Honda HR-V is practical and comfortable if slightly dated

Honda HR-V drive by Steve Rogers

What a change to be talking about an ordinary well-thought-out family car rather than the latest Chinese offering.

Come to think about it, I've nothing against them apart from the enormous screens and lack of switches. Normal service will resume soon when I take a look at the Skywell B11 electric. That’s one you have probably never heard of either.

Back to the here and now and the Honda HR-V. Get behind the wheel and it looks strangely dated but comforting at the same time. Maybe it is because there is no intimidating 16in screen taking over the dashboard and I can control the heating with chunky knobs. What a relief.

Not so long ago a 9in touchscreen would be considered large. Now it looks tiny in the HR-V yet neat and plenty big enough for me thank you very much.

It looks after the radio channels, navigation and other car related bits and bobs along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto if you want to bypass the car’s entertainment and navigation and use everything on your mobile phone instead.

You might spot a theme developing… the HR-V is thoughtfully practical. That was always the plan from the first model in 1999, a boxy glasshouse, to the current third generation, a compact family SUV with a couple of tricks up its sleeve. If you are wondering why there have been only three models in 26 years it's because HR-V went into hibernation for seven years.

The current model took off in 2022 and has been updated with some cosmetic work to the front bumper and grille, a full width rear light bar - every car seems to have one - and a few tweaks to the dashboard layout to accommodate a slot for wireless phone charging.

I said the car is hugely practical and here’s why. The back seat cushions flip up cinema style creating space for all sorts, tall, wide, you name it the HR-V will take it. We saw the system first in the smaller Jazz and is a brilliant piece of design.

A lot of thought has gone into freeing up space so the hybrid’s 12v battery has been moved to the engine bay and the fuel tank to under the front seats. This allows the back seat cushions to drop deep into the floor creating a completely flat load area. Not many rivals can make that boast.

This is all finished off with a low tailgate edge and wide aperture for easy loading to that flat floor which, by the way, can accommodate two adult bikes upright with the front wheels removed.

Now you are expecting me to tell you the car has an enormous boot. I am afraid it flatters to deceive with less space than many of its competitors. Could that be the reason there is generous legroom in the back - take away from one area and give to another?

And on the subject of the back seat, it works best for two people. The centre piece is raised and quite narrow so apart from being uncomfortable head room is sparse, it is not that generous for the outer seats either. Blame the sloping coupe roofline.

Honda is strong on hybrid technology and this 1.5 litre petrol engine with its twin electric motors is hugely efficient. It is self charging with strong three stage regenerative braking either by flicking the gear lever to B position to hold it, or short, sharp usage from steering wheel paddles.

It generates enough power for short spells of electric driving mainly in towns but switches between petrol and electric whenever it can. You won’t notice the transition, it is seamless. What it amounts to is very good economy. I easily beat the official combined figure hovering around 57mpg and topping 60mpg on longer runs.

The only downside is engine noise. Honda has invested in sound deadening and it has paid off with very little road or wind noise, but floor the accelerator and you will be reaching for the ear defenders.

If we ignore the Chinese brands HR-V fairs well against its rivals on price. It has a high quality finish, is very well equipped even at entry level but I would recommend looking at this Advance, number two in a five range line up. It comes with keyless entry and start, heated front seats, leather trim and powered tailgate.

So what we have is a comfortable, practical family SUV that excels in most areas. It is surrounded by able rivals but is good enough to be high up the list when deciding which car to go for.

Favourite feature: It has to be the flip up rear seats.

Fast facts

HR-V Advance Hybrid

£36,320 (starts £32,725)

1.5 litre petrol; 129bhp

0-62 10.7secs; 106mph

52.3mpg combined

122g/km. 1st VED £455

Insurance group 33

Boot: 319-1305 litres

Roadworks next week on A539 between town and Wenffrwdd park

Denbighshire County Council's highways department will be undertaking some carriageway patching works on the A539 next week - week ending May 11 -between the town centre and the Wenffrwdd pocket park entrance.

