What’s a ZR-V?
Honda was early to the SUV social gathering with the HR-V and CR-V, however beside a short flirtation with an expensive BMW X5 rival within the mid-2000s it hasn’t actually expanded the vary past these two staples.
The ZR-V is right here to alter that. It sits between the small HR-V, which is barely a four-seater, and the larger new CR-V – and goes head-to-head with top-end variations of the Kia Seltos and Toyota Corolla Cross, and low-end variations of the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5 in Australia.
Confused? Consider it as an SUV designed to be sufficiently small that it’s pleasant within the metropolis, however with sufficient area for small youngsters and all of the junk that comes with them. Below the pores and skin, plenty of the ZR-V bundle has been tailored from the Civic hatchback.
The 2023 Honda ZR-V e:HEV LX on take a look at right here is the most costly member within the vary, and the one hybrid possibility at launch.
How a lot does the Honda ZR-V e:HEV LX value?
Pricing for the ZR-V kicks off at $40,200 drive-away, and extends to $54,900 drive-away for the e:HEV LX on take a look at.
Honda doesn’t do haggling or pricing variance between sellers, what you see is what you get with that determine – for higher or for worse.
The $54,900 drive-away sticker aligns the e:HEV with a range-topping Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos AWD Hybrid (~$55,000 drive-away). Different hybrid rivals are exhausting to come back by, though the Toyota RAV4 GXL Hybrid (~$54,000 drive-away) additionally shapes as a logical different.
2023 Honda ZR-V pricing:
- Honda ZR-V VTi X: $40,200
- Honda ZR-V VTi L: $43,200
- Honda ZR-V VTi LX: $48,500
- Honda ZR-V e:HEV LX: $54,900
All costs are drive-away
What’s the Honda ZR-V e:HEV LX like on the within?
Honda is on a roll with its newest interiors. The ZR-V seems to be and feels high-end, and is filled with intelligent touches geared toward making life simpler for homeowners.
The motive force and passenger sit in plush leather-based seats with heating and electrical adjustment, and imaginative and prescient out is fairly good. The seats drop down good and low to accomodate taller drivers, however anybody chasing a traditional ‘commanding’ SUV driving place received’t battle to realize that.
A lot of what you contact and have a look at feels high-quality. The steering wheel is wrapped in delicate leather-based, the elbow rests are generously padded, and the buttons and dials for the local weather management make a satisfying click on while you use them.
There are some more durable plastics current although. That is the most costly model of an in any other case comparatively inexpensive automobile, which shines by means of in locations.
Cupboard space is superb. There’s a wi-fi cellphone charger beneath the dashboard (that struggles with large digital camera bumps), twin cupholders beneath the sprint, and a giant, flat area beneath the transmission tunnel with two USB ports. The bin beneath the central armrest is huge, too.
Honda’s newest infotainment system is fashionable to take a look at, with crisp graphics and easy, slick menus. The maps lastly appear to be an OEM product somewhat than an aftermarket system, though the wi-fi smartphone mirroring means you may simply sidestep the inbuilt software program anyway.
Even the reversing digital camera is sharp and vibrant, not like the foggy unit from the final automobile. Over-the-air updates imply the system might be up to date all through its life, too.
The straightforward driver’s show is clear and simple to know on the transfer, however lacks the performance on provide in Volkswagen Group merchandise. You possibly can’t get reside mapping, for instance.
Rear seat area is stable given the ZR-V isn’t fairly as large as a RAV4 or CR-V. The massive doorways open good and large, making it simpler for adults to climb in – or for adults to load youngsters in – and legroom behind taller drivers is respectable for adults.
Twin USB-C ports and air vents are readily available, as is a fold-down central armrest. ISOFIX factors function on the outboard rear seats, and in contrast to the four-seat HR-V the ZR-V has three top-tether factors.
The center top-tether is a ceiling-mounted one although, and the middle-rear seatbelt is ceiling mounted, somewhat than built-in into the seat.
Though the outboard rear seats are properly scalloped, any center seat occupants can be left excessive and dry on what’s a fairly slim, awkward seat. No less than the ground is usually flat.
The slim bottle holders within the doorways will turn out to be useful on longer journeys, and there are map pockets behind the entrance seats to stow books or iPads on lengthy drives.
The boot is hit-and-miss – with simply 370 litres of area, it’s one of many smallest within the class. It’ll nonetheless take a pram or golf golf equipment, however you may have much less area to play with round.
On the plus aspect although, it’s a really nicely thought-out area. The ground might be break up in two to cease groceries sliding round, and the baggage cowl (which is a correct, stable unit) might be folded in half and saved beneath the ground somewhat than clogging up your storage.
What’s beneath the bonnet?
The e:HEV LX encompasses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder hybrid system with two electrical motors and an e-CVT. Whole system outputs are 135kW and 315Nm.
It’s front-wheel drive as normal, with no all-wheel drive possibility supplied in Australia. Claimed gasoline economic system is 5.0 litres per 100km on the mixed cycle.
All fashions run on 91 RON common unleaded gasoline and have a 57L gasoline tank.
How does the Honda ZR-V e:HEV LX drive?
Easy, quiet, and refined, the hybrid setup within the ZR-V is beautiful.
In some methods it’s fairly just like a Toyota hybrid. Prod the beginning button and also you typically get a “beep” to inform you the automobile is on, somewhat than an unpleasant flare of revs. Until it’s freezing chilly outdoors, the petrol engine isn’t wanted on startup – as an alternative, the ZR-V pulls away on electrical energy.
