My first automotive was a blue Honda – a first-generation CR-V Sport, to be precise.

On the time Honda was in its heyday, usually touted as Japan’s rival to the Germans, famend for high-quality, tech-laden and well-mannered autos.

I used to be left just a little uninspired by the model’s more moderen choices, particularly the previous-generation Civic and CR-V. The place the Hondas of previous have been constructed like financial institution vaults with well-rounded dynamics, later automobiles have felt missing in a number of areas – regardless of providing wonderful dealing with and steering really feel.

That’s all altering in entrance of our eyes. Honda has been busy reinventing itself and getting again to its roots, as confirmed by the superb new Civic and HR-V. Now we have now a brand new nameplate within the combine – the Honda ZR-V.

Slotting between the HR-V and CR-V, the ZR-V is successfully a Civic on stilts and pitches itself as a brand new sporty providing within the mid-size SUV section – although it’s on the smaller finish of the category just like the top-selling Mazda CX-5.

However with no nameplate legacy, coming into Australia’s hottest new car section is not any straightforward process. Many will know Honda, however few will know what a ZR-V is.

On check we have now the Honda ZR-V VTi LX, the costliest petrol variant that looks as if sharp worth in right now’s market at underneath $50,000 drive-away – is it a brand new high decide?

How a lot does the Honda ZR-V VTi LX value?

The second-from-top ZR-V VTi LX is priced at $48,500 drive-away – Honda affords mounted drive-away nationwide pricing.

It’s the costliest turbo petrol-powered ZR-V variant in Australia, sitting $5300 above the mid-spec VTi L and $6400 beneath the top-spec e:HEV LX hybrid.

Within the context of opponents, the ZR-V VTi LX sits in the identical bracket as low- or mid-spec mid-size SUVs in addition to high-spec small SUVs. Two key rivals are the aforementioned Mazda CX-5 and the Nissan Qashqai.

The Mazda may be had in G25 Touring AWD trim for simply over $49,000 drive-away, whereas the Nissan Qashqai Ti is just a little dearer than the Honda at $51,919 drive-away based mostly on a Victorian postcode. You might additionally cross-shop the ZR-V with the Skoda Karoq (from $43,990 D/A).

Bigger alternate options for comparable cash embrace the Hyundai Tucson Elite 1.6T AWD ($44,150), Kia Sportage SX+ 1.6T AWD ($43,850) and the Toyota RAV4 GXL 2WD Hybrid ($45,260).

Honda ZR-V pricing:

• Honda ZR-V VTi X: $40,200
• Honda ZR-V VTi L: $43,200
• Honda ZR-V VTi LX: $48,500
• Honda ZR-V e:HEV LX: $54,900

Costs are drive-away

What’s the Honda ZR-V VTi LX like on the within?

Like just about each different new Honda – and I’m not complaining.

The Japanese model has a very robust identification with its newest vary, that means in the event you sit in a Civic, ZR-V, HR-V or new CR-V, you’re going to right away really feel a way of familiarity.

Construct high quality and tactility is up there with a number of the greatest, with heaps of soft-touch surfaces and padded, stitched leatherette prolonged trim accents. That is Honda’s new SUV flagship in Japan, and it feels it in right here.

The VTi LX grade brings luxurious options like powered and heated entrance seats, a heated steering wheel, embedded satellite tv for pc navigation for the 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a thumping 12-speaker Bose sound system.

We’ll get into options in a bit, however the vary of powered adjustment for the driving force and the snug entrance chairs imply you could find a very good driving place simply simply and really feel supported on longer drives. I’ll observe the seats are pretty low which makes the ZR-V really feel extra car-like – one thing to think about in the event you’re after a extra commanding SUV view out.

Forward of the driving force is a ten.25-inch digital instrument cluster which is normal throughout the ZR-V line-up. It’s good and easy and has cute graphics and animations – the little digital ZR-V mirrors your lights and indicators – nevertheless it doesn’t have the breadth of configurability of some rival shows.

The 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system will get navigation on this specification, bolstering the prevailing wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Not like Honda’s older automobiles, which have been working software program that regarded like Home windows 98, the brand new system feels bespoke and is absolutely featured – proper all the way down to the manufacturing facility navigation.

Response and cargo occasions are good, and the general person interface could be very clear and simple to make use of. Honda Join is normal throughout the vary, with a five-year complementary subscription included with buy. It affords a spread of companies which might be accessible by way of a smartphone app, incorporating comfort and security features.

Highlights embrace:

• Distant features
  • Local weather management pre-conditioning
  • Lights on/off
  • Distant lock/lock
• Computerized collision detection
• Velocity Alert
• Car standing
• Emergency name
• Digital dashboard
• Location finder
• Journey log
• Geofence alert
• Push notifications and messages

Storage up entrance is up there with one of the best within the class, with a slew of sensible options to stow your issues.

The bridge-type centre console has just a little cubby underneath the electrical park brake, and the shelf forward of the shifter has a wi-fi telephone charger pad.

