The arrival of Honda ZR-V It is one of the most important that the Japanese brand has had in recent times. It serves to fill the gap between the HR-V and CR-V with a stroke of the pen, completing an SUV range that could remain somewhat bare if we compare it with that of other brands. Following Honda’s current philosophy, the compact crossover is only available in hybrid format. Many of you will ask, but I still can’t answer your question: the prices will be announced next July.
The meaning of the name of this model means “Z Runabout Vehicle”. It’s a tribute to Generation Z y refers to its contained size. The truth is that it is a specimen that has been on the market for some time, since it came out in Japan at the end of 2022. Now its European tour begins, a market in which they have placed a lot of hope. The first units will arrive before the end of the year, specifically in autumnalthough we have already tried it and we can tell you all its details.
Abroad
The design of the Honda ZR-V is quite balanced. This means that it maintains the main lines of the brand in recent times and that it also introduces some aesthetic novelties that make you stand out. The main one appears on the front with a trapezoidal grill with vertical slats. It is unframed and surrounded by the Honda logo at the top and license plate at the bottom. In that lower area there is a bumper that provides some contrast, but does not have large air intakes or edges.
The headlights of this model are quite stylized and have LED technology as standard. As often happens in crossovers, all the bottoms are covered in black plastic to emphasize its robustness. The tires can be up to 18 inches and there are also some with a rather attractive two-tone finish. The ZR-V’s color palette is made up of up to five shades, some as striking as the one we are testing.
Another prominent view is the side view, especially for that rounded shape adopted by the C-pillar. Then at the rear, curved lines also predominate, including in the LED taillights, which are surprisingly not joined in the center. They are divided by a fairly clean gate that only has the inscriptions of the model. It is finished off by a contrasting kind of diffuser which includes a chrome trim to collect two exhaust outlets, something that is quite surprising considering that it is an electrified model.
As we said, the Honda ZR-V lands in the C-SUV segment with considerable dimensions. With their 4,568mm length It sits right between the HR-V’s 4,340mm and the CR-V’s 4,600mm. In addition, it has a width of 1,840 mm and a height of 1,620 mm. The wheelbase is 2,655mm to ensure interior space that is as expected.
Inside
Upon entering the cockpit of the Honda ZR-V for the first time it is striking that quite a few buttons are still maintained. While other rivals are committed to total digitization and the use of screens, here we see a little more sanity. It is true that we have a great 9 inch touch screen which is the same as we have in the Civic.
It has the latest multimedia system of the brand, which stands out for its ease of use, with very clear and intuitive menus. In addition, it has a spinner and some shortcut buttons to simplify the user’s life. There is also no lack of connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Although that does not mean that it is left behind in terms of technology. From the driving position you can see a 10.2-inch digital instrumentation It offers very outstanding graphics. The information it displays is really comprehensive and includes some hybrid powertrain power flow graphs.
It is controlled through a multifunction steering wheel with a very prominent touch, up to what is expected of the set. Also mention the visibility that this model offers in all directions thanks to the flat dashboard or the detail of having the mirrors mounted on the doors.
The distribution of the cabin of the Honda ZR-V also convinces. It has an elegant and well-resolved design, especially with the air vents and the center console. In fact, the climate controls, with their knobs and buttons, look more like a premium car because of the feel they offer.
The center console is clear and it allows wireless charging for smartphones, however, the gear selector, which is too minimalist, is not completely convincing. The quality is above average thanks to materials that are pleasant to the touch and finished with good finishes.
The space available in the rear seats of the Honda ZR-V is within what is expected in a compact SUV. There’s a generous legroom and quite correct for the roof. We could only take the downside of the width and that the central square lacks shape and has a transmission tunnel furrowing it.
I also remember with a certain longing for the Honda Magic Seats that are no longer reaching the new models. Although luckily keep the air vents for the second row, USB sockets and this armrest that can come out of the central square.
Trunk
In a compact SUV that is only available in a hybrid format, it is normal for the trunk not to stand out too much. In the Honda ZR-V we have a 380 liter capacity, which are slightly below other rivals that are purely combustion. Luckily, it has a wide loading mouth that is not too high.
