Honda is considering bringing the ZR-V SUV to India’s highly competitive market, where it has been struggling to maintain its foothold with its line-up of just three models. While a definitive timeline is not clear, we expect Honda to bring the ZR-V here by the end of the year or early next year, according to what our sources say.

1. ZR-V hybrid shares its powertrain with the Civic
2. It is based on the North American-spec HR-V SUV
3. Likely to come to India as completely built units

Honda ZR-V likely to come to India as a full import

Honda is likely to bring the ZR-V to India as a full import, just like it did with the CR-V and the Accord Hybrid. That would mean higher duties, which would translate into a higher retail price. Honda had carried out CKD operations in India for some models at its Greater Noida plant, but this unit has not been operational since December 2020.

While Honda is considering the ZR-V for India,  the final decision is yet to be taken. In the past, the brand has dropped projects despite having products ready for market launch.  Case in point is the previous-gen HR-V which was cancelled at the last minute as Honda could achieve only 30 percent localisation which would have resulted in uncompetitive prices. Therefore, the SUV never made it to Honda India showrooms.

The ZR-V made its global debut in 2022 and is sold in Japan and a few other ASEAN markets. It looks quite similar to the HR-V SUV sold in the North American market.  

Honda ZR-V exterior, interior highlights 

Aimed squarely at the popular Toyota Corolla Cross overseas, the ZR-V is 4.56 metres long and has a 2,655mm wheelbase, slightly longer than the Creta’s (2,610mm). The ZR-V is based on the latest-gen Honda Civic and is positioned below the larger CR-V SUV that we Indians are familiar with. 

In terms of design, the ZR-V sports an octagonal grille with multiple vertical slats layered over horizontal ones. The vertical slats get chrome treatment in some markets and a gloss-black finish in others. The bumper is tall, with subtle cuts on each corner that neatly merge with the chin, and below the bumper is a wide air dam with a gloss-black finish.

The SUV has a rounded look on the sides with not many creases and a large glasshouse with an upward kink aft of the rear door. The roofline is tall and tapers smoothly at the back, neatly merging with curved glass on the tailgate.

Inside, it gets a neat-looking dashboard with integrated AC vents, physical climate control buttons, a free-standing touchscreen and a digital instrument cluster. Like the CR-V, the ZR-V has a button-operated gear shift panel instead of the conventional shift lever that is seen on the North American HR-V.

Honda ZR-V hybrid powertrain details

The ZR-V sold in Japan and other ASEAN markets has an AWD petrol-hybrid setup with a 2.0-litre petrol engine, an electric CVT gearbox and two electric motors, offering a combined power output of around 180hp, which varies as per the market. Sources tell us that this is the version that is most likely headed to India. Honda also offers a pure-petrol powertrain, which has a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine mated to a CVT gearbox with AWD.

With inputs from Ketan Thakkar