After being revealed last year, the 2023 Honda ZR-V has been launched in Australia. To be offered in four model grades with two drivetrains – including a hybrid – and a long list of standard equipment, the ZR-V is priced from $40,200 drive away. Sized between the HR-V and CR-V, the ZR-V will compete with cars like the Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4 in the hugely popular mid-size SUV segment. The ZR-V is on sale now, and will be in local Honda dealerships soon.

“The Honda ZR-V is Honda Australia’s first, brand-new core model to be introduced in Australia in 20 years. We are truly excited for the launch of the Honda ZR-V into the Australian market and to provide customers even more choice when considering the Honda brand” said Honda Australia Director, Ms Carolyn McMahon. 

“Honda Australia is confident that our SUV model lineup will attract different buyer types, based on the well-defined role each model plays in their segment. e:HEV has proven to be a popular variant with customers in Civic and HR-V models and we anticipate the popularity will only increase with the launch of the brand-new Honda ZR-V to market. ” 

Dimensionally, the 2023 Honda ZR-V measures 4,568mm long, 1,840mm wide and 1,620mm tall, and rides on 2,655mm-long wheelbase – making it only 7mm shorter and 60mm less tall, yet 10mm wider than the CX-5. Its boot measures between 370-litres (hybrid) and 380-litres (petrol) with the seats up – up to 65L less than a CX-5 – and up to 1,312L with the seats folded (28L less than a CX-5).

There will be two drivetrains available in the 2023 Honda ZR-V, both from the Civic: a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol in VTi, VTi L and VTi LX models and a 2.0-litre four-cylinder hybrid in the e:HEV LX. The petrol engine makes 131kW of power (a 6,000rpm) and 240Nm of torque (between 1,700rpm and 4,500rpm), while the hybrid makes 135kW of power (between 5,000rpm and 6,000rpm) and 315Nm of torque (from 0rpm to 2,000rpm).

Petrol variants use a CVT automatic transmission, while the hybrid uses an eCVT instead. Claimed combined fuel consumption for the petrol is rated at between 7.0 and 7.2L/100km, with CO2 emissions rated at between 172 and 175g/km – the hybrid’s combined claim is just 5.0L/100km and its emissions are rated at 115g/km. Both engines are rated to Euro 6 emissions standards.

At launch, there will be four 2023 Honda ZR-V variants: the entry-level VTi X, mid-spec VTi L, top-spec VTi LX and its hybrid equivalent, the e:HEV LX. Standard equipment on the VTi X ($40,200 drive away) includes 17-inch alloy wheels, dusk- and rain-sensing LED lighting, auto wipers, keyless entry and start, auto-folding mirrors, cloth upholstery, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, a leather steering wheel and gear knob, a 9.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, an eight-speaker sound system, four USB ports, a 10.2-inch digital driver’s display and a five-year subscription to ‘Honda Connect’, which allows for over-the-air updates, map updates (if equipped with navigation) and vehicle feature access from a smartphone app, like pre-conditioning and locking and unlocking.

Safety kit includes 11 airbags, auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane keep assist with lane trace assist, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, an intelligent speed limiter, traffic sign recognition, driver attention monitoring, auto high beam, an alarm, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera.

The mid-spec VTi L ($43,200 drive away) adds larger 18-inch alloy wheels, black leatherette upholstery, heated front seats, heated mirrors, paddle shifters, rear privacy glass and a hands-free electric tailgate with walk away locking functionality.

The top-spec petrol VTi LX ($48,500 drive away) then adds black leather upholstery, electrically adjustable front seats with driver’s memory functionality, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, drive mode selection, a wireless phone charger, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, sports pedals, inbuilt satellite navigation with five years of map updates, a front passenger mirror that drops automatically in reverse, a 360-degree camera, LED interior ambient lighting and body-coloured lower bumpers and wheel arches.

The top-spec hybrid e:HEV LX ($54,900 drive away) shares the VTi LX’s equipment but adds a humidity sensor, a push button gear selector, a smart key card and a tyre repair kit in lieu of a space saver spare.

For colours, the 2023 Honda ZR-V is available in ‘Crystal Black’, ‘Platinum Grey’, ‘Premium Crystal Blue’, ‘Platinum White’ and ‘Premium Crystal Garnet’ – the base VTi X is not available in blue or black – and all colours come at no extra cost. A black interior is standard across the range.

2023 Honda ZR-V pricing (drive away):

  • VTi X: $40,200
  • VTi L: $43,200
  • VTi LX: $48,500
  • e:HEV LX: $54,900

The 2023 Honda ZR-V is now on sale in Australia. Stay tuned to DiscoverAuto for the latest automotive news and reviews.

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