You might have experienced hybrids before, and Honda Cars India already offers one in the form of the City e:HEV. But the ZR-V takes a different approach. Positioned as a sports hybrid SUV, it will top Honda’s Indian portfolio when launched. Ahead of its market launch, we got a brief opportunity to drive the Honda ZR-V at the Buddh International Circuit. This is what we think.
Honda ZR-V review – Design and aesthetics
The Honda ZR-V is not launched in India yet, so we drove the sports hybrid SUV without knowing its final price. It is expected to be priced around Rs 50 lakh and will be offered in a single fully loaded variant. The price will be higher as the ZR-V will be brought to India via the CBU route.
There are four colors to choose from – Twilight Mist Black Pearl, Platinum White Pearl, Crystal Black Pearl and Meteoroid Gray Metallic. Twilight Mist Black Pearl is definitely the most interesting color we sampled, due to its underlying purple hue. However, on a dismal day in NCR, it was the Platinum White Pearl that stood out the most.
In terms of design, the Honda ZR-V looks better the more you look at it. Its proportions and styling have a distinctly European flavour, giving it an understated premium appearance. At the front, sleek LED headlights, a prominent grille and neatly integrated aero elements create a clean and sophisticated fascia.
Exclusive 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped with 225/55 tyres. It has traditional door handles and a subtly sloping roof. We’ve seen so many connected tail lights that the ZR-V’s traditional tail lights look attractive, and they are. The bumper is also body colored and has a twin exhaust setup and both are working.
Old Money Interiors
In terms of dimensions, the Honda ZR-V measures 4,567 mm in length, 1,840 mm in width, 1,621 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2,655 mm long. This translates into a huge 1,313L boot with good space inside for front and rear occupants and even with the second row seats folded.
On the inside, the Honda ZR-V gets an all-black theme with a relatively traditional dashboard layout. In an age where dashboards are dominated by large touchscreens, the ZR-V takes a refreshingly traditional approach, which we like.
It has a traditional round steering wheel with a three-spoke layout, tactile buttons and toggles. Even the paddle shifters to control the regions are large and made of metal. It features leather upholstery with a leather padded steering wheel and trims on the doors and center console. The 9-inch floating infotainment screen is centered and we liked that it has proper buttons and dials to navigate.
Even the dual-zone climate control panel had tactile dials and clicky buttons, giving off a premium vibe. There’s a wireless charger, adaptable cup holders, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 10.2-inch wide-format TFT instrument cluster that’s customizable and informative, a floating center console, IR-cut and acoustic heat protecting glass, a 12-speaker Bose sound system and more.
comfort and space
Honda has used extensive soundproofing materials in the ZR-V and you’ll appreciate the quietness of it. The front AC vents are neatly hidden in the horizontal grille bar. Soft touch materials are almost everywhere and even present in the area where your knee will touch the center console. It feels good to sit on the leather seats with a sedan-like seating position and excellent support.
The front seats are powered and the driver’s seat has two memory settings integrated into two smart keys. Therefore, each key will activate its respective set state. We weren’t particularly fond of the gear selector buttons, but anyone can get used to them. Behind the gear selector on the floating console are toggles for drive mode, parking brake and others.
Rear seat comfort is good and there is soft touch material available till the rear seating area, but there are no amenities for the rear occupants. Sure, there are rear AC vents and USB ports with sound deadening material, but nothing flashy. It also has a powered tailgate as well as a smart delay function.
Powertrain and performance
Powering the Honda ZR-V is a 2.0L sports hybrid powertrain, which combines a 2.0L 4-cylinder Atkinson cycle petrol engine with a motor and a generator with a battery. Maximum total system output is 184 PS and 315 Nm, mated to the ECVT. The claimed headline figures with the Honda ZR-V are 22.8 km/l fuel efficiency and a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 7.9 seconds.
Acceleration is brisk and the Honda ZR-V feels like it will go from 0-100 in a claimed 7.9 seconds and we managed a comparable time as well. The Honda ZR-V uses a series-parallel hybrid system, where the electric motor handles most of the actual propulsion. The petrol engine can serve as a generator to supply power to the motor and charge the battery, while in some driving conditions it can also directly drive the wheels. The system automatically switches between these operating modes depending on speed, load and battery charge.
The engine will drive the wheels whenever needed. During our time with the ZR-V Sports Hybrid on the race track at BIC, the engine was on the entire time and we were gunning it all over the track. Even under these conditions, the system was showing a fuel efficiency of around 10.4 km/l, which is impressive considering the way the vehicle drives. Based solely on this indicated figure and its 57-litre tank, the theoretical range is around 600 km. At a claimed 22.8 km/l efficiency, the theoretical range could surpass 1,200 km, although real-world figures will naturally depend on driving conditions.
driving dynamics
Since our drive was limited to the BIC, we couldn’t properly evaluate the low-speed ride quality, real-world hybrid behavior or Honda Sensing ADAS on public roads. The track allowed us to explore the ZR-V’s performance, braking, and high-speed dynamics, and that’s where it impressed us.
There is independent suspension at all four corners and body control is impressive. The ZR-V remains controlled through corners even at high speeds, while braking feels progressive and confidence-inspiring. The relatively low 180 mm ground clearance and sedan-like driving position also contribute to its sporty character. Overall, the ZR-V feels at home on a high-speed circuit like the BIC.
Should you buy one?
Honda mentioned that two lots of ZR-V imports have already been booked or talked about and the company is looking at allocating a third lot soon. Honda’s brand reputation precedes it and the ZR-V has emerged as an attractive proposition for Honda loyalists.
The lack of a sunroof doesn’t bother us, but the absence of ventilated front seats certainly does, especially considering Indian conditions and the expected price of the ZR-V. On the particular unit we sampled, the center console didn’t feel properly secured and wobbled noticeably with even the slightest pressure of our knees.
It’s a sophisticated vehicle with a restrained character, and we can definitely see its appeal. Pricing will ultimately determine how attractive the package is. But if you’re looking for exclusivity, understated styling, a quick and efficient hybrid powertrain, strong dynamics and a premium experience without unnecessary gimmicks, the Honda ZR-V makes a solid case for itself.
