Honda presents its latest model in Barcelona, a C-segment SUV that is positioned between the HR-V and the CR-V. With an attractive and sporty appearance, the new ZR-V represents a new step in the electrification of the range and reaffirms the Japanese brand's commitment to the goal of zero emissions by 2040. Available with a single hybrid engine, Honda will communicate the price in July and the first units will reach our market in October.
With 4.57 meters in length and a trunk of 380 liters, the new ZR-V proposes a different design to what has been offered by Honda to date. So much so that the brand is confident that it will become one of the star cars by 2024, with 25% of its sales.
It will be an important model for the brand, both for its design and its positioning. Not surprisingly, those responsible for its development ensure that the ZR-V has been designed to inspire confidence, enhance freedom and appeal to a wide diversity of European customers.
The ZR-V is born under the motto "Unleash your potential" and we would agree that it is a timeless mix of smooth and uninterrupted surfaces that flow from the front to the rear, with precise gaps between the panels and well-defined details, such as the certainly high waist line.
The front part, the grill, varies depending on whether it is the Sport or Advance finish. Always in glossy black, the Advance version features a vertical bar design, somewhat more conservative in our opinion. In the Sport version, a more daring honeycomb finish has been chosen.
It is 1,620 mm high and 1,840 mm wide, and has a wheelbase of 2,657 mm. Plus, being 50mm wider than the HR-V and 59mm lower than the CR-V, it's compact yet roomy, offering a good balance of performance, spaciousness and versatility.
When it arrives, there will be a choice of five body colors: Diamond Dust Pearl, Ruse Black Metallic, Radiant Red Metallic, Platinum White Pearl and Still Night Blue Pearl.
Additionally, the ZR-V range comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, finished in Matt Berlina Black on Sport trims, while Advance trims feature a diamond-cut finish in Berlina Black with an image something more Premium.
Honda's new compact SUV uses the same hybrid technology as the Civic, but conveniently updated. It incorporates a direct injection 2.0 gasoline four-cylinder heat engine and two electric motors.
The power to drive the car always comes from the electric motor, with 184 hp, which in the ZR-V Sport means going from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds. The thermal engine acts as an electricity generator, with outstanding efficiency: 5.8 liters per 100 km in the WLTP combined cycle and 131 g/km of CO2.
Honda's e:HEV hybrid system automatically selects the power management modes: EV (electric), Hybrid and Engine. In addition, the driver has a driving mode selector with four possibilities: Normal, Sport, Eco and Snow. The latter is a first for Honda.
It is also worth noting the incorporation of two paddles behind the steering wheel to regulate the retention provided by energy regeneration, and which is very useful on the road as it is an additional brake.
The ZR-V also features Honda Sensing's suite of driver-assistive technologies, such as the All-Over View Camera and high-speed image processing chip that improve the range and accuracy of accident detection.
On the other hand, it incorporates a system of eleven airbags as standard and a combination of structural components -soft and rigid- that provide a controlled deformation and absorb the energy produced in an impact very effectively.
The driving position features a 9-inch touch screen, located in the center of the upper panel of the dashboard, and connectivity for smartphones with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. And the Advance version also incorporates a new 5-inch Head-up display that projects useful information for the driver directly onto the windshield.
And the unique center console is divided into two levels and the three-spoke steering wheel is finished in leather, with black accents.
