Honda ZR-V review
The Honda ZR-V is a bit of a forgotten middle child in Honda’s SUV family – it’s bigger than the HR-V but smaller than the CR-V. Does it blend the best of both worlds, or is it a case of not bringing enough to the party? Read our Honda ZR-V review to find out if this family SUV is worth your time (and money).
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Pros
- Pleasant driving position and handling
- Punchy hybrid with impressive pace
- Excellent quality and reliability
Cons
- Boot space could be bigger
- Only one engine – no plug-in hybrid option
Interior
Our rating: 8/10
Driving position
The Honda ZR-V seemingly combines everything that’s good about an SUV with all the benefits of a hatchback, so you have the best of both worlds.
For example, you sit up high so you can see plenty of the road, but like other Hondas, the ZR-V has slim A-pillars (between the windscreen and front doors), so it never feels cumbersome.
Honda also notes that it’s designed the seating position to be more Civic-like, so you can sit lower than you might expect, and your legs stretch out in front of you. It all adds up to a surprisingly engaging setup.
Tech and features
As with all Hondas, standard equipment is strong, so don’t be put off by the higher price tag because you’ll be less likely to need to upgrade – unless you want a few extras, that is.
A 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a nine-inch infotainment display are standard, and while the software isn’t quite as slick as in a VW, it’s certainly responsive enough.
For the most part, you’ll probably want to connect your phone up with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto anyway, so it’ll all feel very familiar.
All models come with heated front seats, keyless entry, a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors and Honda SENSING, which includes safety kit and driver aids like adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist.
Options like a wireless phone charger, a powered boot lid, a heated steering wheel and an upgraded BOSE sound system come with higher trim levels.
Performance
Our rating: 8/10
Engines and power
Honda’s modern range consists of two main engine options – a 1.5-litre and a 2.0-litre petrol engine mated to a self-charging hybrid system.
The ZR-V sits in the middle, size-wise, but thankfully it gets the bigger 2.0-litre engine. Because it’s smaller than the CR-V, it feels quicker, and it obviously feels quicker than the HR-V (which uses the 1.5-litre setup).
This is great news, because family SUVs should be able to deal with a car full of passengers and luggage, and the bigger engine certainly makes a difference.
The whole system produces 184hp (which is what previous-generation VW Golf GTD hot hatches used to produce), but that’s not the most impressive statistic.
That would be the twin-electric motor configuration, which means there’s diesel-like grunt available whenever you prod the accelerator.
Handling and ride comfort
Another thing Honda does really well is suspension, and independent multi-link rear suspension essentially means it feels more composed in corners and over rougher surfaces.
It’s stiff enough to keep the ZR-V feeling planted on twisty country roads, which when combined with the punchy hybrid engine and sporty seating position, makes for a genuinely pleasant ride.
We also noted minimal road and wind noise at speed, so if you need to take on the odd motorway journey, it shouldn’t be stressful at all.
Practicality
Our rating: 7/10
Boot space
Where Honda maybe falls short of rivals across many of its models is boot space, and this is true of the ZR-V, at least on paper.
The 370-litre boot isn’t any more than you’d get from a family hatchback. For comparison, a Mazda CX-5 has up to 522 litres and a Toyota RAV4 has 580 litres.
The story doesn’t end there, though, because it’s a practical shape that makes loading bigger items into it faff-free.
Flat-folding rear seats also improves practicality.
Rear seats
If you need to sit in the back of the ZR-V, you won’t have drawn the short straw.
Legroom and head room is plentiful, and a slight recline in the rear seat backs makes the seating position feel more natural.
It also helps that there’s a flat floor, so middle-seat passengers won’t feel overly uncomfortable.
Storage solutions
Storage in the ZR-V is acceptable, but it could be better. For example, while there’s a small amount of space under the front armrest, an open cubby beneath the centre console doesn’t feel like the best use of space.
At least the door bins have some amount of storage, and they’re suited to carrying bottles too.
Safety
Apart from the active Honda SENSING safety tech like traffic sign recognition and collision mitigation braking,
Apart from the active Honda SENSING safety tech like traffic sign recognition and collision mitigation braking, some clever design has also improved day-to-day usability.
For example, the wing mirrors have been moved onto the doors to reduce blind spots.
Euro NCAP awarded the Honda ZR-V four stars in independent crash testing.
Running costs
Our rating: 7/10
Fuel economy
Official figures for the ZR-V are up to around 50mpg, but we saw closer to 40-45mpg in our testing, which included mostly local driving with a longer motorway trip.
In reality, that’s about on par with most other hybrid SUVs in this class, but many others do offer plug-in hybrid systems, whereas you’ll need to upgrade to the bigger, pricier CR-V if that’s what you want in a car.
Reliability
The ZR-V uses the same proven hybrid system from the Civic and CR-V, which has been praised for its durability and longevity.
Honda’s reputation for building reliable cars is also up there, so the ZR-V is very much a car to buy for the financially savvy.
The verdict
Interior
8/10
Performance
8/10
Practicality
7/10
Running costs
7/10
All in all, the Honda ZR-V probably feels like Honda at its best. It’s practical, reliable and fairly sporty, but it’s a whole lot cheaper than a like-for-like CR-V without feeling anywhere near cramped.
Driving the ZR-V is generally pretty good, with a comfortable ride and extra insulation making light work of any road type.
The 2.0-litre hybrid engine is also responsive, so don’t think that by going green you’ll need to make sacrifices.
The Honda ZR-V wins you over with its overall sense of effortlessness, so if you need a family SUV that does everything with ease, add it to your list.
However, if you need class-leading space or a different type of engine, you may need to look in another direction.
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