Honda ZR-V shows itself to Europe as South Africa looks on
Confusingly only called HR-V in the United States, the ZR-V will be a hybrid only model in Europe and remains a no-no for South Africa for now.
Subtle changes have taken place outside to approve the ZR-V for Europe. Image: Honda
Despite being the source of much confusion over its name tipped to feature on what eventually became the new WR-V, Honda has taken the wraps off of the European version of the ZR-V that debuted internationally in China in May last year.
Bafflingly called the HR-V in North America in spite of being completely unrelated from the real HR-V sold in South Africa, Europe and Australia, the ZR-V arrives on the Old Continent as the segment filler between the HR-V and the newly launched CR-V.
From US HR-V to EU ZR-V
Dimensionally unchanged from the Chinese and Japanese models, and offering up to 1 291-litres of boot space with the rear folded flat, the five-seat ZR-V’s exterior differences from the US-model are subtle and require a keen eye to spot.
ALSO READ: Honda ZR-V revealed as opposite of previous concept
Unlike the vertical slate grille embossed onto the Japanese model, the European ZR-V receives the same honeycomb pattern as the Chinese version, but eschews the Stateside HR-V’s yellow indicators for clear lens while also doing away with the wheel arch reflectors.
At the rear, Honda has fitted a flush chrome faux diffuser and dual exhaust outlets as opposed to the single available on the HR-V.
No lever inside
Inside, and similarly to the European CR-V differing from the North American version, the ZR-V drops the HR-V’s gear lever for a push-button arrangement used in China and on a number of models from Honda’s upscale division, Acura.
Little else has changed in the moving of continents though, as available items comprise the nine-inch touchscreen infotainment system, physical buttons and dials for the dual-zone climate control, the seven-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus Honda’s latest Sensing array of safety and driver assistance systems.
Hybrid only
Up front, the ZR-V loses the American HR-V’s normally aspirated 2.0-litre petrol engine and the Chinese version’s 1.5-litre turbo for an electrified version of the former.
Carrying the e:HEV moniker, the setup involves a pair of electric motors being paired to the large displacement petrol, which produces 135 kW in the comparative Civic and 150 kW in the US-market CR-V. In fact, the final power figures were not revealed.
Paired to an e-CVT driving the front wheels only, the unit is expected to be the sole option for the ZR-V in spite of the CR-V being offered the option of a plug-in hybrid that mates the same combustion engine with a lithium-ion battery pack and single electric motor.
Not yet for South Africa
Going on-sale in Europe later this year, the ZR-V has already been confirmed for Australia from later this year, but at present, remains to be approved for South Africa.
For more news your way
Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.