2023 Honda ZR-V 1.5L Turbo CVT 4WD (178 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Since European customers were ready to buy any vehicle with a higher ground clearance than a sports sedan, in 2023, Honda introduced a new crossover on the market: the ZR-V.

Slotted between the HR-V and the CR-V, this new model was not just an alternative for those looking for a compact hatchback but also a vehicle that could replace a station wagon Civic. Mind you, the eleventh generation of that well-known compact hatchback was not available in a long-roof version.

The new model looked different than any other Honda. It featured a small front grille, compared to the rest of the front fascia, and a pair of LED headlights that had nothing in common with those installed on the Civic, at least from the aesthetic point of view. From its profile, it showed the flat hood and the tall greenhouse, which ended at the back with a raked-forward tailgate. At the rear fascia, the elongated LED taillights resembled those installed on the Civic, while the dual exhaust system sported rectangular tips on the lower side of the bumper.

Since the ZR-V sported a shorter wheelbase than its compact hatchback sibling but featured a taller interior, the car could provide better legroom thanks to the high-mounted seats, both front and back. In addition, the front occupants were separated by a tall center console, which also housed a storage compartment at its bottom. The dashboard sported the same honeycomb pattern that concealed the vents, and Honda’s infotainment system with a 9-inch touchscreen atop the center stack. Kudos to Honda for installing a turning knob for the sound system. Fronting the driver was a seven or 10.2” display for the instrument panel, depending on the trim level. Behind the rear split-folding bench seat, the ZR-V featured a 380 liter (13.4 cu-ft) trunk, which was 30 liters (1 cubic foot) smaller than in the Civic.

But just like the European version of the Civic, the ZR-V was powered by a hybrid drivetrain with a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle inline-four engine and an electric motor that drove the front wheels only.