2023 Honda ZR-V VTi L Review

Honda’s product resurgence continues in Australia. Barely a year after switching to a new agency-style business operation – where Honda HQ owns the cars at dealers and there’s a no-haggle price policy with one drive-away price per model nationally – and with some important model updates under its belt, the brand has launched what we think is its most important model in years: the new ZR-V. The ZR-V occupies the space between the now-smaller HR-V and now-larger CR-V. Is the 2023 Honda ZR-V VTi L the perfect Goldilocks of the Honda range? Let’s find out.

The ZR-V is the first new nameplate in the Honda range since the CR-Z hybrid sports coupe launched in late 2011. It’s actually called HR-V in North America where our HR-V is not sold – we think it should have been the same for Australia with the HR-V called ZR-V instead – and it’s based on the Civic hatchback, albeit a bit longer and taller. Now that the new CR-V is larger than before, Honda Australia calls the ZR-V a mid-size SUV – in reality, it fits between the Nissan Qashqai and Mazda CX-5 in size, both of which are some of its closest rivals. What reasons are there to choose the ZR-V?

Price & Equipment: 8/10

In Australia, there are four ZR-V models: the entry-level VTi X, the mid-spec VTi L tested here and the top-spec VTi LX and its hybrid e:HEV LX equivalent. Pricing starts from $40,200 drive away nationally for the VTi X, and hits $54,900 drive away for the hybrid. The mid-spec VTi L adds $3,000 to the base price, but adds a reasonable amount of extra equipment – we’d certainly choose it over the base model.

Standard equipment on the VTi L ($43,200 drive away) includes 18-inch alloy wheels, dusk- and rain-sensing automatic all-LED exterior lighting, scrolling front indicators, auto wipers, keyless entry and start, a hands-free electric tailgate with walk away functionality, heated and auto-folding mirrors, rear privacy glass, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, a leather steering wheel with paddle shifters and gear knob, black leatherette and cloth upholstery, heated front seats, a 9.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an eight-speaker sound system, four USB ports, a 10.2-inch digital driver’s display and a five-year subscription to ‘Honda Connect’, which allows for over-the-air updates and vehicle feature access from a smartphone app, like pre-conditioning and locking and unlocking.

Safety kit includes 11 airbags, auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane keep assist with lane trace assist, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, an intelligent speed limiter, traffic sign recognition, driver attention monitoring, auto high beam, an alarm, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. The ZR-V is yet to be tested by either Euro NCAP or ANCAP.

All the colours on the ZR-V range are included in the price, and on the VTi L, options include ‘Premium Crystal Garnet’ (maroon), ‘Premium Crystal Blue’, ‘Platinum Grey’, ‘Crystal Black’ and our test car’s ‘Platinum White’. Black is the only colour available for the ZR-V VTi L’s interior.

Of course, being a small-to-mid-sized SUV, the 2023 Honda ZR-V VTi L has a plethora of rivals on offer and we think that the Nissan Qashqai ST+ (around $41,500 drive away, depending on location), Skoda Karoq 110TSI Style ($43,990 drive away) and Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport FWD (around $44,500 drive away) are closest in size, performance and pricing.

Compared to rivals, the ZR-V VTi L looks like good value for money. While the Qashqai ST+ features a 360-degree camera, a larger centre screen and blind-spot monitoring over the Honda, the ZR-V adds dual-zone climate control, matrix adaptive high beam and an electric tailgate over the Nissan. Against the CX-5, the ZR-V adds an electric tailgate, USB-C ports, Matrix lighting and a digital driver’s display – though the CX-5 has blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and a heads-up display over the Honda. Against the Skoda, the ZR-V offers leather and cloth upholstery and rear USB-C ports but the Skoda adds removable rear seats, a wireless phone charger and roof rails over the Honda.

Performance & Economy: 7.5/10

Under the bonnet of the 2023 Honda ZR-V VTi L is the same 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that features in the Civic. In the 120kg-heavier ZR-V, it makes an identical 131kW of power (at 6,000rpm) and 240Nm of torque (between 1,700rpm and 4,500rpm) as the Civic and is also mated to a CVT automatic transmission, with power sent solely to the front wheels. Versus rivals, the ZR-V appears to be well endowed – both the Karoq and Qashqai make 110kW/250Nm, while a CX-5 Maxx Sport 2.5L 2WD makes 140kW/252Nm, but is physically larger and heavier than the ZR-V.

As we’ve seen in the Civic, the 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine is a wiling partner to the ZR-V, though it’s not perfect. Its peak torque hits nice and low in the rev range, aiding drivability, but it can be a loud engine when pushed harder. We think a bit more power to deal with the ZR-V’s extra weight over the Civic would help realise the ZR-V’s excellent chassis potential, while some extra sound deadening from the firewall would be great as both the Qashqai and Karoq are quieter on the throttle.

The only transmission available with the ZR-V VTi L is a CVT automatic with seven stepped ratios for a more natural feel. It’s a fine transmission and works quite well in regular driving, though it’s not especially great when wanting to drive sportier – the manual mode is appreciated but feels artificial (which it is). The CVT in the Qashqai feels more natural thanks to more obvious stepping, while the torque converter units in the Karoq and CX-5 feel even better still.

