Overview
HONDA Australia has launched its first all-new nameplate in additional than 20 years with the ZR-V, a brand new gap-filling mannequin that’s designed to fit in between the prevailing HR-V small SUV and the incoming new-generation CR-V, due later in 2023.
As such, this mannequin finds itself in an fascinating place, being not fairly as large as a Toyota RAV4, however not as compact as a Corolla Cross, both.
It has 5 seats and beneficiant inside area, however a smaller-than-average boot quantity for the midsize SUV class (370 litres within the hybrid and 380 litres in petrol grades), that means it arguably is just not going to be the fitting decide for some households who want a cavernous cargo space.
It’ll be giant sufficient for a household of 4, although, no less than when it comes to occupant area – regardless of a comparatively excessive ground that results in a knees-up place for taller occupants, there may be ample room for somebody within the “taller than common” bracket to seek out themselves comparatively comfy.
There are rear directional air-vents and rear USB-C cost ports – together with a raft of storage choices – means it’s a sensible mannequin. Nevertheless, the model’s progressive and versatile Magic Seats usually are not fitted to this mannequin.
Select the VTi L or above and also you additionally get vivid ceiling-mounted LED spot lights for the rear, which will likely be useful for fogeys with youngsters that also need assistance buckling in – in fact, there are ISOFIX factors within the window seats, and three top-tether factors (the center of which is ceiling mounted, as is the center seatbelt).
Excessive-grade LX fashions rating outboard seat heating for rear occupants, too.
Up entrance, there are a few of these tell-tale new-gen Honda components to the cabin, together with a quite simple interface for the media system that includes buttons and dials to make simpler use of the display whereas driving.
There are additionally knobs and buttons under for the air-conditioning and heating, and the format of the cabin area is kind of good, with a pair of cupholders, a storage tray (with wi-fi telephone charging in excessive grades), a coated centre console bin and door pockets providing up the cabin storage you’ll anticipate.
What’s lacking? Nicely, within the high-spec mannequin you can’t get a sunroof, whilst an possibility. That may be one thing that $55K SUV patrons need…
The Honda ZR-V sits in an fascinating spot pricing-wise, too, with the entry-level model tipping over the $40K mark, that means it’s dearer than rivals just like the Mitsubishi Outlander, Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Path, Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester.
Nevertheless, it needs to be identified that Honda’s pricing is nationwide drive-away set pricing beneath the Honda Value Promise technique, that means clients is not going to be stung for added prices primarily based on totally different dealership places, for instance.
The entry-level mannequin is the VTi X, at $40,200 drive-away, which comes customary with a lot of good tools highlights, equivalent to LED exterior lighting, 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, push-button begin, a ten.2-inch driver data display and 9.0-inch touchscreen media system, dual-zone local weather management, material seat trim, a reversing digicam, entrance and rear parking sensors, 11 airbags and a number of ADAS security options.
Above it’s the VTi L, at $43,200 drive-away, which steps as much as 18-inch wheels, provides an influence tailgate, scores part-leatherette inside trim, and has heated entrance seats and rear privateness glass.
The VTi LX is subsequent up, at $48,500 drive-away, and it provides leather-appointed seats, a 12-speaker Bose stereo (up from eight within the decrease grades), a surround-view digicam, wi-fi telephone charging, and this grade additionally positive factors blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The e:HEV LX hybrid grade provides a number of objects, equivalent to a shift-by-wire gear selector, good key card, tyre restore equipment (replaces space-saver) and a humidity sensor, however it prices $54,900 drive-away.
There are two powertrain choices accessible within the Honda ZR-V vary. The entry-level engine possibility is a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder, producing 131kW of energy and 240Nm of torque, which makes use of a CVT computerized transmission and is front-wheel drive. The high-grade engine selection is the e:HEV hybrid, which groups a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with two electrical motors and an e-CVT computerized, with whole system outputs said at 135kW and 315Nm.
All grades are front-wheel drive.
Official mixed cycle gas consumption for the hybrid mannequin is 5.0 litres per 100km, whereas the petrol non-hybrid fashions use a bit extra, at 7.0L/100km for the VTi X and seven.2L/100km for the VTi L and LX.
The model is sticking with its five-year possession promise, with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre guarantee plan, servicing for 5 years ($199 per service, intervals each 12 months/10,000km), and 5 years’ of roadside help.
Driving impressions
For probably the most half, the ZR-V has stored true to the model’s high-quality kind on the subject of driving, although there have been some notable variations between the petrol and the hybrid fashions.
For this reviewer (and people he spoke with on the launch), the petrol mannequin appears to be a sweeter drive. It has a joyful dynamism to it, with candy steering being one of many highlights.
The steering of the hybrid mannequin is just not fairly as likeable, proving a bit arduous to guage on the subject of mid-corner changes. That may very well be extra to do with the tyres fitted – the Bridgestone Alenza rubber fitted to the e:HEV merely doesn’t provide as a lot confidence because the Yokohama Advan tyres on the petrol fashions.
The additional weight of the hybrid parts – roughly 116kg, when evaluating VTi LX and e:HEV LX – additionally performs its half, because the hybrid doesn’t really feel fairly as mild on its toes within the bends.
Nevertheless, the petrol-electric mannequin is significantly extra peppy on the subject of acceleration, with the engine and motors teaming as much as provide robust pulling energy from a standstill, and extra instantaneous response at pace if you prod the throttle.
The zesty 1.5-litre petrol turbo engine is a charmer, too, although not fairly as, ahem, electrical in its responsiveness. It does provide sufficient energy and tempo, although the CVT nonetheless feels prefer it robs a little bit of the fun-factor from the drive, as it could – at instances – really feel a contact gradual to reply.
One other factor I famous was the quantity of highway noise intrusion within the cabin. It isn’t too dangerous at speeds under, say, 80km/h, however highways with coarse-chip surfaces are inclined to throw a number of rumble and roar into the cabin.
All of the petrol grades have a cushty and composed trip attribute, although the bottom mannequin is a charmer, with its higher-profile tread making for a fair cushier expertise.
