After several years of limited activity, Honda is finally shifting gears for its Indian operations. The upcoming City facelift will be crucial in driving volumes in the mass segment, but Honda is also bringing in a CBU, the ZR-V, its first since the discontinuation of the Accord Hybrid in 2020. Incidentally, the ZR-V is also a hybrid and will serve as a halo product for the brand in India. So ahead of its official debut in India tomorrow, here’s everything you need to know about the Honda ZR-V.
What is the expected price of the Honda ZR-V in India?
It is not going to be cheap. The ZR-V will arrive in India as a full import, which means it will attract hefty duties, and the ex-showroom prices are expected to be between Rs 40 lakh and Rs 50 lakh. It’s also likely that it will be available in limited numbers, positioned as a niche offering.
What engine will the Honda ZR-V get?
Internationally, the ZR-V gets two engine options: a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol and a 2.0-litre strong-hybrid. Honda India has confirmed that the ZR-V will be offered in its e:HEV guise, which uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit running the Atkinson cycle, paired with two electric motors. The engine produces 143hp and 186Nm, and combined with the electric motors, the total system output is rated at 184hp and 315Nm. The powertrain is mated to an e-CVT gearbox, and while it is offered in both FWD and AWD versions overseas, the India-spec model can be expected to arrive in FWD guise.
What other SUVs can one buy at the expected price of the Honda ZR-V?
For its size (about 4.5 metres long) and expected price of about Rs 40-50 lakh (ex-showroom), the Honda ZR-V will find itself in the company of Skoda Kodiaq, Volkswagen Tayron and Jeep Meridian. However, compared to all these 7-seater SUVs, the ZR-V is a tad smaller and is only a 5-seater, though its hybrid powertrain should help it stand out from its petrol and diesel rivals.
It’s important to note that the ZR-V coming to India was first unveiled for the US market in 2022 and has not been updated since. Therefore, it is a relatively dated car compared to some of its more contemporary rivals.
Will the Honda ZR-V come well-equipped?
Yes, the Honda ZR-V is a reasonably well-equipped car. In markets abroad, it gets features such as a 9-inch infotainment screen, a 10.2-inch digital driver’s display, a head-up display, powered front seats with memory function for the driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control, ambient lighting, wireless phone connectivity and charging, a powered tailgate, a panoramic sunroof and a 12-speaker Bose sound system. The safety suite includes 6 airbags, a rearview camera, Level 2 ADAS and more. The exact spec that comes to India, however, remains to be seen.
What’s nice is that all interior controls aren’t crammed into its screens, as there are plenty of tactile buttons and dials on the dashboard, centre console and steering wheel.
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