This model is also practical due to details such as the partition of the load, the retractable tray or the hole under the floor. As usual, the rear seats could always be folded down in two parts (60:40) to be left with a flat surface and a maximum capacity of 1,312 literswhich would be 1,291 liters in the case of carrying the sound system with subwoofer
Engine
Although we had not said so far, it was an open secret that the Honda ZR-V shared a platform with the legendary Civic. That also translates into offering the same mechanical range, which is limited to a only version baptized as e:HEV. It is powered by a hybrid propulsion system that makes it worthy of the DGT ECO label and that it has very interesting benefits. It consists of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder Atkinson cycle gasoline engine that is linked to two electric motors and a PCU, which is the power control unit.
Following this schematic, we can see that the ZR-V e:HEV offers the same 184 hp and 315 Nm of torque that we saw in the Civic. In this case, a 1.05 kWh lithium-ion battery would also have to be added to the set, which is made up of 72 cells. It does not have a very large capacity, but during the dynamic test we will see that it is enough to achieve exemplary efficiency. If we look at its technical sheet we see an acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h in 8.0 seconds and a top speed of 173 km/h.
Behavior
If something attracts attention during the first kilometers next to the Honda ZR-V it is the softness that is achieved during the march. It is seen that the Japanese attach great importance to this aspect and have managed to reduce a large percentage of the noise and vibrations that reach the passenger compartment. Even the streamlined sound isn’t too bothersome for a tall crossover. Although the highlight in this Honda ZR-V would be the softness and refinement with which the hybrid propulsion system behaves, which makes imperceptible transitions between the different engines.
On a technical level, the operation that Honda proposes is really intelligent. The most of the time it is the electric motor of 184 CV the person in charge of moving the wheels. Meanwhile, the combustion engine can serve as a backup if necessary or simply as a power generator thanks to its high efficiency. It would serve to drive the electric motor for minors.
As we said, the user all you have to worry about is driving. It is the car itself that is responsible for switching between driving modes intelligently. Most of the time we are moving in the hybrid modewhich is when the combustion engine comes into action in a timely manner to generate energy that passes to the electrical block, which is responsible for moving the front axle.
When there is less demand for power, when we walk in the city, it is easy to see a purely electric mode in which combustion is turned off and it rolls with the energy stored in the battery. He engine mode It’s when the gasoline engine is driving the wheels, something that happens at constant cruising speeds, that it’s most efficient.
However, the user can change some details in the car’s configuration. More traditional driving modes are available to choose from Eco, Normal, Sport and Snow. Some vehicle parameters are modified, but we cannot expect a radical change in its behavior.
At the chassis level it reminds me pleasantly of the behavior of the Civic. That is very good news and it means that, despite its crossover conditions, it has a very balanced touch. Despite this greater height of the body and a higher weight (it is 1,639 kg) the truth is that the sways are very well hidden and it is quite agile. This is achieved thanks to its McPherson-type suspension scheme for the front axle and multi-link for the rear.
To finish with the dynamic section, say that the address of this item has a more natural feel than most of his rivals. She is still quite assisted, but reports quite well what happens on the wheels. During this contact we cannot give specific data about your consumption. It approved 5.7 l/100km and CO2 emissions of 130 g/km. Everything indicates that it will be quite efficient in more widespread use and that its consumption could be around 6.5 liters.
Opinion cars.com
In these times, the launch of any SUV is usually a success. And if we are talking about one with a compact size, a highly worked hybrid propulsion system and a quite dynamic set-up; You probably have everything to succeed. The Honda ZR-V has proven to rise to the occasion with a crossover that doesn’t look like it when you drive it.
In 2018, SUVs concentrated 40% of sales, but in these five years the trend has only grown and for this year it is expected that exceed 60%. Honda wants to take advantage of this movement with the ZR-V, which completes the crossover range and does so with exemplary electrification. We will see if its price It’s not too over the top and it helps the brand to increase its sales.
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