The claimed combined fuel consumption for the 2023 Honda ZR-V VTi L is 7.4L/100km, with claimed CO2 emissions of 168g/km – that’s comfortably thirstier than rivals with the Qashqai rated at 6.1L/100km, the Karoq at 6.5L/100km and the CX-5 at 7.2L/100km. Even with a lot of highway driving, we found that figure difficult to match and ended up on 8.6L/100km – though purely urban driving will likely end in figures closer to 10L/100km. Helping running costs is that it can run on 91RON regular unleaded, while it also has a big 57-litre fuel tank to help driving range.

Ride & Handling: 8.5/10

Based on the same platform as the dynamically capable Civic – and only 8mm longer overall at 4,568mm – the 2023 Honda ZR-V VTi L is an overall pleasing and relatively dynamic car to drive that will fit perfectly well with its target market. While the ZR-V’s main rivals all offer a pleasing ride and handling balance as well, we think the ZR-V offers possibly the best balance thanks to its compliant ride quality, sharp handling with quick steering and strong brake pedal feel that can be initially a bit too sharp. Importantly for those seeking comfort, the ZR-V’s multi-link rear suspension set up soaks up bumps better than the HR-V and its less sophisticated torsion beam rear end.

Elsewhere in the ZR-V’s driving experience is positive as well – road noise levels are relatively subdued for the segment, while the ZR-V’s active safety equipment is quite good as well. In our week with it, we didn’t have any issues with how well tuned it is – the Matrix adaptive high beam is surprisingly keen to activate, while we love the lane display on the driver’s screen when the cruise control is active. Annoyingly however, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert does not feature on the VTi L (or base VTi X).

Interior & Practicality: 9/10

We’ve been quite impressed with the Honda cabins that we’ve tested recently thanks to their good quality, slick technological integration and strong practicality and the ZR-V’s cabin takes things to a higher level. Even in the mid-spec VTi L, there are plenty of soft touch materials around including the door tops (including the rear) and dashboard, while the centre console is covered in a soft stitched touch faux leather material. The leather used on the steering wheel feels great, while the seat material is comfortable. The switchgear used – such as the climate controls – have a nice tactility as well.

Centre of the ZR-V’s cabin is a 9.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital radio and live services for over-the-air updates and remote app functionality – though buyers must step up to the VTi LX to earn inbuilt satellite navigation. The same system is used in other Honda models and it’s generally pretty good with a quick reaction to touch, easy to use menus and bright colouring. We wish the screen quality was a touch better, but the eight-speaker sound system is reasonably punchy.

Storage inside the ZR-V’s cabin is quite healthy with a big box underneath the centre console, two trays around the centre console, two reasonable cup holders, a big glovebox and average door bins.

The back seat of the ZR-V is a nice place to spend time – it’s roomier than the Qashqai and Karoq, and even the larger CX-5, and is well equipped with air vents, two USB-C charging ports, a centre arm rest with cup holders, two map pockets, reasonable door bins and soft touch materials atop the doors. There are also two ISOFIX points and two top-tether points for child seats.

Both the leg- and headroom on offer are impressive for its size, and two six-footers will be quite happy there. Unfortunately, Honda’s ‘Magic Seats’ – where the seat base folds up to carry tall things in the back seat – from the HR-V and Jazz do not feature on the ZR-V, but the seat base does fold with the backrest for a relatively flat floor when folded.

The boot of the ZR-V VTi L measures 380-litres with the seats up and 1,312L with them folded, which is only 52L off the CX-5 with the seats up, but a Nissan Qashqai can carry 1,524L with the seats folded, and a Skoda Karoq a massive 1,810L. But helping the ZR-V’s cause is a well thought-out space, including two levels, a sectioned main boot floor, side storage, hooks to hold shopping bag hooks and genuinely the best boot lighting we’ve ever encountered, with bright LED lights even on the tailgate. A space saver spare wheel lies underneath the boot floor.

Service & Warranty: 9/10

As with other new Honda products, the 2023 Honda ZR-V VTi L is equipped with a five-year/unlimited km warranty with five years of roadside assistance and five years of super cheap servicing: just $199 per annual/10,000km (whichever comes first) service. Five years of servicing costs just $995, though that’s only to 50,000km and competitors offer longer service intervals for those driving further annually.

Nissan and Mazda both offer five-year/unlimited km warranties for their new cars, both with five years of roadside assistance – Skoda, on the other hand, adds two years for seven years’ warranty in total and roadside assistance for as long as the car is serviced at a Skoda dealership. Five years/75,000km of servicing the Qashqai costs $2,916 ($583 per service), while the CX-5 costs $2,114 ($422 per service) for the same distance and while Skoda doesn’t publish service costs any longer, a service plan for the Karoq Style for the same time and distance costs $1,850 ($370 per service).

The 2023 Honda ZR-V VTi L DiscoverAuto Rating: 8.4/10

Overall, we’re quite impressed by the 2023 Honda ZR-V VTi L. Thanks to its quality cabin, pleasant driving experience, reasonable practicality, long list of standard equipment, solid aftersales experience and willing drivetrain, we think that the ZR-V will find many buyers in Australia. It continues Honda’s tradition of making well engineered products well fit for their respective target markets.

It’s not perfect, with a surprisingly thirsty engine that could be quieter, shorter service intervals than rivals, a lack of blind-spot monitoring on the VTi L spec and a somewhat small – but still well thought out – boot. But if these issues aren’t a concern, we think the ZR-V is definitely a small-to-medium SUV that’s well worth considering. It’s more well-rounded – and better value – than its HR-V sibling, while it offers a pleasing amount of qualities in comparison to its closest rivals. The first all-new Honda nameplate for over 10 years has a lot riding on it, but we think the ZR-V will do quite well for the brand locally.