These works are part of a long-standing programme and have therefore been marked out on site several weeks ago.

As is standard, they’ve been scheduled to take place after the winter maintenance period as part of the council’s pre-planned highways programme.

DCC says the work will take four days to complete and traffic will be managed by convoy working with traffic lights.

Work due to start on cemetery improvements next Monday

* A package of improvements at Llangollen Cemetery are due to start next week.

Work is due to start next Monday on a package of improvements at Llangollen Cemetery.

This includes increased burial provision for 322 graves and onsite parking plus a new access for vehicles at the bottom of the cemetery accessed from Vicarage Road.  

An officer's report recently approved by Denbighshire County Council describes how the authority has secured Shared Prosperity and capital funding to deliver "much needed" infrastructure improvements at the cemetery. 

The report says: "Vehicular access to the cemetery is currently only possible by traffic driving through the adjacent housing estate, which is narrow and difficult to navigate, this has resulted in some complaints being received from residents in recent years.

"To address the current issues and improve accessibility to the cemetery, it is proposed to create a new vehicular access at the bottom of the cemetery which will be accessed via Vicarage Road. 

"This improvement will not only facilitate easier access for visitors but will enable funeral directors to access the site without disturbing neighbouring residents as well as providing onsite parking at the cemetery."

The report adds: "Additionally, the cemetery is nearing full capacity with less than 12 months of burial provision remaining within the current older section of the cemetery. 

"The adjoining land located to the south of the site, which has in recent years been used for grazing, has always been earmarked for future burial provision when required. This project will develop the infrastructure on this plot of land for increased burial provision. 

* A site plan showing the existing cemetery hatched in black and the additional burial area at the top, hatched in red, bordering onto Vicarage Road.

"There will also be some minor landscaping completed including tree planting in some areas around the car park to enhance the appearance of the site along with improvements to aid biodiversity such as installation of bat and bird boxes.

"The construction phase of the project will take approximately 10 weeks to complete  - weather depending - with works expected to start on site week commencing May 11."

The improvements have been welcomed by Llangollen county councillor Karen Edwards who said: "I welcome the proposed improvements at Llangollen Cemetery, particularly the plans to increase future burial provision at a time when the existing site is nearing capacity. 

"I discussed the need for this work with officers in early 2025, and it is positive to see the project now being delivered, with works due to begin this month. 

"It is important that we plan ahead to ensure the community continues to have appropriate and respectful facilities, and I welcome the inclusion of landscaping and biodiversity enhancements as part of this scheme."

* A plan highlighting the additional grave capacity, marked in red, the new car park to the right, in grey, the footpaths, in darker grey, and the access for maintenance vehicles from the top left to the parking area, cross-hatched in black.   

Eddie completes tough 200-mile trek in memory of his wife

* Eddie with his two sisters and brother at the start of the walk in Leeds.

A Llangollen man whose wife died from cancer at the age of just 46 has completed a 200-mile fundraising walk in her memory.

Eddie Bather's wife Sarah died on May 1 last year and he did the marathon trek along the canal network from Leeds to Llangollen to raise money for Nightingale House Hospice, which provided her with care in her final days. 

While he set himself a target figure of £10,000, he has managed to almost triple that amount by notching up close on £28,000 in sponsorship pledges from his many supporters.

Keeping him company along the way were his brother Mike and Sarah's sisters Becky and Beth.

* Eddie and his late Sarah.

The foursome eventually arrived back in town over the weekend to a warm reception laid on at the RAFA Club.

Eddie said: "We completed the 203-mile walk from Leeds to Llangollen on Sunday. The four of us that undertook this challenge have all suffered with blisters, swollen ankles, aches and pains but we did it!

"It was an incredible last day and we were joined by friends and family to see us home. The RAFA club kindly put on free food for us at the finish which was very much appreciated.

"I’ve totally been blown away by people’s generosity and we have raised nearly £28,000 in Sarah’s memory. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every person who has donated. It means so much to me and my family." 

