Honda ZR-V Review 2024

The Honda ZR-V is here to fill a gap that we didn't really know existed. Sitting between the Honda HR-V and CR-V, the new ZR-V is a family SUV that's available exclusively with hybrid power and is set to rival the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage and Renault Austral.

The good news is that the Honda ZR-V is closely related to the latest Honda Civic, and that's one of our favourite family hatches on the market today. Honda hasn't played it safe, though - the ZR-V has its own style, and certainly doesn't look too much like a regular Civic.

You won't find an expansive engine line-up here. The Honda ZR-V is offered exclusively as a hybrid, combining a 2.0-litre petrol engine with a pair of electric motors. Unlike conventional hybrids, though, there isn't ordinarily a direct link between the engine and the wheels - instead, the engine acts like a generator, powering the electric motors which in turn drive the wheels. That's good news for both economy and refinement, with the ZR-V intended to act more like an electric car than a regular petrol model.

It's certainly more relaxing to drive than a lot of hybrids, with a welcome boost in performance over the 1.5-litre Honda HR-V. It's on the firmer end of the SUV scale - you'll notice a bit more of a thud over uneven road surfaces than in a Skoda Karoq, for example. But the flip side of that means it's pretty fun to drive, with impressive cornering composure for a high-riding SUV.

The Honda ZR-V isn't the most practical family SUV on the market, so it might be worth holding out for the new CR-V if you need to carry a lot of luggage. The interior looks and feels exceptionally well finished, though, while standard equipment is impressive.

There are three core models available: Elegance, Sport and Advance. The cheapest Honda ZR-V Elegance more than covers the basics, with standard equipment including a rear-view camera, digital instrument display, navigation and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. It might be worth paying the extra for a ZR-V Sport, though, especially as it's not a great deal more expensive and adds sportier exterior highlights, a power tailgate and ambient interior lighting.

The range-topping Honda ZR-V Advance is very well equipped indeed, with highlights including a heated steering wheel, panoramic sunroof and a Bose sounds system.

Prices for the new Honda ZR-V start from around £39,500, while the range tops out at nearly £43,000. That's quite a lot of money for a family SUV, but no more so than alternatives (once you start comparing like-for-like, anyway). The Honda faces some tough competition in a saturated market but, just like the Civic on which it's based, we reckon its superb interior and low running costs make it a surprisingly desirable choice.

We're living with a ZR-V for three months - find out how we get on with it in our Honda ZR-V long-term review.

Honda places a surprising amount of emphasis on how enjoyable the ZR-V is to drive. While it certainly isn't as sharp as a Civic Type R, we agree that it remains composed during cornering and there's more than enough grip available. The Honda ZR-V is strictly two-wheel drive, you'll need to look at alternatives like the Kia Sportage or Nissan Qashqai if you really need the reassurance of a 4x4.

The steering is fairly light and uncommunicative, although that's pretty standard in a modern family SUV. There are a variety of drive modes available (eco, normal, snow and sport) - each adjusting factors like the throttle response and weight of the steering. We found it best left in normal mode.

Fortunately, the focus on sportiness hasn't really impacted ride quality. It sits lower than the CR-V but does a good job of smoothing over uneven road surfaces. All Honda ZR-V models come with 18-inch alloy wheels and 55-profile tyres, representing a good balance between comfort and looking aesthetically pleasing.

There's only one engine available in the Honda ZR-V. It's the same hybrid setup as the latest Civic, combining a 2.0-litre petrol engine with two electric motors. Unlike other hybrids, most of the time there's no direct link between the engine and the wheels - instead, it powers the electric motors which in turn drive the wheels, meaning it feels more like an electric car to drive with impressive responsiveness and refinement.

That's the theory, anyway, and it's certainly very agreeable to drive around town. It'll trundle about for short distances before the engine kicks in, and when it does it doesn't make too much of a performance. The e-CVT gearbox is relatively seamless, too - certainly much better than more conventional CVT automatic gearboxes.

The petrol engine is able to drive the wheels directly at high speeds, but you're more likely to notice wind noise from the ZR-V's door mirrors than a roar from the engine. It's considerably quieter than the 1.5-litre unit used in the HR-V, while performance is also impressive (it'll accelerate from 0-62mph in around 8.0 seconds, depending on trim).

Although the Honda ZR-V is yet to be crash tested by Euro NCAP, the brand will be keen to improve on the HR-V's four-star rating.

Standard driver-assistance technology is comprehensive. A Forward Collision Warning system will provide an audible and visual warning telling you to brake if it detects an impending crash, while the Road Departure Mitigation system can apply the brakes to prevent the car leaving the carriageway.

There are 10 airbags fitted as standard, including a front centre airbag that inflates between the driver and front passenger to prevent a collision.

The Honda ZR-V has a maximum towing capacity of just 750kg. If you're looking to tow a caravan, you'd be better looking at a Volkswagen Tiguan or Skoda Karoq.

