While the market may already be aflush with SUVs and crossovers aplenty, Honda’s newest and shiniest ZR-V is the sort of car that I imagine would do pretty well in the UK market. It’s a compact, stylish, practical SUV and best of all… It’s well-priced! For what it offers, the ZR-V ought to fulfil the motoring needs of most Brits, but with so many crossovers and SUVs on the market, how does Honda set the ZR-V apart? With the brand-new e:Ny1 all-electric SUV now joining the Honda stable, and coming in at roughly the same price as the hybridised ZR-V, what’s the point of sticking with old-school internal combustion, anyway?
Well, it looks like not everyone is all hyped up about this whole electric thing, it seems. There’s a pretty sizeable contingent of folks who are wary of EVs, and most of them are sticking by the sidelines just because they’re not really sure if it’s something they want to deal with. There are too many unknowns with EVs… The batteries, the motors, the silence of driving an EV, the uber-powerful torque you get, and the need to constantly keep an eye on the charge level. So, if you’re on the fence about electric cars but still want to enjoy at least some of the many benefits of electrification, then hybrids like the Honda ZR-V might be the perfect fit for you.
What Is The Honda ZR-V Advance About?
On first impressions, the Honda ZR-V certainly has a distinct design language, given how conservative Hondas tend to be with their aesthetics. Although, I can still see a bit of that Honda familial look to it. With that in mind, I can’t really put my finger on why, but I do quite like the look of the ZR-V, to be honest. It has a somewhat upscale appearance, and especially from some angles, like the slim headlights, and particularly the front grille, the ZR-V almost looks like a Maserati. Alternatively, those vertical slits kind of remind me of an AMG too, with its Panamericana grille.
It might not set your heart ablaze, but it’s an inoffensive design. I guess that’s just as important for Honda; not having it look good or bad, but making sure no one really hates it, either. In the right colour, it even looks rather eye-catching, particularly in this Platinum White Pearl paintwork. Under the sun, that white almost has a slight blueish or greyish tint. What is unmistakable, however, is the size of the ZR-V. Its compact form is built for the UK, with our tiny parking spaces, narrow streets, and small B-roads. Yet, as we’ll look at later, the Honda ZR-V’s petite form factor doesn’t compromise on interior space or luggage capacity.
How Does It Drive?
Underneath all that metal, you’re looking at a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, mated to a hybrid powertrain. Or, more specifically, you’re getting Honda’s self-charging e:HEV full hybrid system. In other words, unlike a plug-in hybrid that you’d need to plug in and charge regularly, the all-new Honda ZR-V’s e:HEV hybrid system relies on using the internal combustion engine as a sort of generator to keep the tiny battery pack charged up. On top of that, the hybrid system also recuperates additional charge through regenerative braking.
As such, given that it’s a self-sustaining system, for many car owners jumping into the electrification rabbit hole for the first time, a self-charging hybrid like this offers you the best of both worlds. You get to enjoy the benefits of an electrified or hybridised car, like lower fuel consumption and lower tailpipe emissions. But, you also don’t need to worry about re-learning or re-wiring your brain on how a car works just to wrap your head around fully electric vehicles. Nor, do you need to worry about range anxiety or stressing about the need to charge an EV. As such, you get to relish electrified driving without all the fuss and complexity that comes with it. That’s the reason why hybrids remain so popular nowadays, even if EVs might end up being the future.
Anyway, back to the powertrain… The Honda ZR-V is no trailblazer, that’s for sure. It pumps out 184PS at most, with a modest 315Nm of torque. And, in the Advance trim here, it’ll sprint from 0 to 62mph in a gentle 8.0 seconds (the lighter, un-posh entry-level trims manage this in 7.8 seconds). And, it’ll keep going onto a top speed of 108mph. If you want to have more control over the powertrain, and specifically, that e:HEV hybrid, you get four drive modes to pick and choose from. There’s Sport, Normal, Econ, and Snow, which you could fiddle about depending on the road and driving conditions.
Granted, it’s not like you’re going to need all that performance and oomph, anyway. The ZR-V is made for daily commutes and chewing through motorway miles with ease, and it’s no doubt among the most effortless cars that I’ve driven yet. The Honda ZR-V is compact, so you won’t need to squint as you’re driving through narrow country lanes or tight alleyways in the city, and parking it is a breeze. But, once you’re on the move, it’s super comfortable and easy-going to waft in for hours at a time. With the amount of visibility it affords you, you’d have no trouble seeing and visualising what’s around you. The ride quality is well-dampened, ensuring that you remain cossetted, no matter if you’re cruising down the motorway, or if you’re stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
What Is It Like Inside?
Step inside the all-new Honda ZR-V, and you’re immediately reminded that you’re sitting in a Honda. It has the same Honda interior layout that I’ve seen in some of their other, more recent models. I’ve recently also had the chance to drive the new Civic and the redesigned HR-V. Nonetheless, being a copy-and-paste interior is no bad thing, as I do quite like Honda’s interior layout. In the ZR-V, it’s minimalistic, yet functional. Some of the more noteworthy design aspects are those air vents, which are cleverly hidden behind a large, uninterrupted piece of mesh.
It has the right combination of screens and analogue controls, which is a most welcomed sight. You still get a plethora of physical buttons and knobs for the climate control. And, there’s more analogue switchgear on the steering wheel, as well as around the centre console, too. So, you’re definitely not lacking in any tactility. Aside from that, everything else is tucked away inside the all-familiar 9.0-inch Honda infotainment system that we’ve seen as of late. For people who are tired of overly fancy and techy multimedia systems, you’ll be glad to know that Honda has paid extra attention to make sure it’s super intuitive and easy to use. Additionally, right in front of the driver, you might also notice the surprisingly sizeable 10.2-inch fully digital gauge cluster.