* The fundraisers make their way home along the canal.

Eddie had earlier explained: "My wife Sarah was a wonderful wife and a fantastic mother to our four children. She always had a smile on her face and everyone felt better for spending time with her. 

"She had a love for life that was unparalleled and was always planning or doing something, from her love of afternoon tea, theatre, holidays and jigsaws. A lot of people in the area will remember her as she worked at Llangollen doctors."

Eddie chose the 203-mile route from Leeds as Sarah was born in the city and passed away in Llangollen.  

The walk took nine days and meant completing the equivalent of a marathon each day.

"The idea behind this was that when Sarah was ill she used to say getting up and down the stairs was like running a marathon," Eddie said.

"Although Sarah died at home, the hospice were on standby just in case we needed them and the work they carry out is vital for this community."

* To see Eddie's fundraising page, go to: Eddie Bather is fundraising for Nightingale House Hospice

Llangollen Flower Club coffee morning today

                            

Police appeal after fatal collision

North Wales Police have this afternoon posted the following appeal on their Facebook page:

"We are appealing for witnesses following a road traffic collision yesterday.

"A man has died following a road traffic collision on the B4401, Llandrillo. At 7.01pm  on Sunday 3rd of May 2026. We received a report of a single vehicle collision on the B4401 between Llandderfel and Llandrillo involving a Honda Quad bike.

"The emergency services attended, however, despite their best efforts and those of members of the public, the male rider of the Quad Bike was pronounced dead at the scene.

"His next of kin and the Coroner have been informed.

"The Forensic Collision Investigation Unit were at scene to carry out their initial investigation which closed the road for several hours and we thank the public for their patience during this time.

"Sergeant Duncan Logan from North Wales Police said: “I offer my deepest condolences to the family of the man at this difficult time.

“This incident is now sadly being investigated as a fatal road traffic collision.

“We are requesting for witnesses, CCTV, DASHCAM or mobile footage, from those travelling or walking in the vicinity to contact us. Anybody with information is urged to contact officers at the Roads Crime Unit via the live webchat on the website, or by calling 101, quoting reference number 26000350452." 

Couple mark 30 years of railway volunteering

 

* Wayne and Sue Ronneback celebrate their 30 years of dedicated volunteering on the railway. Picture: Oliver Lang 

There was a second special anniversary to celebrate this bank holiday weekend on the Llangollen and Corwen Railway, as Wayne and Sue Ronneback marked 30 years of dedicated volunteering.

 

Wayne, the much respected and inspirational Station Master at Corwen, and his wife Sue, Duty Station Master at the same station, first began volunteering with the railway in 1996. 

Over the past three decades, they have become central figures in the railway’s success. Sue also plays a vital role behind the scenes, managing the complex rosters for the hundreds of volunteers who keep the award-winning railway running.

 

To recognise their incredible contribution, a special presentation took place, with the choir from Ysgol Carrog, fresh from their performance at the Carrog 30th anniversary celebrations, returning to perform once again in honour of Wayne and Sue.

 

The railway presented the couple with flowers as a token of appreciation for their years of service and dedication. In a typically generous gesture, Wayne then treated all of the children to ice creams, a moment that perfectly captured the warmth and community spirit that defines the railway.

 

David Hennigan, Trust Manager, said: "Wayne and Sue represent everything that is special about this railway. Their dedication, commitment and enthusiasm over the past 30 years have been nothing short of extraordinary. 

"Between them, they have given thousands of hours to support the railway and the wider community. Sue’s work coordinating our volunteer rosters is absolutely vital, while Wayne’s leadership at Corwen inspires everyone around him. They are both hugely respected and valued by all of us.

 

“It was wonderful to see the children from Ysgol Carrog perform for them today. Moments like that remind us that this railway is about people, community and shared experiences. Wayne buying ice creams for the children was a lovely and fitting way to say thank you, and sums up the kind of people they are."