to pay in the region of $162 – $169 for parts and labor with taxes and fees on top.

Air Filter Replacement Cost?

According to RepairPal, air filter replacement cost on a Honda HR-V is between $67 – $75, not including taxes and fees.

The good news is this task, which should be performed annually or whenever the filter is clogged or dirty, is another fairly straightforward DIY.

Simply open the hood, locate and open the air filter’s housing, remove the old one, insert the new one and replace the housing cover. 

This will help both your car and your bank account breathe a little easier, lots of tutorials on YouTube for this one also. 

Battery Replacement Cost?

According to RepairPal, the cost of a battery replacement for a Honda HR-V should cost $189 – $201.

Whilst there are no specific mileage recommendations for when a battery needs to be replaced, they do eventually die.

In general, it’s a good idea to replace your battery once every 4-5 years.

A vehicle’s battery life varies depending on many different factors such as climate, driving habits, and battery type, among many others.

To help your battery last longer:

  1. Keep your battery tightly fastened: The vibrations of your SUV can loosen the connections, potentially resulting in short circuits and internal damage.
  2. Limit short rides: Short rides prevent the battery from fully charging.
  3. Control Corrosion: Clean the terminals (toothbrush dipped in baking soda and water mixture) and keep them free from build-up.

You may also be interested in our article: Honda HR-V Beeping Problems? (7 Causes & Solutions)

New Brakes Cost?

Honda HR-V brake pads can last anywhere between 30,000 to 60,000 miles and necessary brake work isn’t a cost you can afford to neglect.

The average cost to replace your Honda HR-V brake pads, According to RepairPal, is between $191 – $230.

Brake pads will wear out at different rates depending on factors such as climate and your style of driving.

Pro tip: To prolong the life of your brakes – Keep your speed low in heavy traffic and avoid any sudden braking.

Cost to Change Coolant?

If it’s just a top-up your Honda HR-V requires then this is a simple task you can perform yourself. 

You can pick up coolant at any gas station for a few bucks and top up to the level required.

If on the other hand, you require a coolant change, which simply involves draining the coolant from the base of the radiator and then replenishing with fresh fluids, this is going to cost you a bit more.

According to RepairPal, the average cost of a Honda HR-V coolant change is between $123 – $155 (excluding taxes and fees).

How Much Does a New Transmissions Cost?

Transmissions on the Honda HR-V typically last 14 years or around 200,000 miles, depending on how well they are maintained and how the SUV is driven.

The average cost for an aftermarket or rebuilt transmission for a Honda HR-V could be over $3500. This range may vary depending on the model year.

Tire & Wheel Assembly, Rotate & Balance Cost

Tire rotate ensures each tire gets worn evenly whilst balancing ensures they roll smoothly and there’s no vibration (this also helps improve your fuel economy).

According to RepairPal, the average cost for a Honda HR-V tire & wheel assembly, rotate & balance is between $79 and $100 – this does not include taxes and fees.

How much Insurance Cost?

According to insuraviz.com, the average cost of Honda HR-V insurance is $110 / month or $1316 / year (as opposed to the $1,506 national vehicle average insurance rate).

These figures can vary greatly depending on a number of factors such as your age, driving record and state requirements etc. 

  • It’s always best to shop around and get at least 3 quotes, make sure the company you choose is reputable.
  • Use price comparison sites like Compare.com.
  • There are big discounts available for taking additional driving courses or being a senior
  • The best way to keep your insurance costs down is to drive safely

Related: 8 Best & Worst Honda HR-V Years (With Facts & Stats)

Honda HR-V Repair Costs Compared to Similar Models

ModelAvg. Annual 
Repair Cost
Frequency of
Unscheduled
Repairs (per year)
Probability of
Severe Repairs
Honda HR-V$3010.15%
Mazda CX-3$3450.27%
Kia Soul$4370.29%
Jeep Renegade$4980.29%
Buick Encore$4660.212%
Chevrolet Trax$4880.212%
Nissan Juke$5480.412%
Avg. Subcompact SUV$4660.29%

How Reliable is the Honda HR-V Compared to Other Models?

ModelReliability 
Honda HR-V5.0 / 5.0
Mazda CX-34.5 / 5.0
Kia Soul4.5 / 5.0
Jeep Renegade4.0 / 5.0
Buick Encore4.0 / 5.0
Chevrolet Trax4.0 / 5.0
Nissan Juke4.0 / 5.0
Avg. Subcompact SUV4.0

How Long is the Honda HR-V Manufacturers Warranty?

When you drive your new Honda off the dealership lot, you’ll be covered by Honda’s factory warranty of 36,000 miles / 3 years basic coverage and 60,000 miles / 5 years powertrain warranty coverage.

You can check your vehicle warranty status, track your service history, view your Owner’s Manual and more on the Honda website. If you cannot find the VIN number, the only real way to check your vehicle’s factory warranty is to call or visit your local dealership.

Resources

  1. https://automobiles.honda.com/odyssey/warranty#
  2. https://insuraviz.com/vehicles/honda/honda-hr-v-insurance/ 
  3. https://www.repairsmith.com/i/estimates/engine-mechanical/engine-tune-up/Honda/HR-V/
  4. https://repairpal.com/reliability/honda/hr-v 
  5. https://repairpal.com/estimator/honda/hr-v/alternator-replacement-cost
  6. https://repairpal.com/estimator/honda/hr-v/oil-change-cost 
  7. https://repairpal.com/estimator/honda/hr-v/windshield-wiper-arm-replacement-cost
  8. https://repairpal.com/estimator/honda/hr-v/air-filter-replacement-cost
  9. https://repairpal.com/estimator/honda/hr-v/battery-replacement-cost 
  10. https://repairpal.com/estimator/honda/hr-v/brake-pad-replacement-cost 
  11. https://repairpal.com/estimator/honda/hr-v/coolant-change-cost 
  12. https://repairpal.com/estimator/honda/hr-v/wheel-replacement-cost 
  13. https://repairpal.com/estimator/honda/hr-v/spark-plug-replacement-cost 

Author:

  • Ian Sawyer

    Growing up with a father who was a mechanic I had an appreciation for cars and motorcycles from an early age. I shared my first bike with my brother that had little more than a 40cc engine but it opened up a world of excitement for me, I was hooked. As I grew older I progressed onto bigger bikes and...