24 January 2024 , 16:00
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It takes a moment or two to get your head around Honda's current range of models which, I have to say, is the most tempting it's been for quite some time.
From the superb little Jazz all the way up to the justifiably popular CR-V, there's plenty to tempt you, right through the range.
But it's the middle ground that causes confusion, for me at least.
We all know the Civic, that's an easy one to pigeonhole, and I've recently tested the HR-V, which is a nicely-sized crossover (or is it an SUV? I lose track), and then there's the ZR-V. Which is a bit bigger, but looks similar to the ZR-V if you squint, but it's not as big as the CR-V. Although it is bigger than the new all-electric e:Ny1 - which is quite similar to the HR-V.
Confused? Yeah, me too. Let me simplify it a bit. I'm going to talk about the ZR-V because it's the car I've just spent a week in, and it sits on the same platform as the Civic, plugging a previously unfathomed SUV-shaped gap between the CR-V and the HR-V.
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Because of its Civic underpinnings, it feels more like a hatchback to sit in and drive, despite its size, and that's a good thing, as it helps to distance it from the now even bigger CR-V.
It also carries over the Civic's excellent hybrid powertrain, so you get a 1.05kWh lithium-ion battery and two electric motors, with a small petrol engine bundled in that can either generate charge for the battery, or help the motors out when the going gets tough. Clever stuff.
Its exterior is less daring than the HR-V, which is a shame, because it's not exactly attractive, especially from the front, but conventional sells for Honda, so playing it safe in this segment is probably a wise move.
Inside, it's equally uninspiring but perfectly practical. Civic devotees will find it all very familiar, with excellent build quality, plenty of standard kit and superb levels of comfort.
Less appealing is the nine-inch touchscreen infotainment system available in top models. It's put to shame by the bigger units in some of its rivals, at least in terms of tech. It already feels a bit dated. That said, there's a good selection of physical buttons, which is nice to see. And it does feature Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, albeit not wireless, yet.
Top models get a 10.2-inch TFT screen in front of the driver, which is really good, and you'll also get a Bose stereo, which is frankly superb.
Rear seat space is perfectly decent, but the boot's a bit small for the class at 370 litres, although it's much bigger with the seats folded flat. No clever "magic seats" though in the ZR-V, I regret to inform you. Shame.
On the road, the ZR-V's trick hybrid setup works really well. With 181bhp on tap, it's not going to excite you all that much, but the system does a great job of propelling you swiftly without the usual histrionics you'd expect from a CVT gearbox.
It also makes for strong economy figures and low emissions, so absolutely no complaints there.
It's fair to say the ZR-V fulfills its brief rather well. It does feel a bit soulless, but that doesn't really matter too much in this genre.
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What might matter though, is price. Because even the cheapest ZR-V in Elegance spec costs a shade under £40,000. To be fair, it's a shorter, £1,000 leap to hop up to the more visually appealing Sport model and the top Advance trim I've been testing weighs in at £42,895.
But it's still a fairly big ask when compared to its rivals. Buyers will, however, be seduced by that excellent powertrain, the Civic bloodline, and the Honda reputation for reliability and build quality.
So I can see a fairly bright future for the ZR-V. While I'm still a bit bewildered by the range, now that the CR-V is becoming so large, this settles into a comfortable middle ground. I just wish it didn't look so... "angry".
THE FACTS
Model tested: ZR-V e:HEV Advance
Price: From £42,895
0-60mph: 8.0 seconds
Top speed: 108mph
Power: 181bhp
Economy: 48.7mpg
CO2: 132g/km