Many Honda customers in Israel have been waiting for a successor to their CR-V ever since imports were discontinued in 2023. While the new CR-V is still denied approval, the importer Mayer is meanwhile launching the ZR-V, a crossover larger than the HR-V but smaller than the CR-V.
The new model, with its rounded design, has been manufactured in Japan for three years and is based on the current Civic platform. With a length of 4.57 meters, a width of 1.84 meters, a height of 1.61 meters, and a wheelbase of 2.66 meters, it is similar in size to the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson in their European, shorter versions. The trunk, with a capacity of 390 liters, is relatively small.
The powertrain is hybrid, 1,993 cc, combining a 143 hp gasoline engine and a 184 hp electric motor, with Honda not publishing their combined output. The gasoline engine mainly serves as a generator and connects to the wheels only at high speeds and under load. The transmission is an automatic direct-drive unit, an unusual setup for a non-electric vehicle, and the drive is front-wheel drive. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 7.8 seconds, top speed is 173 km/h, and combined fuel consumption is 17.5 kilometers per liter.
The lineup includes three trim levels, and prices, as usual for Honda in recent years, are very high. While in Europe the ZR-V is about 5% more expensive than a hybrid Sportage, here it is 15% more expensive than comparable trim levels.
Elegance (from NIS 225,000) includes 18-inch wheels, a 9-inch multimedia screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, climate control with rear air vents, heated front seats, a reverse camera, an audio system with 8 speakers, and a smart key.
Sport (from NIS 240,000) adds electric adjustment for the front seats, a power tailgate, combined synthetic leather upholstery, and ambient lighting.
Advance (from NIS 250,000) also includes a panoramic roof, a 10.2-inch instrument cluster, a head-up display for the driver, fabric upholstery combined with synthetic and real leather, a BOSE audio system with 12 speakers and a subwoofer, and ambient lighting.
Safety: 4 out of 5 stars in the European crash test (2023). The specification includes 9 airbags, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane correction and lane keeping, blind-spot monitoring, and a driver fatigue alert.
Warranty: 3 years or 100,000 km.