Being a Honda, you should be able to just drive and drive and drive and keep driving, very reliable. Don't know what there like off road, but 4X4 should get you out of places a 2 wheel drive won't.
cheers! I used to have an old J reg Prelude. I ADORED that car. It was near enough MINT and as I recall, I never had an issue with it other than some weird fuel pump niggle that meant after stopping and turning off the ignition, you had to wait literally 2 mins before it would restart. But still, it always started, and never broke down or anything.
anyway, the 4wd of the HRV is part time. Seems the 4wd kicks in only when the front wheels slip, and as its a front wheel drive car, makes some sense I suppose. I have seen videos proving its ability in the snow on ROADS, but its definitely no off roader. I have been onto the Honda club, and a chap on there has videos of him driving in simple off road conditions-forest tracks that sort of thing, too much for a car, and it does fine.
So for me, the hR-V will be fine, and as the general running costs are lower than a Terrano, its a viable option. The lack of affordable Terranos right now, is forcing me to look at alternatives, but I have to say, I have always liked the HRv but I always thought they were 2wd ONLY, so my eyes have opened now..!!