Honda ZR-V 2024 Review

Priced at $55,400 drive-away, the 2024 Honda ZR-V e:HEV LX is the flagship of the four-model medium SUV line-up. It is the only hybrid on offer in the range, as the other three models all rely solely on a 131kW/240Nm 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine to power the front wheels.

The ZR-V e:HEV has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder naturally-aspirated engine under the bonnet, with two electric motors combining to produce 135kW and 315Nm

It is priced $6400 more than the equivalent turbo-petrol VTi LX ($49,000), $12,000 more than the VTi L+ ($43,400) and $15,500 more than the base model VTi X+ ($39,900) tested last year.

As a 4.5m-long SUV the ZR-V is at the smaller end of the medium segment. So vehicles like the Mazda CX-5 and Skoda Karoq are logical opposition on size. The Toyota RAV4 is the most obvious hybrid rival.

Apart from the powertrain, some badging, the deletion of the space saver spare tyre from the hybrid and the addition of a smart keycard, there is little equipment differentiation between the two ZR-V LX models. Equipment shared over and above other ZR-V variants includes leather seat trim, powered front seats, heated rear seats, a 12-speaker Bose stereo system, wireless smartphone charging, satellite navigation and a heated steering wheel.

Stuff shared with lesser ZR-Vs includes 18-inch alloy wheels, a powered tailgate, wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, heated front seats and a five-year subscription to the Honda Connect smartphone app.

All ZR-Vs get 11 airbags, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive LED headlights and active cornering lights. But only the LX models add a 360-degree camera.

The ZR-V gets a four star ANCAP safety rating. Its biggest weakness is a 68 per cent rating for safety assist.

The ZR-V comes with a five-year/unlimited km warranty, five-years roadside assistance, service intervals spaced at 12 months and an uncompetitive 10,000km, and servicing capped at an affordable $199 for the first five visits to the Honda workshop.

Think hybrid, think Toyota. Its sorta like think vacuum cleaner think Hoover. But Honda’s hybrid system is worthy of recognition too.

Essentially, the plugless system tries to run as an EV as much as possible. There are constraints on that such as its tiny 1.04kWh battery pack, but the regenerative efficiency is impressive so it is usually there when you need it.

The petrol engine, which often acts as a generator, takes over at higher speed such as open road driving. And to be honest we did a lot of that during our test drive and not so much stop-start.

As a result, the fuel consumption on-test came in at 6.0L/100km versus the claimed 5.0L/100km official average on 91 RON petrol. That’s still pretty good considering.

The other aspect where the powertrain impresses is its satisfying response at low speed. Whereas a naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre engine would usually feel pretty gutless down low, the e-motor fills in the torque hole with quiet and solid acceleration (a bit duller in Eco, but livelier in normal or sport modes). There’s even enough juice to produce a bit of front tyre squeal if you’re injudicious with the throttle.

The e-motor’s input also damps any tendency the shift-by-wire e-CVT transmission might have to generate intrusive monotone noises from the engine. Manual mode operated by paddles helps as well.

The chassis set-up complements the responsiveness of the powertrain. The all-independent set-up is tuned for sportiness and it feels confident in its behaviour. Some cars are just encouraging in the way they nestle into the road and feel at home. The ZR-V is one of them. Rubbery electric-assist steering feel is its weakest point.

The ZR-V shares its powertrain and monocoque platform with the latest 11th generation Honda Civic small car, which has also been receiving strong reviews.

The ZR-V e:HEV LX’s interior reflects its flagship status. It’s trimmed nicely with some brightwork and obvious stitching, and has some innovative storage solutions including a split-level centre console. It also has decent rear seat accommodation for two 180cm adults.

Importantly, the dashboard offers functionality as well as style because key hard buttons are retained to operate air-conditioning and so on, rather than having to dab at the 9.0-inch infotainment screen.

The negatives related to the 2024 Honda ZR-V e:HEV LX pale in comparison to the positives.

One of the primary disappointments is this impressive powertrain isn’t available at a lower pricepoint in the range.

But then we’re into more detailed stuff: the sporty chassis tune might make the ride a little too abrupt for some, while tyre noise seems obvious on some surfaces (but then this is often the case in any EV). The Honda CR-V, which sells in the same segment, has a softer more comfort-focussed tune.

The nanny-state lane monitoring system – dubbed road departure mitigation – is as annoying as so many of these systems are. Thankfully, it is switchable. Hilariously, it got so overwrought at one point – admittedly on a gravel road – it just gave up and switched itself off.

The generous amount of interior space in the cabin has its downside in the boot. It measures up at just 370 litres, although folding the rear seats down does expand that to as much as 1302 litres.

And finally, does anyone else think the ZR-V looks a bit goofy? Yeah, I know, subjective.

The 2024 Honda ZR-V e:HEV is more evidence that after a few fallow years Honda is getting its act back together as a builder of cars that are more than just … consumable.

It follows closely behind the latest CR-V and the Civic and exudes a similar competence and ability. There’s a tangible character here that has been missing for a while.

But as much as this car gets the thumbs up, it is well over $50,000 and therefore not accessible to a lot of car buyers.

So like we said earlier, it would be great to see e:HEV technology offered more widely in the ZR-V range. This is a fine powertrain that deserves a wider audience.

2024 Honda ZR-V e:HEV at a glance:
Price: $55,400 (drive-away)
Available: Now
Powertrain: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol hybrid
Output: 105kW/186Nm
Combined output: 135kW/315Nm
Transmission: e-CVT
Fuel: 5.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 115.2g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: 5-star (ANCAP 2023)

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