Say hello to…
…the Honda ZR-V a mid-size SUV that sits between the brand’s smaller HR-V and larger CR-V. That puts the ZR-V in direct competition with the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson and a host of others.
Using the same hybrid underpinnings to the latest Civic, the ZR-V uses a 2.0-litre 184hp petrol engine to charge a battery which in turn powers the wheels in most conditions. However, in certain conditions the power can go directly from the engines to turning the wheels.
Honda offers the ZR-V in three trim levels:
- Elegance
- Sport
- Advance
Standard equipment on the Elegance includes 18-inch alloys, heated seats, keyless entry & start, 9-inch infotainment screen, reversing camera, front & rear parking sensors, dual-zone aircon, drive modes, auto headlights and auto wipers.
Sport adds half leather seats, powered bootlid, powered seats, wireless phone charger and 2x rear USB sockets.
Advance adds panoramic roof, full leather seats, memory seats, heated steering wheel, head up display, heated rear seats and uprated stereo.
Is The Honda ZR-V Suitable For My Fleet
There are a couple of items that count against the ZR_V in fleet, namely the fact it’s not being offered in a plug-in form, so the tax position isn’t great, and secondly it’s not as practical or as efficient as the Civic.
However, being a very well equipped mid-size SUV means it will be popular and residual values should be first rate. Values will be helped further because Honda isn’t expecting to sell huge numbers – perhaps 5,000-7,000 a year. Next to the likes of the Nissan Qashqai, that’s peanuts.
Leasing A Honda ZR-V
Intelligent Car Leasing is offering the ZR-V at £599 a month on a 3+36 contract with 10,000 miles a year. At nearly £600 that’s almost £100 a month more expensive than the equivalent Qashqai, however, Honda is understood not to be putting any fleet support in place and concentrating on strong residual values and the retail market.
Driving A Honda ZR-V
Just like the Honda Civic, the interior of the ZR-V looks and feels very well constructed. It shares the same clean design and retains buttons for the most essential infotainment controls.
The infotainment system itself is logical enough to use, although there are better systems on the market. A bigger issue with the set-up is that the screen isn’t as large as some rivals which are now favouring either larger portrait touchscreens or sweeping landscape displays.
The seating position is lower than in rival SUVs; a deliberate and successful move by Honda to improve the way the car feels to drive.
What’s ahead of the majority of the competition is the way the ZR-V drives. In a sector where a good ‘middling’ set up will do just fine for the vast majority of drivers, Honda has clearly spent a lot of time making sure the car isn’t just comfortable with acceptable body roll. Instead the ZR-V has quiet suspension that isn’t unsettled by potholes and the car’s balance through bends is impressive. Most won’t drive a ZR-V quickly, but those that do will be quietly rewarded.
Only a bit more brake bite and feel, and slightly less wind noise on the motorway would be needed to reach best-in-class status for the way the ZR-V’s driving experience.
FleetandLeasing.com Verdict On The Honda ZR-V
Quietly gets on with the job of being an exceedingly good family ZR-V.
Honda ZR-V
- Model: ZR-V Sport
- Power: 184hp
- Torque: 315Nm
- Max speed: 108mph
- 0-62mph: 7.9s
- Fuel economy: 48.6 miles
- Test economy: 47.9 miles
- CO2 emissions: 131g/km
- BIK tax band 2021/22: 31%
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