Honda ZR-V
In a world where the SUV/Crossover is king and ’90s Mondeo-man now drives a Kuga (more likely a Sportage, tbh), it’s no surprise when one enters Honda UK’s website and is greeted by a sea of the genre to choose from.
This, then is the Honda ZR-V, a crossover designed to slot in between their slightly larger CR-V and ever-so-slightly smaller HR-V models. It’s aiming directly at Nissan’s evergreen Qashqai, with Honda wanting to take a chunk of its incredible sales – who could blame them?
Civic based
Honda’s chosen a great place to start with the ZR-V; it’s based on their excellent Civic, sharing a platform, powertrain and most of its interior with Honda’s standout family hatchback.
That means there’s only one engine available; the 2.0l I-MMD self-charging hybrid unit. It uses clever tech to drive the wheels with two-electric motors linked to a lithium-ion battery which, in turn, uses the petrol engine as a generator unless it’s necessary or more efficient to have the internal combustion engine directly drive the wheels.
Sounds complicated; if you break it down in engineering terms it probably is but as a driver you needn’t worry yourself with all that. All you do is press start, press drive and go – the tech looks after itself.
How much does the ZR-V cost to run?
What this means in terms of economy and therefore how easy-going the ZR-V will be on your wallet is a fairly large SUV that returns nearly 50mpg. It’s bigger and heavier than the Civic it’s based on so the ZR-V does lose a few miles per gallon. Cleanliness doesn’t usually translate to an exciting drive but in all fairness the ZR-V Advance manages 0-62mph in 8.0 seconds which isn’t too sluggish at all. A very welcome aspect of the way it drives is the simulated gear-changes Honda has engineered in. Sounds a bit tacky and forced? – trust me, it’s a lot better than the frustration of a CVT ‘box.
The Civic the ZR-V is based on has a well-earned reputation for being good fun to drive, and I don’t just mean in Type R guise, either. Usually the transition to taller, heavier SUV would mean a loss of accuracy and feel in both the steering and suspension but the Honda engineers have done a sterling job of keeping the ZR-V feeling more car than crossover.
Does the ZR-V drive well through corners?
The suspension has the near-perfect blend of handling and comfort without wallowing through bends. This is thanks in no small part to plenty of tyre-wall cushioning the sensibly sized 18″ alloys the ZR-V comes with.
Inside the ZR-V is also mainly Civic and, since Honda’s family hatch had a revamp a few years back and moved on from its slightly haphazard approach to layout and displays, that’s a good thing. With the ZR-V, Honda has created an interior that, whilst still clearly Japanese and therefore not quite up to Audi, BMW & Volvo levels of refinement, it’s a step ahead of its rivals’ equivalent offerings i.e. the Qashqai.
The infotainment is clear and easy to use but there’s still a very welcome amount of buttons and switches for heating etc – long may that continue. The slightly retro mesh grille that seems to have become a permanent fixture in some Hondas since its debut in the E is present in the ZR-V and it adds some very welcome form to the function.
Is the ZR-V comfortable?
Rear seat passengers, especially children will love the raised ‘theatre’ seating in the back, affording a superior view out of the windows. There’s plenty of legroom in all seats but the floor is slightly raised compared to the Civic for electrical gear and if you go for the Advance spec, taller occupants won’t appreciate the loss of head-space brought about by the panoramic glass roof.
Not the biggest boot
One aspect of the ZR-V where it does lose out to its rivals is the boot space. At just 380 litres in Elegance and Sport spec and an even smaller 370 litres in range-topping Advance spec, the ZR-V lags way behind its rivals, some of which offer nearly 600 litres to fill. Ironically, even the Civic has over a 400 litre boot – aren’t SUVs supposed to offer more room, not less?
Should I buy a Honda ZR-V?
The ZR-V is very much a niche vehicle for Honda and even they don’t expect it to generate massive sales figures. That said, there’s not much wrong with it at all and living with it day-to-day would be very pleasant, as long as you don’t need to carry that much stuff in the boot.
By Ben Harrington
2024 Honda ZR-V e:HEV Advance Specifications:
Engine – 2.0l self-charging hybrid petrol, Transmission – Auto, Layout – Front engine, FWD, Power – 181bhp,Torque – 315Nm, Emissions – 132g/km CO2, Economy – 48.7mpg, Maximum Speed – 107mph, Acceleration – 8.0s – 0-62mph, Price – £42,910 OTR
The 2024 Honda ZR-V is available now, priced from £39,505. For full details go to:www.honda.co.uk
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