It might not have seemed like a big deal when Honda’s ZR-V came out in Australia last year, but it was. The ZR-V is actually the first brand-new car line to come out in the US in 20 years. The Toyota RAV4 is a competitor. The RAV4 is between the HR-V and CR-V sizes.
But let’s begin with the most important things. Honda has taken a diverse approach to the subcompact SUV market, which may help people in North America who need clarification on the ZR-V. In foreign markets like Europe, Japan, and Australia, it sells two models: the ZR-V, which is sold as the HR-V in the US and Canada but doesn’t come with a hybrid option, and the HR-V, which is a separate model for those markets. In Japan, the second one is called the Vezel.
We were excited to spend a week driving Australia’s new ZR-V and see how it was to live with. We tried the top-of-the-line e:HEV LX configuration of the compact SUV, a hybrid model that starts at AU$ 54,900 (~$35,700).
Locally, the ZR-V has a clear lineup. It has the e-HEV LX that we tried, the VTi L that costs AU$42,500 (~$27,600), the VTi-LX that costs AU$48,500 (~$31,500), and the VTi X that costs AU$39,500 (~$25,700). All ZR-V types, besides the hybrid, come with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 176 horsepower (131 Nm) at 6,000 rpm and 240 Nm (177 lb-ft) of torque between 1,700 and 4,500 rpm.
Next is the e: HEV LX. There is no 1.5-liter engine in this one. Instead, there is a 2.0-liter normally aspirated four-cylinder engine with two small electric motors and a CVT. It makes 135 kW (181 hp) and 315 Nm (232 lb-ft) of power, which goes all the way to the front wheels. All-wheel drive would have been great, but it’s not possible. In case you forgot, the HR-V is only sold in the US with a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated inline-four engine that makes 158 horsepower. You can get this engine with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
The paint job on our test car is Premium Crystal Garnet, a deep burgundy color that looks better in person than in pictures. If you want to buy a new ZR-V e: HEV LX, you can paint it in Premium Crystal Garnet, Premium Crystal Blue, Platinum Grey, Platinum White, or Crystal Black.
We really like the way Honda designs things now. It was a few years ago when most of Honda’s lineup seemed too experimental and strange. The 10th-generation Civic, the 5th-generation CR-V, and the 2nd-generation HR-V are all great models. Honda’s fame has grown again with the latest versions of these three models, which look better and are less mysterious. This is also true for the ZR-V.
From some views, it looks like a Civic that has been given growth hormones. This makes sense since they use the same software. The hood is sleek and black, and the headlights with LED daytime running lights are very noticeable. The small blue ring around the Honda logo on the front of the e: HEV LX shows that it is a hybrid. The SUV’s body has the right amount of smooth lines and curves.
A modern log house
One of the best things about the ZR-V is its cabin. Like the 11th-generation Civic, it feels modern and has a lot of buttons, switches, and knobs that you can feel. This is something that you won’t find in many other new cars on the market today.
In the middle of the panel, there may be a big 9.0-inch screen for entertainment that works with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Even though it could be better or more up-to-date, Honda’s current operating system is well-thought-out and easy to use. The technology is easy to use, even if the buyer has never used a Honda device before.
The ZR-V also has a big digital instrument screen, 10.2 inches in size. Personalization is only possible sometimes, but it’s clear. The honeycomb grille on the air vents is another thing that stands out.
The steering wheel and seats inside are made of soft, luxurious black leather. The center console’s floating design is nice, and it makes it easy to store your phone when it’s linked to either the USB-A or USB-C port. Adding a wireless smartphone charger is also a nice touch. There is a separate button for each gear. Honda should be praised for not covering the inside with piano-black plastic.
There’s a lot of space for your head, and the front seats are set up nicely. The second row has plenty of room, and the two spots on the edges of the row tell the same story. The middle seat is small, but that’s how most center chairs are. Two USB-C ports may be found on the rear of the device. You can fit 370 liters (13 cubic feet) of stuff in the ZR-V when the second row is folded down. That’s not even close to the RAV4’s 542 liters (19.1 cubic feet), which is pretty small.
A well-thought-out engine that works well
I had never driven a Honda hybrid engine before behind the wheel of the ZR-V, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. The ZR-V e: HEV LX’s technology amazed me, especially how well it worked overall.
The SUV is mostly driven by electricity at low speeds, especially when it first starts up. The 2.0-liter engine is only used when it’s needed to reach speeds of 40 km/h (24.8 mph). There are many hybrid cars on the road, but the ZR-V’s technology is one of the best we’ve ever used. It was so quiet that I often had to look down at the gauges to make sure the engine was still going.
Many car enthusiasts think CVTs are bad. That said, the ZR-V is fun to drive and keeps the SUV smooth at all speeds. We rarely used the two paddle shifters that Honda gave us because we liked letting the system handle everything.
It’s not fast, but the ZR-V is slow, too. The two electric motors’ quick power and speed make it feel faster than it really is. These motors also help you pass other cars because they let you speed up quickly without having to rev the engine all the way up. The engine doesn’t make a loud noise even when you press the gas pedal. Honda’s soundproof windshield for the ZR-V makes this possible by cutting down on noise from outside.
One big reason the hybrid is better than other ZR-V types is that it uses less gas. On the combined test, it can get 5.0 l/100 km (47 US MPG). Most of the time, we had it, and it got 5.6 liters per 100 kilometers (42 US mpg).
There is nothing perfect. In wet situations, the electric motors tend to be stronger than the front wheels, even when traction and stability control are turned on. You have to be careful when you use the pedal to keep the wheels from spinning every time you drive in the rain. When things went like this, we would have liked all-wheel drive more.
The experts at Honda have also done a great job with the comfort and handling. When going over bumps, the ZR-V stays perfectly smooth, even at high speeds. It also does well here and stays fixed and calm even if you push it harder.
The ZR-V e: HEV LX comes with the Honda Sensing suite of tools that help the driver. It includes adaptive cruise control, a collision reduction braking system, front collision warning, lane departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The lane-keeping assist technology worked great, but it slowed down and bounced between the lane signs more often than it kept us in the middle of the lane.
In conclusion
One of Honda’s best-looking cars is the ZR-V e: HEV LX. It looks good, has many useful features, and works better than cars like the Nissan X-Trail Ti e-Power and Toyota RAV Hybrid, which are bigger and cost more. It shows that Honda has found its beauty again and should be praised for it.
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