Honda Australia has announced details on its new ZR-V mid-sized SUV due to arrive
here midway through this year.
The ZR-V will sit between the well-established smaller HR-V and the larger (and soon
to be larger) CR-V. It’s built on the same platform, and is around the same length, as
the current Civic hatchback.
In its press release Honda states that the ZR-V “sits lower than most SUVs for a sedan-
like driving position” which is a bit odd given that one of the main selling points leading
the SUV boom is their high driving position. We’ll report on this further when we get into
a ZR-V following its local launch.
There will be four ZR-V variants: VTi X, VTi L, VTi LX and e:HEV LX.
The first three will be powered by a 1.5-litre VTEC turbocharged petrol engine with the
hybrid using a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine working with two electric
motors. One motor powers the front wheels, the other is used to charge the battery.
Power and torque outputs for the ZR-V have not been supplied at this stage but the
same engines in the Civic produce 131kW and 240Nm from the 1.5-litre and 135kW
and 315Nm from the hybrid. CVT will be standard in all models.
Standard equipment and features for the ZR-V include adaptive LED headlights,
collision mitigation braking system, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition and
front and rear parking sensors.
Infotainment features will be displayed on a nine-inch screen with wired Android Auto
and wireless Apple CarPlay
The VTi X will ride on 17-inch alloy wheels with 18-inch alloys in the other grades.