Massive bins within the doorways can accommodate bigger bottles, and there’s a cubby underneath the front-centre armrest that’s additionally useful for hiding issues out of sight.

I’m additionally an enormous fan of the strong, clicky really feel of all of the switchgear and dials, which feels actually excessive finish. Particularly, the knurled local weather management knobs are a tactile delight, and remind me of Audi models.

The rear seat is fairly good, which is predicted given this shares its DNA with the Civic hatchback. Whereas not as outright capacious as a lot bigger rivals just like the Mitsubishi Outlander and Nissan X-Path, the ZR-V affords good head, knee and leg room for taller occupants – like me at 6’1 – even behind my very own driving place.

Two adults will likely be more than pleased again there, whereas the thin centre seat means a 3rd occupant will likely be just a little quick modified. Not less than there’s an virtually flat flooring within the 12 months which frees up extra foot and toe room.

Additional, the center seat additionally will get a ceiling-mounted seatbelt which appears just a little old-hat for a brand new automotive in 2023. The outboard seats even have ISOFIX anchors, whereas all three rear positions have top-tether factors.

Facilities within the rear embrace directional air vents behind the console, map pockets behind the entrance seats, bottle holders within the doorways, in addition to a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders.

Maybe the ZR-V’s solely actual downside in opposition to opponents within the section is its below-average baggage capability, which at 370 litres (VDA) in VTi LX specification is down on even one thing just like the Mazda CX-5 (438L). Observe, VTi X and VTi L grades rating 10L further.

Drop the seats down and also you get 1302L-1312L (VTi LX-VTi X/L), which is extra substantial and aggressive with rivals. Additional, the already large and sq. house is bolstered by a well-designed flat load bay – although no Magic Seats, for these asking.

Petrol (VTi) variations of the ZR-V all include a 17-inch house saver spare wheel, in comparison with the e:HEV hybrid’s tyre restore equipment.

What’s underneath the bonnet?

Petrol variations of the Honda ZR-V are powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.

Shared with the Civic, the VTEC Turbo unit produces 131kW (6000rpm) and 240Nm (1700-4500rpm), with all variations in Australia sending drive to the entrance wheels by way of a CVT computerized with paddles – AWD is accessible abroad in markets like Japan.

Honda quotes mixed gasoline consumption of 7.2 litres per 100km on this specification, with CO2 emissions rated at 175g/km. Regardless of being homologated to Euro 6b emissions requirements, native ZR-V fashions miss out on idle cease/begin.

The ZR-V can take 91 RON common unleaded gasoline in its 57-litre gasoline tank.

How does the Honda ZR-V VTi LX drive?

Like a Civic SUV.

With turbo energy and a CVT computerized, the ZR-V has loads of pep for on a regular basis driving, and is deceptively fast in a straight line for the category.

It doesn’t fairly really feel as tight and tied down as its hatchback sibling, showing to focus as an alternative extra on on a regular basis consolation and refinement, and for probably the most half it actually delivers.

The driving force controls are responsive and correct, inspiring confidence whether or not you’re pottering round city or cruising on the freeway, and the hunkered-down stance actually helps that feeling of safety at excessive speeds.

Pushed sedately on the town, progress is easy and there’s little intrusion of engine noise into the cabin in comparison with rev-happy naturally-aspirated competitors. Honda’s CVT doesn’t actually simulate the ‘steps’ of a traditional computerized until you’re going full throttle, so it may sound just a little slurry or droney in regular driving.

Even on its greater wheels in comparison with the entry VTi X variant, the ZR-V rides with aplomb. There’s good suspension journey to iron out the lumps and bumps of metropolis streets, and the physique is effectively managed by way of successive undulations.

There’s a slight slapping really feel over sharper hits, nevertheless it’s removed from unrefined or unresolved. I used to be very impressed with the journey, which doesn’t actually sacrifice dealing with functionality. There’s a bit extra physique roll than the Civic given its softer tune and raised journey top, however the ZR-V is certainly more proficient at taking a nook than one thing like an X-Path.

Highway noise stays a weaker spot for many Hondas, although the most recent automobiles have undoubtedly improved over earlier generations. Tyre roar is current however not overbearing on coarse roads, and pushed back-to-back with a Mazda CX-5 G25 Maxx Sport in addition to the ZR-V VTi X the week prior, the LX felt noisier with its 225/55 Yokohama Advan tyres.

Wind noise, in the meantime is effectively suppressed – little doubt helped by the ZR-V’s slinky profile and thin mirrors relative to another mid-size SUVs.

The ZR-V can also be absolutely geared up with Honda Sensing help applied sciences just about throughout the line-up.

Adaptive cruise management with ‘Low Velocity Observe’ and an energetic lane centring operate facilitate semi-autonomous freeway driving; although as I’ve discovered with Hondas up to now it may be just a little too conservative with autos coming into your lane forward and it shadow braked a couple of occasions with out warning which was fairly irritating.

