Car review: 2023 Honda ZR-V

Posted 4 January, 2024 Mark Borlace

Honda has a reputation for making good-quality cars, but since the global financial crisis in 2008, the number of models on offer has dropped.

The new Honda ZR-V is the first core model to be introduced in Australia in 20 years. Entering an already competitive midsize SUV market – with strong players including the Mazda CX-5 and the Toyota RAV4 – Honda has its work cut out.

Honda’s dealers operate through an agency model, so you buy the car direct from Honda Australia. The days of haggling at different dealers are over if you’re in the market for a Honda – the price is set and it’s non-negotiable. This might not sit well with every car buyer, but the ZR-V is competitively priced when you consider equipment levels.

The model we tested – the VTi LX – is probably the best value in the range.

The kit

All models come with an impressive array of kit, including front and rear parking sensors, a nine-inch audio display plus a 10.2-inch driver display, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, auto-adaptive LED headlights, active cornering lights, wireless charging, and space-saver spare wheel.

Supporting the entertainment setup is a 12-speaker Bose sound system. It also has navigation and Honda’s 360-degree MultiView Camera System. This all sits on 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels.

The interior

Honda has packaged the ZR-V on the old CR-V platform and it delivers ample passenger and cargo space for a mid-sized SUV. The cabin, glovebox, centre console and door pockets can easily store large bottles. The centre console has enough space for a tablet and a handy shelf at the back, which is large enough for a smartphone.

The height of the front seats, combined with the wide-opening front doors, make it easy to enter and exit.

Inside, the leather-trim front seats are especially comfortable, and the driver’s seat has an eight-way power adjustment with a two-position memory, while the passenger gets a four-way power adjustment. Both front and rear outer seats are heated.

Under the bonnet

All petrol variants of the Honda ZR-V come with a 1.5-litre VTEC turbocharged engine. They have a CVT transmission, which is polarising, given the higher noise levels and spongy acceleration. Honda’s CVT transmission is one of the better ones though, as the torque is delivered in a responsive and quiet manner. During the test, it consumed a respectable 6.5 litres per 100km, and it runs on the cheaper 91 RON fuel. The top-spec ZR-V is the e:HEV LX, which has a two-motor hybrid system coupled to a two-litre direct injection engine.

The Honda ZR-V VTi LX is a strong option if you’re after a good-value family car in a competitive mid-sized SUV market.