Selwyn_Times: November 22, 2023

38 Selwyn Times Wednesday November 22 2023
ZR-V Hybrid ‘knocks it out of the park’
Motoring with Bob Nettleton
THE RUNAWAY success of
Honda’s latest SUV, the ZR-V, has
seen the hybrid version playing
‘hard to get’ with a 1-2 month
wait, for those who are fussy
about the colour they want.
This is an important model
for Honda who have waited
a long time to get a modern,
well-packaged and good looking
model, to help them make some
genuine sales head-way in the
compact hybrid urban SUV
class.
While Honda have offered
hybrid technology across a
raft of models for the Japanese
domestic market, up until now
they have been largely off limits
here, except as used imports.
When the current mini-sized
Jazz hatch launched in 2021 it
was the first Honda hybrid sold
here in two decades.
Honda’s ZR-V delivers a step
change in hybrid electrification
technology for the company.
The beating heart of this is a
new 2.0L e:HEV direct injection
petrol engine.
The hybrid power train is
exclusive to the flagship $55,000
ZR-V Sport Changes to the
Government’s clean car fee
scheme. Since July 1, many
hybrid models, including the ZR-
V, no longer qualify for a rebate,
with more stringent emission
thresholds in place. Unless a
vehicle power train produces
100g/km or less, it comes up
empty handed in the race for
a clean car rebate, with ZR-V’s
126g/km failing to make the cut.
Size-wise the ZR-V is smaller
than the soon to be replaced
CRV and probably closer in size
to the Mazda CX5. It’s easy on
the eye, with its clean, modern
yet distinctively Honda-style
silhouette that stands out from
the compact SUV pack.
LED lighting is used
extensively for the exterior, along
with daytime running lights,
parking lights and fog lamps.
However, it is done discretely
enough that the vehicle doesn’t
look like a Christmas tree on
wheels.
The hybrid system comprises
two compact electric motors
connected to a 1.5-litre turbo
petrol engine, and a lithium-ion
battery for a combined power
output of 135kW and 315Nm
of torque at just 2000rpm. The
ZR-V 1.5 turbo we test drove a
month or two back needs more
than double that serving of revs
to produce its maximum torque
of 240Nm.
In EV Drive, the lithium-ion
battery supplies power directly to
the electric motor, using Hybrid
Drive and the engine supply’s
power to the electric generator
motor. This feeds into the electric
motor. Finally there’s Engine
Drive. Here the petrol engine is
connected directly to the wheels
via a lock-up clutch and the drive
force is transmitted straight from
motor to wheels.
As a result the driving
experience feels smoother,
stronger and more refined,
although this tapers off fairly
sharply on the open road, when
the vehicle is worked hard. The
hybrid system conjures up a
deft balance between power
and torque to front foot our
undulating roads.
Around town it knocks it out
of the park with a great blend of
performance and fuel economy.
A much-improved Constant
Variable Transmission (CVT) is
shared with the Honda Civic and
features Normal and Eco driving
modes and a user-selectable
Sport mode.
It’s a transmission
that’s a good fit with
the hybrid power
train. In fact it’s so
good, you would be
hard pressed to pick
this as a CVT.
Once settled into
the driver’s seat, I
was in awe of the
vast cabin area for a
vehicle with relatively
compact external
dimensions.
By any measure,
this would have to be
one of the roomiest urban SUVs
in its class. A generous rear cargo
hatch means you can take all
your baggage along for the ride
as well.
A 60-40 split rear seat easily
folds down allowing for more
load space.
You don’t need an eye for detail
to see quality was a priority in
the cabin design. Much of this is
down to Honda upping the use
of quality materials throughout
the passenger compartment,
especially on touch points. The
quest for quality doesn’t end
there, with a premium look
and feel also extending to the
switchgear and controls.
ZR-V Sport is the first model
fitted with Honda Connect
emergency services technology.
This alerts these services if it
detects the vehicle’s airbags have
gone off. A 7-inch color LCD
driver’s display offers a range of
useful driver information. Some
of the things we are talking about
here are the status of various
Honda Sensing safety and
driver-assist systems, including
brake lights, headlights and turn
signals.
In addition to large, easy-torecognize
icons and a simplified
navigation structure with
fewer embedded menus, the
touchscreen has a proper volume
knob and hard buttons for
Home and Back functions. This
discovery of a bit of ‘old school’
tech really made my day! A new
single-camera system offers
Rating out of 10:
Performance 7.5;
Handling 7; Build Quality
7; Comfort 6; Passenger
and Load Space 8; Fuel
Average Consumption
6.2L/100km, Value
for Money 6; Five Star
ANCAP crash rating; No
clean car fee.
Overall points out of
10: 7.5
superior visibility that drivers
will appreciate. With a host of
software advances and a new
and more powerful processor,
it’s quicker at accurately spotting
hazards, along with road lines
and signs.
Well-sorted and designed
suspension and steering are the
pillars of what is an agile and
nicely balanced urban SUV. It
works hard in the background
to make it easier for the driver
to take command on our roads,
with the often-tricky and fickle
weather and driving conditions.
The suspension responds
decisively and assuredly in
steadying the car when it’s
under siege from sudden and
unexpected changes in the
road surface. In town driving,
the ride may be a bit firm for
an urban SUV especially over
high frequency bumps. But it’s
nothing recalibrating a more
softly-softly approach into the
suspension settings wouldn’t
resolve.
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