Between standstill and round 40km/h the electrical motor does a lot of the work in day-to-day driving, and when the engine is required it fires quietly. Until you’re wanting on the EV gentle within the instrument cluster it may be exhausting to know which energy supply is doing the heavy lifting.
Coupled with gentle steering and a snug journey, the hybrid setup makes the ZR-V a beautiful SUV to drive within the metropolis.
There’s barely any noise from the engine, and beneath 80km/h the cabin is properly insulated in opposition to wind and street noise. Even on the 18-inch alloy wheels you get with LX variants, the ZR-V doesn’t crash and bash over metropolis potholes or pace bumps.
Imaginative and prescient out of the tall home windows is nice in each course, making this a simple automobile to position in tight areas, and the change from the previous camera-based blind-spot monitor to a lightweight within the exterior mirrors is a step ahead for Honda.
Hybrids aren’t identified for being enjoyable to drive, however Honda methods buck that pattern. Put your foot down and the electrical motor and petrol engine workforce as much as ship a fairly spectacular shove within the again, full with faux gearshifts from the CVT automated.
Reasonably than an unpleasant, droney sensation while you wish to go quick, the Honda feels blissful to push exhausting.
The steering is linear off centre, and there’s stable sufficient physique management which you can drive the ZR-V like an outsized hatchback on attention-grabbing roads. It’s not fairly as nimble because the decrease, lighter Civic, however that is an SUV able to having a little bit of enjoyable.
At freeway speeds the ZR-V seems like a much bigger automobile. It’s properly settled over large crests and dips, and Honda’s driver assists are all readily available to nudge you again between the white strains, or to keep up a niche with the automobile in entrance, with out feeling overbearing.
There’s sufficient punch from the hybrid powertrain to make overtaking a breeze on single-lane nation roads, however the lack of all-wheel drive can be a flip off for some. It’s attainable to get the entrance wheels spinning off the mark within the metropolis when it’s moist, and should you frequent the snow or areas with gravel roads all-wheel drive turns out to be useful.
There’s a little bit of street roar from the tyres and wind rustle from the outsized mirrors at 100km/h on common Australian roads.
What do you get?
There are 4 variants within the ZR-V vary.
ZR-V VTi X highlights:
- Adaptive LED headlights
- Lively cornering lights
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Hill descent management
- 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay
- Wired Android Auto
- 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster
- 8-speaker sound system
- Black cloth upholstery
- Twin-zone local weather management
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel and shifter
- Upholstered centre console with French stitching
- Entrance USB ports (1 x USB-A and 1 x USB-C)
- Rear USB ports (2 x USB-C)
- Rear air vents
- House-saver spare wheel
- 60/40 break up/fold rear seats
ZR-V VTi L provides:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Heated exterior mirrors
- Palms-free energy tailgate with walk-away closing
- Rear privateness glass
- Mixture LED tail lights
- Black leatherette upholstery
- Heated entrance seats
- Metallic paddle shifters
- LED ambient lighting (roof)
ZR-V VTi LX provides:
- 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels
- Physique-coloured decrease bumpers and wheel arches
- Selectable drive modes (Sport, Regular, Financial system)
- 12-speaker Bose sound system
- Wi-fi cellphone charger
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- Black leather-based upholstery
- Eight-way energy driver’s seat with reminiscence
- 4-way energy passenger seat
- Heated rear seats
- Heated steering wheel
- Sports activities pedals
- ‘Door Line Illumination’
- Auto-tilting mirrors in reverse
- Plasmacluster air purification system
ZR-V e:HEV LX provides:
- Sensible key card
- Shift-by-wire gear selector
- Tyre restore package (in lieu of space-saver spare)
- Humidity sensor
Is the Honda ZR-V e:HEV LX secure?
The Honda ZR-V has but to be examined by ANCAP.
Customary security gear contains:
- AEB incl. Pedestrian, Bicycle owner detection
- Adaptive cruise management with low-speed observe
- Driver consideration monitoring
- Site visitors Jam Help
- Lane preserve help
- Site visitors signal recognition
- Entrance and rear parking sensors
- Tyre stress monitoring
- 11 airbags
- Centre airbag
- Entrance and rear aspect airbags
- Full-length curtain airbags
VTi LX and above get blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and a surround-view digital camera.
How a lot does the Honda ZR-V e:HEV LX value to run?
All Honda ZR-V fashions are backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.
Servicing is required each 12 months or 10,000km, whichever comes first. The primary 5 companies are capped at $199 every.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Honda ZR-V e:HEV LX
The hybrid Honda ZR-V presents spectacular gasoline economic system and a fun-to-drive character.
Throw within the spacious, luxurious inside and cheap worth alongside its large rivals from Toyota, and also you’ve bought a fairly interesting new possibility in probably the most crowded corners of Australia’s new automobile market.
Honda has been struggling to make an influence on the gross sales charts in Australia recently, because it transitions to a brand new enterprise mannequin, with a brand new pricing construction, and a brand new vary of automobiles.
The ZR-V may very well be the catalyst for a little bit of a revival. Our largest criticism is that the e:HEV hybrid powertrain on take a look at isn’t out there in a less expensive mannequin variant – hopefully that modifications quickly.
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MORE: Every part Honda ZR-V
