Honda ZR-V review - MPG, CO2 and running costs

Apart from the Civic Type R hot hatch, every model in Honda’s line-up is now electrified. The ZR-V is a hybrid, but just like the latest Civic hatchback, it doesn’t need to be plugged into a socket or charging point to top up the battery pack.

The ZR-V uses Honda’s e:HEV powertrain, which pairs an Atkinson-cycle 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a pair of electric motors, a small battery and an automatic gearbox. The petrol engine spends a lot of its time generating electricity to power the electric motors, rather than actually driving the wheels. You also recover energy via regenerative braking when you slow down. 

Depending on which trim level you pick, Honda says the ZR-V produces 130-132g/km of CO2, and can return an average of 48.7-49.6mpg on the WLTP test cycle. During our own testing, the ZR-V managed to achieve 45.6mpg, which isn’t too far off its claimed fuel economy figures, although the 11th-gen Civic returned over 50mpg when we put it through its paces.

One of the advantages of getting a ZR-V over a Civic is the fuel tank. At 57 litres, it’s 27 litres larger than the hatchback’s, so even if it’s a slightly more thirsty car, the ZR-V’s range is much better.

As the ZR-V emits more CO2 emissions than the equivalent plug-in hybrid SUV, and infinitely more than any electric car, it’s not the most appealing choice for company car drivers. The ZR-V attracts a Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rate of 31 per cent, compared to 8 per cent for a Kia Sportage PHEV and 2 per cent for any EV.

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Insurance groups

Regardless of trim, the ZR-V sits in insurance group 35 (out of 50). That’s very high for a mid-size SUV, especially as neither the Kia Sportage nor Nissan Qashqai attracts a rating beyond group 26. In fact, the ZR-V will be more expensive to insure than some all-electric SUVs that cost about the same, such as the Skoda Enyaq and Nissan Ariya.

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Depreciation

On average, the Honda ZR-V is expected to retain 51 per cent of its original value after three years of ownership and 36,000 miles of motoring. Our latest expert data projects the Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage will both hold on to 48-54 per cent of their list price after the same period. 

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