As for fit and finish, the ZR-V is typically a Honda, in that the upholstery and use of materials are intentionally hardy and robust. This ensures that it won’t age too quickly or show excessive wear and tear after years of hard use. I prefer this approach, frankly, as it’s a far more versatile way of designing an interior that’ll cope with the rigours of daily life. As such, I’d have no trouble tossing a dog and kids into the ZR-V, and I won’t need to try and baby it or care for any tiny scratches and dents.
As I noted earlier, while the ZR-V might appear as a relatively compact crossover on the outside, inside, there are tonnes of room. There’s an abundance of headroom and legroom for rear passengers, and there’s a sizeable boot further in the back for all your weekly grocery shopping. With your rear seats folded down, that’s 1,322 litres in total, which is a good bit of room. Equally, the boot of the Honda ZR-V is layered in thick rubber and plastic cladding, and I have no qualms getting it dirty and mucked up, as it’ll be really easy to hose it down and clean at the end of the day.
The Experience
One of the best things about Honda’s e:HEV hybrid powertrain is just how effortless it is… If you’re not paying attention, you might not even know that it’s a hybrid, at all! Yet, it offers an enormous amount of efficiency in day-to-day usage. Realistically, you’re looking at the high 40s MPG, but if you’re gentle enough with all your throttle inputs, you might be able to break into the low 50s MPG. This is really impressive for its class. Honda even claims that on a full tank of fuel, you could get up to 621 miles of range, which sounds interesting if that works out in real life.
A bit more on that hybrid, it basically exists in 3 different states. In electric drive, you’re drawing power solely from the battery, ensuring that you can experience EV-like silence, instantaneous torque, and zero emissions. Meanwhile, in hybrid drive, the inline-4 engine turns on to power the generator that both drives the ZR-V and charges the battery pack, delivering you extra performance, yet still managing low emissions and a superbly long driving range. Then, there’s just running your ZR-V off the engine, just like any other combustion engine vehicle, which is more likely the case when you need to tap into extra horsepower, but still maintain rather respectable fuel economy.
Honda ZR-V Advance Cost
The all-new ZR-V is positioned in the Honda line-up as one of the brand’s more premium SUVs, slotting below the CR-V. Moreover, as I mentioned earlier, the ZR-V is priced almost similarly to Honda’s new e:Ny1 electric SUV. While the ZR-V range starts from £39,505, our example here, with the Advance trim, will set you back a good £43,560. It’s worth bearing in mind that the Advance trim is the top-of-the-line trim level that you could get with the ZR-V right now. So, if you’re tight on cash or if you don’t need the extra goodies, the entry-level Elegance trim starts from £39,505. Meanwhile, the mid-tier Sport trim starts from £41,110.
Thankfully, Honda does throw in a good amount of kit with the ZR-V, even in the base-level trim. This includes Honda’s extensive suite of SENSING driving aids, as well as 18-inch alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors, and a rear-view camera. Furthermore, by default, you get adaptive cruise control, heated front seats, and the convenience of the Honda CONNECT app, in addition to wireless Apple CarPlay (with Android Auto, too). You’re not missing out then, even if you can’t afford the higher-end trim levels.
However, if you upgrade to the Sport trim, it nets you mostly extra tech. This includes a power rear tailgate, as well as a wireless charging pad for your phone, electric front driver seat adjustments, and privacy glass. And, if you have the spare change for the Advance trim, like the one I have here, you get additional stuff on top of that. This includes a lovely panoramic glass roof, adaptive front high beams, active cornering lights, a heated steering wheel (with heated rear seats, too)… And, best of all, for all you audiophiles out there, you’ll also get a premium Bose Audio 12-speaker set-up. Toss in a heads-up display in there too, and the Advance trim should offer you all the extras you really need.
Verdict
Overall, the Honda ZR-V is a fantastic little all-rounder crossover SUV. For the cash, it’s a great package, helping to bridge the gap between old-school ICEs and the new-age EVs that many people still aren’t 100% sure of. With Honda’s self-charging e:HEV hybrid, it’s a great way to ease consumers into electric cars, while also offering you a nice balance between day-to-day reliability, versatility, fuel economy, and low tailpipe emissions, and it drives very well, too. It’s so effortless with how the ZR-V carries itself. As a car that you can rely on 24/7, there are few alternatives just as good.
Better yet, it’s still quintessentially a Honda. I can expect the ZR-V to last a lifetime of use, with its otherworldly durability no doubt a key selling point for many would-be buyers. To give you even more peace of mind, Honda now offers the ZR-V with a 5-year service plan, a 5-year warranty, and a 5-year roadside assistance package. I still am not sure just how many people would rather opt for the similarly-priced Honda e:Ny1, given that it’s an EV and that alone might be a more appealing aspect for some folks. But, if you’re just not ready to jump into the EV revolution yet, Honda’s ZR-V and its neat hybrid package, is a great stepping stone.
Specification
Honda ZR-V Advance Specs
- Price: £43,560
- Engine: 2.0-litre inline-4, self-charging hybrid
- Power: 184PS
- Torque: 315Nm
- 0-62mph: 8.0 seconds
- Top speed: 108mph
- Weight: 1,604kg
- Economy combined: 48.7mpg
- CO2: 132g/km