Honda ZR-V VTi X 2024 Review

The VTi X is the entry-level model in the 2024 Honda ZR-V range, priced from $40,200 drive-away.

Like the $43,200 VTi L and $48,500 VTi LX (all prices drive-away), the VTi X is powered by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine that drives the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

The only variation on that drivetrain theme is the $54,900 e:HEV LX petrol-electric hybrid.

The ZR-V is part of an overhauled Honda SUV line-up, positioned between the smaller HR-V launched in 2022 and larger – and excellent – sixth-generation CR-V that’s just arrived.

The ZR-V measures 4508mm long, which is 67mm shorter than a Mazda CX-5 but 83mm longer than a Nissan QASHQAI, so it’s in a bit of a compact-medium space of its own.

Because they are drive-away, ZR-V prices seem a bit steep compared to logical five-seat small SUV opposition such as the QASHQAI (from $33,890 plus ORCs) and Toyota Corolla Cross (from $33,980 plus ORCs), but add on-road costs to the others and it levels out somewhat.

The 2024 Honda ZR-V VTi X is differentiated from its siblings as the only model with 17-inch alloy wheels – the rest have 18s. The spare wheel is a space-saver.

Drill in a bit deeper and you’ll find it’s also the only one without a hands-free power tailgate and privacy glass. Along with the VTi L it misses out on dual tailpipe finishers and body-coloured bumpers, making do with basic black.

The interior is accessed by keyless entry and start is via push-button. Standard features include dual-zone climate control with rear vents (but without the air purifying offered further up the range), an electric park brake and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob.

Seat trim is black fabric and the front seats come with only basic manual adjustment and no lumbar, let alone heating or cooling.

The ZR-V is covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and five years’ roadside assistance. The service intervals are 12 months or a short 10,000km and are price-capped at just $199 for the first five workshop visits.

The 2024 Honda ZR-V VTi X and its stablemates do not as yet have an ANCAP rating, as the independent testing authority is waiting on information from Honda.

The ZR-V has gained four stars under virtually identical Euro NCAP testing protocols, missing out on the maximum five stars because crash and active safety test results were just below the required performance threshold.

The ‘Honda Sensing’ suite of driver assist systems includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control with low-speed following, various forms of lane keeping and departure prevention, traffic jam assist for stop-start traffic and traffic sign recognition.

The comprehensive airbag count includes front, front-side, rear-side, curtain, centre-front and front-knee. Driver attention monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, rear outboard ISOFIX and three child seat top tether strap points are also included.

The VTi X also comes with LED headlights, active cornering lights and daytime running lights.

Features the VTi X (and VTi L) miss out on include blind spot information, rear cross traffic alert and a tilting passenger-side exterior mirror to aid reversing.

The 2024 Honda ZR-V VTi X has embraced the digital age with a 10.2-inch LED instrument display and 9.0-inch infotainment touch-screen that sits on top of the dashboard.

Features operated out of the touch-screen include wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, which is handy because there’s no embedded satellite navigation at this level. Nor is there the wireless smartphone charging offered further up the range.

Bluetooth streaming and AM/FM and digital radio are part of the package, and the audio is amplified by an eight-speaker unbranded system.

One USB-A and USB-C port feature up front, with two USB-C ports in the rear.

The tuneable 10.2-inch instrument display has a default tacho and speedo dial that look traditional but are digital. Various functions including a trip computer are incorporated into the screen.

Purchasing a ZR-V brings with it a five-year subscription to the Honda Connect smartphone app and its services including climate control pre-prep, remote lights on/off, remote lock/unlock and emergency notification sent to customer care if a collision is detected.

The 2024 Honda ZR-V VTi X is powered by a direct-injection 1.5-litre turbo-petrol version of Honda’s familiar L-series four-cylinder engine.

Key details include an aluminium cylinder block and head, double overhead cams, 16 valves and a timing chain rather than belt. Variable timing control is applied to both exhaust and intake valves.

In this form the engine makes 131kW at 6000rpm and 240Nm between 1700 and 4500rpm.

It drives the front wheels via a CVT, which attempts to disguise its origins with a distinct set of ‘gear’ steps during acceleration. However, there is no way for the driver to select these artificial steps, as the VTi X is the only ZR-V model without steering wheel paddles.

The VTi X also misses out on Econ, Normal and Sport powertrain modes, instead making do with an Economy on-off switch and a Sport function for the CVT.