It’s in any other case effectively sorted in visitors jams, and the lane centring operate didn’t really feel prefer it was wrestling the wheel out of my palms. Correct blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are additionally pluses, as I used to be not a fan of Honda’s undercooked LaneWatch digicam system.

I do lament the shortage of idle stop-start tech, nevertheless, which leaves the ZR-V idling and sipping away in visitors. It meant that, in contrast to the Civic, gasoline consumption ballooned round city into the 9.0s and almost 10L per 100km – extra on real-world consumption additional down.

What do you get?

ZR-V VTi X highlights:

• Adaptive LED headlights
• Energetic cornering lights
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Hill descent management
• 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay
• Wired Android Auto
• 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster
• 8-speaker sound system
• Black cloth upholstery
• Twin-zone local weather management
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel and shifter
• Upholstered centre console with French stitching
• Entrance USB ports (1 x USB-A and 1 x USB-C)
• Rear USB ports (2 x USB-C)
• Rear air vents
• House-saver spare wheel
• 60/40 cut up/fold rear seats

ZR-V VTi L provides:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Heated exterior mirrors
• Arms-free energy tailgate incl. walk-away closing
• Rear privateness glass
• Mixture LED tail lights
• Black leatherette upholstery
• Heated entrance seats
• Steel paddle shifters
• LED ambient lighting (roof)

Is the Honda ZR-V VTi LX secure?

ANCAP hasn’t examined the ZR-V but, and subsequently the Honda SUV stays unrated for now.

Commonplace security gear contains:

• 11 airbags
  • Centre airbag
  • Entrance and rear aspect airbags
  • Full-length curtain airbags
• AEB incl. Pedestrian, Bicycle owner detection
• Adaptive cruise management with low-speed observe
• Driver consideration monitoring
• Lane departure warning
• Lane maintain help
• Parking sensors entrance, rear
• Highway Departure Mitigation
• Visitors Jam Help
• Visitors signal recognition
• Tyre stress monitoring

ZR-V VTi LX provides:

• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• 360-degree cameras

How a lot does the Honda ZR-V VTi LX value to run?

Like the broader Honda line-up, the ZR-V is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee. Hybrids additionally get an eight-year guarantee for the high-voltage battery, and there’s 24/7 roadside help throughout the board.

Honda additionally affords 5 years of free satellite tv for pc navigation map updates once you service at a Honda Centre. Scheduled upkeep is required each 12 months or 10,000 kilometres – whichever comes first. Honda is presently capping scheduled upkeep at $199 per go to for the primary 5 scheduled companies for brand new fashions.

Actual-world gasoline consumption proved disappointing, with the ZR-V unable to get beneath 8.0L/100km throughout our week of testing regardless of loads of freeway driving thrown in.

Not like the brand new Civic, the ZR-V lacks stop-start that means consumption balloons when you hit heavy visitors. Given a portion of my each day commute to and from the CarExpert Melbourne workplace contains stop-start driving in heavy visitors, any drop in common consumption from my 15km-ish freeway stint was shortly offset.

I completed the week with an indicated 8.1L/100km displaying within the journey laptop, with some further freeway stints thrown in over the weekend. Through the week I used to be seeing over 9.0L/100km, which might have me recommending the e:HEV in the event you plan to drive the ZR-V to and from work and need to minimise gasoline prices.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Honda ZR-V VTi LX

There’s loads to love concerning the ZR-V, however for me there’s a pink mark from me in the event you plan to primarily do city driving.

For a brand new car launched within the closely electrified age, it looks as if an oversight Honda has taken out gasoline saving expertise in what is going to possible be an urban-focused car, particularly because the hybrid is proscribed to the very best trim stage at a considerably larger worth level.

The ZR-V was too thirsty for my liking in real-world circumstances, much more so than the comparatively historic Mazda CX-5 G25 we had on the identical time (comparability coming quickly). It leaves me recommending the top-spec e:HEV as my decide of the vary, although its lofty $55,000 worth level and growing wait occasions might have it out of attain for some consumers.

In any other case, the ZR-V is a well-featured, well-priced and well-mannered crossover that ought to have large attraction given the autos its up in opposition to, whereas its distinctive seems to be and shiny color choices ought to assist it stand out from the pack.

It has a properly completed and well-packaged inside, if missing just a little in baggage capability with 5 seats in use; it’s additionally good to drive and has a little bit of athletic DNA from the Civic with out actually sacrificing the consolation required of an SUV geared toward households.

The ZR-V can also be fairly robust worth for cash, with this VTi LX grade getting just about all the things you need for $50,000 bar a sunroof – which oddly isn’t obtainable on any ZR-V in any respect. Maybe the VTi L is the worth decide of the vary given its $5200 cheaper worth level, and it doesn’t actually sacrifice on the requirements.

All instructed, in the event you’re a small to medium SUV that’s just a little totally different and good to drive, the Honda ZR-V is certainly price a glance.

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