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The ZR-V is the newest model in Honda’s Australian lineup, and we’re gearing up to spend three months behind the wheel of the flagship e:HEV LX variant of the mid-size SUV range.
Perhaps the first model that comes to mind when thinking of Honda, but the ZR-V has been a quiet performer in the Japanese brand’s relatively small local lineup.
It regularly records strong sales numbers compared to its smaller HR-V and larger CR-V siblings, and in November 2025 it even surpassed those two SUVs to be Honda Australia’s best-selling model for the month.
That’s good going for an SUV with a small-ish body, especially one that competes in Australia’s booming mid-size SUV category against juggernauts like the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5. Mind you, in the context of those cars, its sales numbers don’t look all that impressive.
Nevertheless, we’ve taken an extended loan (beyond the normal seven-day press test) for one of the top-spec 2026 Honda ZR-V eHEV LX to give you a more detailed concept as to how life will be living with.
And of course, we’ve read a lot of ZR-Vs in the past but never for more than wr. at one point over – and even once again… This should give us at least a glimpse of what the first few months of ZR-V ownership would look like if you pull the trigger on one, particularly when it exposes flaws that may not usually appear in our regular short-term loans.
It is only a hybrid ZR-V that has been on sale in Australia, but our tester joins the rest of Honda Australia’s lineup when it comes out with an eHEV powertrain.
I’ll be the main driver in this test, so I can explain how to drive a long distance daily commuter, consistent urban errand-running, multiple airport runs and plenty of countryside jaunts for good measure. It’s a good idea to include feedback from any of my colleagues who will always borrow the keys, sometimes and often.
So, stay tuned in the coming months to see how this long-term review pans out.
How much does the Honda ZR-V cost?
For the next few months we’ll be behind the wheel of the top-spec ZR-V eHEV LX, $54,900 drive-away… yikes.
| Model | Drive-away pricing |
| — | — |
| 2026 Honda ZR-V VTi X+ | $37,900 |
| 2026 Honda ZR-V VTi L+ | $43,400 |
| 2026 Honda ZR-V VTi LX | $49,000 |
| 2026 Honda ZR-V e:HEV LX | $54,900 |
eHEV LX’s pricing is an interesting context for this review, The. But the near-$55,000 price tag places it in a league similar to bigger (and even more popular) SUVs, so that’s going on playing in the back of my head.
The models include the all-wheel drive Toyota RAV4 XSE hybrid, $51,910 before on-road costs, and the Mazda CX-5 G25 Akera for $52,650 plus on roads. They are larger, but both share the same market segment as our ZR-V.
In the medium SUV segment there are of course several newer rivals from China, including the electric BYD Atto 3 and the MG HS, which have both outsold the ZR-V so far in 2025 – even if by small margins.
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What’s under the bonnet?
Only a 2-volt ZR-V is used as the sole hybrid of an . The petrol engine is an electric motor with 0-litre non-turbo four-cylinder, and has been paraphrased as a 0L (non-torr) 4-cylinder petrol. The outputs of Peak systems are 135kW of power and 315Nm of torque.
| Specifications | Honda ZR-V e:HEV LX |
| — | — |
| Engine | 2.0L 4cyl non-turbo hybrid |
| Engine outputs | 104kW/186Nm |
| Peak electric motor outputs | – |
| Peak system outputs | 135kW/315Nm |
| Battery | Li-ion |
| Transmission | e-CVT |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
| Kerb weight | 1586kg |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 5.0L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 57L |
| Fuel requirement | 91-octane regular unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 114g/km |
| Emissions standard | Euro 6b |
| Braked tow capacity | 750kg |
Honda doesn’t mention a battery capacity for the ZR-V eHEV, but it’s understood to be about 1–1 is worth noting. 1kWh) . This also means “Electric Continuously Variable Transmission” in the term ‘e-CVT’.
This introductory piece doesn’t go into interior or driving impressions, but we’ve listed the ZR-V’s dimensions below for your reference.
| Dimensions | Honda ZR-V e:HEV LX |
| — | — |
| Length | 4568mm |
| Width | 1840mm |
| Height | 1620mm |
| Wheelbase | 2655mm |
| Cargo capacity | 370L (rear seats up) 1302L (rear seats folded) |
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What do you get?
There are four variants in the ZR-V range, with the e:HEV LX at the top.