The 2024 Honda ZR-V VTi X claims a 7.0L/100km fuel consumption average on the ADR test cycle. It achieves that on the cheapest 91 RON fuel and without fuel-saving aids such as idle-stop or cylinder deactivation.

During our 1000km of testing, which encompassed a wide variety of conditions, the ZR-V averaged 7.7L/100km. That’s reasonable for a 1470kg SUV that’s not hybrid.

Combine that average with a 57-litre fuel tank and you’re looking at a comfortable 600km-plus between refills.

The fundamental nature of the 2024 Honda ZR-V VTi X is nippy and responsive.

The electric-assist steering is darty and light and the car is happy to zip between lanes, through tight bends and fit into car park spaces that a ute driver would ignore.

That makes it especially well-suited to urban driving situations, something aided by the excellent outward visibility from the driver’s seat.

The CVT system is at its best in this environment, the short-sharp throttle inputs around town ensuring there’s no sign of the drone more evident on the open road.

All that doesn’t mean the ZR-V isn’t suitable for life beyond 60km/h. Its combination of integral body and independent suspension rides with controlled comfort over most road surfaces, only becoming intrusive on nasty sharp-edged stuff.

It’s also pretty quiet when cruising, except for an annoying level of road roar on coarse surfaces from the Yokohama rubber.

The performance level of the engine is also decent enough to be unfazed by climbs and sharp overtaking.

Where the ZR-V becomes annoying is in the overlaid driver assist system tuning and warnings.

The lane keeping insisted on overly sharp reactions if it judged the car was wandering, accompanied by an incredibly annoying audio alert.

And, of course, this stuff had to be switched off every time the car was turned on.

The adaptive cruise control system also issued a chime every time a car came into its range or exited it. I couldn’t figure out how to switch this one off. Very annoying!

Not annoying but misleading is the ZR-V’s classification as an SUV. Like many of its two-wheel drive rivals this is not an off-roader. It’s a small passenger wagon with a tiny bit more ground clearance.

The best thing about the interior of the 2024 Honda ZR-V VTi X is the space it generates for passengers within its 4508mm length and 1840mm width.

There is generous headroom, legroom and foot space for tall (180cm) people in the rear seat sitting behind a similarly-sized driver and front passenger.

It would be an excellent space for smaller kids, making this a viable family car.

Up front there are two generously sized bucket seats that provide comfort and support. Securing a good driving position is aided by reach- and rake-adjust steering.

Storage for drinks, phones and other accessories is quite generous up front, where a flying bridge centre console releases a bit more space than the norm. The door bins are quite small, though.

In the rear, there’s less storage choice but still two seatback pockets and cup holders in the doors and the fold-down arm rest.

You pay the price for all that attention on passenger space and comfort in the boot, where 380 litres of stowage is a tad underwhelming. Split-fold the rear seat down and there’s a more appealing 1312 litres available.

That load space is nice and flat, too, thanks to the way the seat base slides down into position when the seatback is folded. It’s a welcome touch.

The VTi X does come across as the base model because of the way it presents and the equipment that’s missing, such as embedded sat-nav.

That means the touch-screen, with its basic if legible graphics, becomes an Apple or Android interface. The bad news is we struck some lag and a couple of times the screen just stopped responding.

The good news is Honda has retained some dials and buttons for controls rather than buried all functions in the screen. Hard controls are also retained for the climate-control system.

Meanwhile, you can retune the instrument cluster to turn the dials into digits and push the numerals to the outer edge of the screen.

But you can only do that when stationary. It seems a ridiculous restriction when so many other adjustments in the car are available on the move.

Trim materials have a moderately soft feel in the commonly touched places, but the overall presentation is pretty dark and conservative, if not struggling for quality.

Like so many other good-but-not-great SUVs, the 2024 Honda ZR-V VTi X risks being lost in a sea of competition.

It takes something truly special to stand out and the ZR-V doesn’t do it on the basis of price – apart from the headline servicing price, of course – as well as equipment, performance or style (yes, that last point is subjective).

What it has got is a fundamental set of positive driving behaviours compromised by overly-interfering drive assist systems, and a generously sized cabin hampered by a small boot.

Bottom line? There is no great screaming imperative here to buy the entry-level Honda ZR-V if you are in the market for a medium SUV.

2024 Honda ZR-V VTi X at a glance:
Price: $40,200 (drive-away)
Available: Now
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 131kW/240Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable automatic
Fuel: 7.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 172g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested