Honda ZR-V review

In the cabin you get the same horizontal dash design as the Civic with a 9.0-inch touchscreen planted on top. This we like, but the strange curvy centre console and the matching shapes on the door panels look more like they should belong in a Nissan Juke. Yuk. Plus, Honda uses a strange shiny material that looks cheap in the sun.

Anyway, the infotainment screen is responsive enough to use and there’s standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity across the range. All trim levels (Elegance, Sport and Advance) get heated front seats too, with ‘Elegance’ trimmed in fabric, ‘Sport’ in a mix of fabric and synthetic leather, and ‘Advance’ in full leather. All get a leather steering wheel, but only the top spec Advance trim will heat said steering wheel and the rear seats.

What about the hatchback-esque driving position?

Ah yes. As previously mentioned, Honda has made much of the ‘hatchback-like’ driving position, and it’s comfortable enough. We’re not sure it feels exactly like the Civic, but it’s perfectly acceptable and still allows you a good view out ahead.

You also get lots of nice proper buttons in the ZR-V. Honda’s climate control panel is one of the best (and simplest) still around these days, and there are proper buttons on the steering wheel for controlling the media and cruise control. 

Oh, and your dial display on the top spec Advance trim is a 10.2-inch TFT screen that’s fairly easy to understand, plus there’s an additional 5.0-inch head-up display on top spec versions. Wireless phone charging is standard on Sport grade onwards, while the top-of-the-tree Advance also adds a 12-speaker Bose sound system.

Will my rear seat passengers enjoy the ride too?

There’s certainly plenty of space in the rear seats, and loads of light with the optional panoramic roof. 

The boot really isn’t large though, with just 370 litres of storage space with the rear seats in place and 1,291 litres with them folded flat. That compares to a minimum of 514 litres in the Vauxhall Grandland and 521 litres in the Skoda Karoq. Oh, and there’s up to 615 litres available if you simply slide the rear seats forward in a Tiguan. So you might find they’d be happier in one of those.