ZR-V VTi X+
2025 Honda ZR-V VTi X+ equipment highlights:
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Space-saver spare
- LED headlights
- Adaptive high-beam
- Active cornering lights
- Dusk-sensing
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Power-folding exterior mirrors
- Hill descent control
- Electric parking brake with auto hold
- Proximity entry with push-button start
- 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wireless Apple CarPlay
- Wired Android Auto
- DAB+ digital radio
- 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster
- 8-speaker sound system
- Dual-zone climate control
- Rear air vents
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Tilt and telescopic steering column adjustment
- Fabric upholstery
- LED map lights
- 5-year Honda Connect subscription
ZR-V VTi L+ adds:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Hands-free power tailgate with walk-away closing
- Heated exterior mirrors
- LED ambient lighting
- Leatherette and fabric upholstery
- Heated front seats
- Paddle shifters
ZR-V VTi LX adds:
- 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels
- Body-coloured bumpers and wheel arches
- Selectable drive modes
- Wireless phone charger
- Heated steering wheel
- Leather upholstery
- Satellite navigation
- 12-speaker Bose sound system
- 8-way power driver’s seat
- 4-way power passenger seat
- Heated rear seats
- Plasmacluster air purification system
ZR-V e:HEV LX adds:
- Hybrid powertrain
- Tyre repair kit (replaces space-saver spare)
- Smart KeyCard
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Is the Honda ZR-V safe?
Tests on hybrid models by sister organisation Euro NCAP in 2023 based on testing of all Honda ZR-V variants have an overall safety rating of four stars.
| Category | Honda ZR-V |
| — | — |
| Adult occupant protection | 79 per cent |
| Child occupant protection | 88 per cent |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 81 per cent |
| Safety assist | 68 per cent |
Standard safety equipment includes:
- 11 airbags, incl:
- Dual front and front knee airbags
- Centre airbag
- Front and rear side airbags
- Full-length curtain airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Pedestrian detection
- Cyclist detection
- Adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Driver attention monitoring
- Lane-keep assist
- Traffic Jam Assist
- Traffic sign recognition
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Tyre pressure monitoring
ZR-V VTi LX and above receive a surround-view camera.
To see how the Honda ZR-V stacks up against the competition, use our
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How much does the Honda ZR-V cost to run?
Honda Australia supports the ZR-V range with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and servicing is required every 12 months or 10,000km –whichever comes first.
| Servicing and Warranty | Honda ZR-V e:HEV LX |
| — | — |
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | 5 years |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 10,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | 5 years ($199 each) |
| Total capped-price service cost | $995 |
To see how the Honda ZR-V stacks up against the competition, use our
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childcareman.xyz’s Take on the Honda ZR-V e:HEV LX
Upon first impressions, it’s impossible to be disappointed by this ZR-V.
Multiple friends and family have remarked on how ‘nice’ the car is inside, and things like the metal shift paddles behind the steering wheel had me thinking the same thing. I’ve always liked the way this Civic-based SUV is laid out, and it’s exceptionally easy to hop into and feel at home.
But the questions about price were naturally raised when positive comments of the car’s interior quality prompted by many people to guess roughly what was in its low-to mid $40,000 range. This may be a factor that affects our judgment of this particular ZR-V, as $54,900 is’very much to fork over — even if there’s no more to pay.
But still, we’re astonished by the perceived build and material quality early doors that everything feels so very strong. It is a small touchscreen with no rattles or squeaks to speak of yet, and the air vents are confident, graphically pleasant (although it’d be very small) in its size.
In addition to a short-lived hook up to wireless Apple CarPlay, it takes only ‘one minute’ and in the first few days of our loan I have had my phone connect quickly and consistently with very little waiting.
My has had to use all the power and I’ve used electric seat adjustment, which also allows for easy adjustments on the move. I have fiddled with everything I could change, and it’s taken me forever to get the seat just right.
Later it was sort, and I have used the seat position memory function to ensure that I won’t have to do it again. But this will no doubt be a very useful feature as other team members borrow the car from .
Alternatively, everything has been easy to adapt to. It’s easy to set up the instrument display to show specific menus and info, and quickly reminded me of what each does.
So far, so good. And if we’re looking forward to the next few months of ZR-V ‘ownership’, so wait for our full assessment in early 2026.
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