This post was originally published on Autocar
The ZR-V is a vertically stretched Civic for the fiercely contested, hybrid-powered family SUV class
The Honda ZR-V may not be the best-known Honda model, but it’s made a telling difference to its corporate fortunes.It became one of Honda UK’s top three best-selling models in its first full calendar year on sale, 2024, returning the company to the right side of 30,000 annual units for the first time this decade.That’s mostly because it fills a gap in a popular market segment for compact SUVs. And yet it doesn’t do so conventionally, which may be why the Honda badge on its nose seems like such a good fit.The car presents a slightly lower-slung, ‘all-road estate’ type of alternative to the likes of the Hyundai Tucson, Volkswagen Tiguan and Peugeot 3008, then. It’s a little less boxy-looking, for those who remain on the fence about SUV aesthetics but like their convenience and practicality, and its dynamic priorities are all about comfort, efficiency and ease of use.