Sitting between the HR-V and CR-V in size, the Honda ZR-V measures 4568mm in length, 1840mm in width and 1620mm in height, while its 2657mm wheelbase provides plenty of room for passengers.

Indeed, it feels pretty spacious inside. Those in the front aren't short of headroom or legroom, although some SUV buyers might prefer a slightly higher driving position. Space in the back is pretty good, although the narrow middle seat could raise eyebrows if you're planning to squeeze three adults in side-by-side. There isn't a noticeable lump in the floor, which is good news compared to certain other SUVs.

The boot can carry up to 380 litres of luggage, which falls short of a Hyundai Tucson or Nissan Qashqai. It's a very useable shape, though, while the rear seats split 60:40 and drop entirely flat should you need to transport bulky items.

While the Honda ZR-V isn't in the same league as the BMW X1 or Audi Q3 in terms of interior quality, it certainly feels just as well finished as a Volkswagen Tiguan. We love the honeycomb air vent that runs across the dashboard, while all the buttons and switches feel far from flimsy.

The paddles behind the steering wheel (used for adjusting the regenerative braking) deserve a special mention. They're made of solid metal - the only other Honda that can boast that is the NSX sports car.

There are a few scratchy plastics if you look further down in the cabin but we're sure the ZR-V will cope well with the rigours of family life.

Honda's infotainment systems used to be pretty terrible but, fortunately, the ZR-V gets the same displays as the latest Civic. That means a slick 9.0-inch central display is standard across the range, with sharp graphics and fast responses. It's intuitive to navigate, while there are six configurable shortcut buttons providing easy access to your most used features. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the range, meaning you can connect your phone and access your favourite apps on the move.

Pleasingly, you don't have to rely too much on the ZR-V's touchscreen display. There's a physical volume control knob, along with physical 'home' and 'back' buttons. And there's a separate bank of climate control buttons and dials below the screen - meaning you don't have to delve into infotainment menus to adjust the temperature. We're big fans of this approach.

A 10.2-inch digital display is fitted behind the steering wheel on all models, while the Honda ZR-V Advance also gets a new five-inch head-up display. The Advance model also gets an upgraded 12-speaker sound system.

You can buy a new NissanID.4 2021 Qashqai for less than £27,000, while the cheapest Kia Sportage is around £28,000. That makes the Honda ZR-V's £39,495 start price (at launch) look ambitious to say the least.

Things make a little more sense once you compare models like-for-like. The cheapest Honda ZR-V Elegance is loaded with pretty much everything you could possibly need - navigation, a digital instrument cluster, a rear-view camera and 18-inch alloy wheels are all standard. And you get the 2.0-litre twin-motor hybrid as standard, too - that's a significant step up compared to the entry-level engines used in petrol-powered alternatives.

The price walk between trim levels is minimal so, while few buyers will really need more than the cheapest ZR-V, the temptation is clear. An extra £1500 or so will get you a mid-spec Honda ZR-V Sport, which looks (and feels) significantly sportier, while the range-topping ZR-V Advance edges in below £43,000. Standard kit on this model includes diamond-cut alloy wheels, a heated steering wheel and panoramic sunroof, as well as a premium Bose sound system.

Honda proudly boasts a range of 621 miles from the ZR-V - a clear dig at pure-electric alternatives like the Volkswagen ID.4. That's the result of its hybrid system which, in Honda ZR-V Sport and Advance models, returns up to 48.7mpg (according to official WLTP fuel economy tests). This increases to 49.6mpg in the ZR-V Elegance.

That's comparable with other hybrid SUVs, although you might want to look for a plug-in hybrid alternative if you cover a lot of town models. These can travel further under electric power alone, which is good news for overall fuel economy (and will provide tax advantages for company car drivers).

While Honda's three-year warranty is nothing special, the brand performs well in our annual Satisfaction Index. A Honda ZR-V ought to be a very reliable long-term choice.

The Honda ZR-V Elegance features 18-inch grey alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors, 11 airbags, a rear-view camera, and an eight-speaker audio system. A nine-inch touchscreen display is available across the range with Honda Connect, navigation, and Apple CarPlay / Android Auto compatibility, alongside a seven-inch digital instrument display behind the leather steering wheel.

The Honda ZR-V Sport comes with a unique front bumper and grille treatment, gloss black mirrors and window trim, matte black wheels, and a fabric and synthetic leather combination interior trim. Sports pedals, ambient LED lighting, hands-free power tailgate, wireless charging, and additional USB ports are also standard.

Range-topping Honda ZR-V Advance models feature full leather seats with perforated inserts and silver stitching, a heated leather steering wheel, panoramic sunroof, and gloss black and diamond cut alloys. Customers opting for the flagship ZR-V also benefit from a premium 12-speaker BOSE sound system, a 10.2-inch multi-information display, and an all-new six-inch head-up display (HUD).