√2023 Honda ZR-V price and specs: $40,200 drive-away for new SUV

The Honda ZR-V – a Mazda CX-5-sized SUV designed to fit between the Honda CR-V and HR-V – is on sale now with petrol or hybrid power, but key safety technology standard on rival vehicles is not offered on cheaper models.

2023 Honda ZR-V pricing and specifications
New mid-size SUV between the HR-V and CR-V
Petrol or hybrid power available
No blind-spot, rear cross-traffic alert on base models
Priced from $40,200 drive-away

The 2023 Honda ZR-V mid-size SUV has arrived in Australia from $40,200 drive-away – but key advanced safety features standard on all versions of rival SUVs are kept exclusive to dearer models.

The ZR-V fits between the small HR-V and medium to large-sized CR-V in Honda Australia’s range, offering five seats and a choice of one hybrid and three petrol model grades.

Measuring 4570mm long and 1840mm wide, it has a similar footprint compared to a Mazda CX-5, and is a touch smaller than a Toyota RAV4 or Hyundai Tucson.

The ZR-V’s arrival creates space for the new five- or seven-seat CR-V (4694mm long) – expected in Australia later this year – which will be significantly larger than its predecessor, and closer in size to larger SUVs such as the new Nissan X-Trail, Mitsubishi Outlander and Skoda Kodiaq.

Although it is smaller than the CR-V, the base-model ZR-V VTi X – priced from $40,200 drive-away – is $4300 dearer than the entry-level CR-V Vi ($35,900 drive-away), though it is better equipped.

However, the base-model Honda ZR-V is not equipped with blind-spot monitoring or rear cross-traffic alert – safety systems which are standard on all models of the Toyota RAV4 and Corolla Cross, Mazda CX-5, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai and X-Trail, and other competitors.

The features are also standard on a $30,000 drive-away Isuzu D-Max work ute – and a mid-grade $32,000 Toyota Corolla hatch.

The Honda ZR-V is available as a hybrid, but only in the top ‘LX’ model grade, priced from $54,900 drive-away – or $6400 more than the petrol VTi LX.

Standard features on the entry-level ZR-V VTi X include 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a 9.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, cloth seat trim, reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, dual-zone auto air conditioning, eight speakers, proximity-key entry and push-button start.

Standard safety technology includes autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, tyre pressure monitoring, and 11 airbags (dual frontal, front and rear side, full-length window curtains, dual front knee, and front-centre).

However blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are only available from the $48,500 drive-away VTi LX model up.

The base ZR-V VTi X is also equipped with a five-year subscription to Honda Connect, which includes a smartphone app with remote unlocking/locking of the vehicle, remote pre-conditioning of the cabin, and an SOS call function.

It also includes the ability to set a speed threshold for teen drivers – with a notification if it is breached – and information on fuel level, vehicle location and recent trips.

More expensive model grades add 18-inch wheels, leather upholstery, heated front and rear seats, power-adjustable front seats, satellite navigation (in-built), a power-operated tailgate, Bose premium audio, wireless phone charger, and a 360-degree camera.

Powering petrol ZR-V models is a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, while the hybrid uses a 2.0-litre non-turbo petrol engine with two electric motors. All models are front-wheel drive.

Both engines – as well as the ZR-V’s underpinnings, and many of its interior parts – are shared with the latest Honda Civic hatchback.

The 1.5-litre engine develops 131kW and 240Nm, while the hybrid claims 135kW and 315Nm. These power and torque ratings are shared with the Civic.

The 2023 Honda ZR-V is now on sale in Australia.

2023 Honda ZR-V Australian pricing

ZR-V VTi X petrol – $40,200
ZR-V VTi L petrol – $43,200
ZR-V VTi LX petrol – $48,500
ZR-V e:HEV LX hybrid – $54,900

Note: All prices above are drive-away.

Overseas model shown with 17-inch wheels.

2023 Honda ZR-V VTi X standard features:

131kW/240Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with front-wheel drive, CVT automatic
17-inch alloy wheels with space-saver spare
Adaptive LED headlights with dusk sensing, auto high beam
LED sequential front indicators
9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, AM/FM/DAB+ digital radio, Bluetooth
10.2-inch digital instrument cluster
Manual front-seat adjustment
Cloth seat upholstery
Leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shifter
Four USB ports (one USB-A front, one USB-C front, two USB-C rear)
Reversing camera
Front and rear parking sensors
Dual-zone automatic climate-control air conditioning
Keyless (proximity-key) entry
Push-button start
Eight-speaker (four speakers, four tweeters) sound system
Auto-dimming frameless rear-view mirror
Power-adjustable, power-folding door mirrors
Rain-sensing windscreen wipers
Electric parking brake
Five-year Honda Connect subscription
Autonomous emergency braking
Lane-keep assist
Lane departure warning
Adaptive cruise control
Traffic sign recognition
Tyre pressure monitoring
Driver attention monitoring
11 airbags (including front-centre, two front knee airbags)

2023 Honda ZR-V VTi L adds (over VTi X):

18-inch alloy wheels with space-saver spare
Synthetic leather-look seat upholstery (in black)
Heated front seats
LED tail-lights
Hands-free power-operated tailgate
Heated door mirrors
Rear privacy glass
LED interior roof lighting

2023 Honda ZR-V VTi LX adds (over VTi L):

Blind-spot monitoring
Rear cross-traffic alert
360-degree camera
Auto-tilting passenger-side mirror in reverse gear
Leather-appointed (mix of genuine leather and synthetic leather-look) upholstery
Eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with two-position memory
Four-way power-adjustable passenger seat
Heated rear seats
Heated steering wheel
Alloy sports pedals
Satellite navigation
12-speaker Bose premium sound system (including subwoofer)
Wireless smartphone charging
Cabin air purification
Drive mode selector (Normal, Sport, Econ)
Body-coloured front and rear bumper inserts
Door panel ambient LED lighting
Dual exhaust outlets