2026 Honda ZR-V review: Long-term introduction

The ZR-V is the newest model in Honda’s Australian lineup, and we’re gearing up to spend three months behind the wheel of the flagship e:HEV LX variant of the mid-size SUV range.

Perhaps it’s not the first model that comes to mind when one thinks of Honda, but the ZR-V has proven itself as a quiet performer in the Japanese brand’s relatively small local lineup.

It regularly records strong sales numbers compared to its smaller HR-V and larger CR-V siblings, and in November 2025 it even surpassed those two SUVs to be Honda Australia’s best-selling model for the month.

That’s good going for an SUV with a small-ish body, especially one that competes in Australia’s booming mid-size SUV category against juggernauts like the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5. Mind you, in the context of those cars, its sales numbers don’t look all that impressive.

Still, we’ve accepted an extended loan (beyond the regular seven-day press test) of a top-spec 2026 Honda ZR-V e:HEV LX, with the intention of giving you a more detailed idea of what it’s like to live with.

Of course, we’ve reviewed plenty of ZR-Vs in the past, but never for longer than a week at a time. This should give us at least a glimpse of what the first few months of ZR-V ownership could look like if you decide to pull the trigger on one, particularly by exposing flaws that may not typically surface in our regular short-term loans.

Our tester is the only hybrid ZR-V currently on sale in Australia, though it joins the rest of Honda Australia’s lineup in being available with an e:HEV powertrain.

I’ll be the primary driver in this test, which means I can provide context for long-distance daily commuting, consistent urban errand-running, multiple airport runs, and plenty of countryside jaunts for good measure. I’ll also include feedback from any colleagues who will inevitably borrow the keys from time to time.

So, stay tuned in the coming months to see how this long-term review pans out.

How much does the Honda ZR-V cost?

We’ll be behind the wheel of the top-spec ZR-V e:HEV LX for the next few months, which costs $54,900 drive-away… yikes.

The e:HEV LX’s pricing provides an interesting context for this review. The near-$55,000 price tag places it in a similar league to larger (and more popular) SUVs, so that’ll be playing in the back of my mind.

Those models include the all-wheel drive Toyota RAV4 XSE hybrid at $51,910 before on-road costs, and the Mazda CX-5 G25 Akera for $52,650 plus on-roads. Both are larger, yet both are in the same market segment as our ZR-V.

In the medium SUV segment there are of course several newer rivals from China, including the electric BYD Atto 3 and the MG HS, which have both outsold the ZR-V so far in 2025 – even if by small margins.

To see how the Honda ZR-V stacks up against the competition, use our comparison tool

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What’s under the bonnet?

The sole hybrid ZR-V is powered by a 2.0-litre non-turbo four-cylinder petrol engine paired with an electric motor. Peak system outputs are quoted at 135kW of power and 315Nm of torque.

It’s worth noting that Honda doesn’t quote a battery capacity for the ZR-V e:HEV, but it’s understood to be about 1.1kWh. The term ‘e-CVT’ also stands for “Electric Continuously Variable Transmission”.

This introductory piece doesn’t go into interior or driving impressions, but we’ve listed the ZR-V’s dimensions below for your reference.

To see how the Honda ZR-V stacks up against the competition, use our comparison tool

What do you get?

There are four variants in the ZR-V range, with the e:HEV LX at the top.

2025 Honda ZR-V VTi X+ equipment highlights:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Space-saver spare
• LED headlights
  • Adaptive high-beam
  • Active cornering lights
  • Dusk-sensing
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Power-folding exterior mirrors
• Hill descent control
• Electric parking brake with auto hold
• Proximity entry with push-button start
• 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wireless Apple CarPlay
• Wired Android Auto
• DAB+ digital radio
• 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster
• 8-speaker sound system
• Dual-zone climate control
• Rear air vents
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Tilt and telescopic steering column adjustment
• Fabric upholstery
• LED map lights
• 5-year Honda Connect subscription

ZR-V VTi L+ adds:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Hands-free power tailgate with walk-away closing
• Heated exterior mirrors
• LED ambient lighting
• Leatherette and fabric upholstery
• Heated front seats
• Paddle shifters

ZR-V VTi LX adds:

• 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels
• Body-coloured bumpers and wheel arches
• Selectable drive modes
• Wireless phone charger
• Heated steering wheel
• Leather upholstery
• Satellite navigation
• 12-speaker Bose sound system
• 8-way power driver’s seat
• 4-way power passenger seat
• Heated rear seats
• Plasmacluster air purification system

ZR-V e:HEV LX adds:

• Hybrid powertrain
• Tyre repair kit (replaces space-saver spare)
• Smart KeyCard

To see how the Honda ZR-V stacks up against the competition, use our comparison tool

Is the Honda ZR-V safe?

All Honda ZR-V variants have a four-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing conducted on hybrid models by sister organisation Euro NCAP in 2023.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• 11 airbags, incl:
  • Dual front and front knee airbags
  • Centre airbag
  • Front and rear side airbags
  • Full-length curtain airbags
• Autonomous emergency braking
  • Pedestrian detection
  • Cyclist detection
• Adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Driver attention monitoring
• Lane-keep assist
• Traffic Jam Assist
• Traffic sign recognition
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Tyre pressure monitoring

ZR-V VTi LX and above receive a surround-view camera.

To see how the Honda ZR-V stacks up against the competition, use our comparison tool

How much does the Honda ZR-V cost to run?

Honda Australia backs the ZR-V range with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, and servicing is required every 12 months or 10,000km – whichever comes first.

To see how the Honda ZR-V stacks up against the competition, use our comparison tool

CarExpert’s Take on the Honda ZR-V e:HEV LX

Upon first impressions, it’s impossible to be disappointed by this ZR-V.

Multiple friends and family have remarked on how ‘nice’ the car is inside, and things like the metal shift paddles behind the steering wheel had me thinking the same thing. I’ve always liked the way this Civic-based SUV is laid out, and it’s exceptionally easy to hop into and feel at home.

Positive remarks about the car’s interior quality naturally led to questions about price, and unfortunately most passengers guessed around the low-to-mid $40,000 range. That could be something that influences our judgement of this particular ZR-V, as $54,900 is a lot to fork over, even if there’s no more to pay.

Still, we’re impressed with the perceived build and material quality early doors, as everything feels exceptionally robust. The air vents move confidently, the touchscreen is responsive and graphically pleasant despite its smallish size, and there are no rattles or squeaks to speak of yet.

Furthermore, hooking your phone up to wireless Apple CarPlay takes but a moment, and hopping in and out of the ZR-V in the first few days of our loan has had my phone connecting quickly and consistently with very little waiting.

Electric seat adjustment also enables easy tweaks on the move, which I’ve had to make full use of. It’s taken me forever to get the seat just right, after fiddling endlessly with everything I could adjust.

It was eventually sorted, and I’ve made good use of the seat position memory function to make sure I wouldn’t have to do it again. This feature will no doubt prove exceptionally useful as other team members borrow the car.

Otherwise, everything has been easy to adjust to. Poking and prodding the various buttons around the cabin quickly reminded me of what each does, and it’s easy enough to configure the instrument display to show specific menus and info.

So far, so good. We’re looking forward to the next few months of ZR-V ‘ownership’, so stick around for our complete assessment in early 2026.

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MORE: Explore the Honda ZR-V showroom