Does the Honda ZR-V set a new SUV benchmark?

Does one of the sharpest driving experiences in the class make the Honda ZR-V the new benchmark?

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Honda has taken the Civic recipe and adapted it to today’s fashionable body style, resulting in the all-new Honda ZR-V.

This new SUV will sit between the smaller HR-V and the larger CR-V, which is about to gain a new generation that is bigger than the current model. Like its «siblings», it will be offered exclusively with hybrid power.

It will not have an easy task, however. After all, it is entering one of today’s most fiercely contested markets: the C-segment SUV class.

This is the territory of heavyweight contenders including the Peugeot 3008, Volkswagen Tiguan and Hyundai Tucson. It also faces newer competitors such as the Renault Austral and fellow Japanese model, the Toyota Corolla Cross, both of which are available as non-plug-in hybrids.

Miguel Dias travelled to Barcelona, Spain, to assess the credentials of the new Honda ZR-V. Is it really the Civic of SUVs?

It has more Civic DNA than it first suggests

Saying that the ZR-V is a Civic in «SUV mode» is not merely a figure of speech. Honda’s new SUV uses the same platform as the Civic, while also sharing its mechanical package and almost its entire cabin.

The dashboard is lifted straight from the Japanese saloon and… we have no complaints. When we tested the Civic, its dashboard was already one of the areas we praised most highly.

Its design is elegant, the materials and assembly quality are of a high standard, and there is plenty to commend from an ergonomic perspective too.

Although the ZR-V has no shortage of screens providing a wide range of information, key controls such as those for the climate control system thankfully remain physical, simple and intuitive to operate.

Generous room, with one exception

Given its family-focused nature, the new Honda ZR-V also deserves praise for the space it offers, especially for passengers in the second row.

As one of the larger models in the segment, at 4.56 m long, it delivers plenty of interior room. That does not apply quite so well to the boot, though. Its claimed 380 l capacity is average and trails rivals by a considerable margin, with competitors offering 100-150 l more.

The positioning of the battery beneath the boot accounts for part of this shortfall. It has required the boot floor to be raised, «taking away» valuable litres of carrying capacity.

Honda ZR-V hybrid system: smooth, versatile and highly economical

The new Honda ZR-V inherits the Civic’s hybrid powertrain. In virtually every driving situation, it is the 130 kW (184 hp) and 315 Nm electric motor that provides propulsion.

The combustion engine only steps away from its role as a battery generator in “Engine” mode. This engages automatically at higher, steadier speeds, such as on a motorway - Honda says this is the more efficient approach.

We have no reason to doubt Honda. While these initial driving impressions were not the ideal setting for properly evaluating fuel consumption, Miguel recorded an average of 5.9 l/100 km across a variety of driving conditions.

In urban driving, he even saw figures below 4.5 l/100 km, which is remarkable for a vehicle of this size.

The most engaging C-segment SUV to drive?

Honda has convincingly transferred the driving characteristics and handling qualities we appreciate so much in the Civic - one of the segment’s benchmarks - to this larger, heavier SUV.

The driving position is lower than in other SUVs, the steering is direct, the handling is sharp and body movements are controlled superbly.

As a result, the ZR-V becomes one of the most engaging models to drive in the segment. Naturally, the laws of physics prevent it from matching the Civic, but Honda’s engineers have nevertheless done a remarkable job.

Its sharpness and composure do bring one unwanted consequence: the suspension proved a little too firm, affecting comfort on board.

Arriving at the end of the year

The new Honda ZR-V will only reach Portugal at the end of the year, in November or December. The brand does not yet have a price list for the country, but indicates an estimated range between €45,000 and €50,000.

These figures are in line with those of the Honda Civic, which is priced between €44,750 and €48,750.

Verdict