The Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-30 return unchanged for 2021. In the case of the Honda product, it's a final run for the first-generation model. For the CX-30, it's a second year on the market, with the SUV making its debut last year.

Should we give the newer vehicle an advantage just because it has a more modern design? Often, that's the case, but not here, when the real utility vehicle is on Honda's side.

In fact, from the moment it was conceived, the HR-V was designed to offer unprecedented versatility. Based on the Fit subcompact's chassis, it also incorporated its interior layout, which allows the second-row seats to disappear thanks to a rather impressive mechanical sweep. The result is that you can free up 1,665 liters of space when you get into the HR-V. That's the kind of cargo space you'd expect from an SUV.

With the Mazda CX-30, you're limited to 1,280 liters. Even with the rear seats in place, the difference is marked; 688 liters for the HR-V, 572 for the CX-30.

What's more, the design gives you better visibility inside the model sold by Honda. This is an important element when it comes to safety.

Another consideration puts the HR-V 2021 ahead of the CX-30 2021: fuel consumption. Whether you compare front- or all-wheel drive models, the appetite of Honda's 1.8-litre 4-cylinder is always less than that of the CX-30's 2.0-litre 4-cylinder; 7.8 vs. 8.1 liters for the combined average of two-wheel drive models, 8.2 vs. 8.6 liters for four-wheel drive models, always to the advantage of the HR-V.

A more spacious, more frugal model with a better resale value is what you can expect with a 2021 Honda HR-V.