Honda ZR-V review - Practicality, comfort and boot space
Honda has clearly focused on passenger space in the ZR-V as the mid-size SUV’s boot is actually smaller than the one in the Civic hatchback
The ZR-V slots neatly in between the compact HR-V and now much larger CR-V SUVs in Honda’s lineup. But despite it being an SUV, the driver’s seat is only mounted 30mm higher than in a Civic hatchback, so the driving position isn’t as commanding as in rivals. It still feels great, though, offering plenty of comfort and lots of adjustment.
Storage in the ZR-V’s cabin is a decidedly mixed bag. The central storage is deep, and the glovebox is quite large, too. On the other hand, the door bins are small; the front ones are narrow and short, while the back pockets will only hold a small bottle.
There’s also a small shelf beneath the floating section of the centre console, which houses two USB ports. Rear passengers get a set of air vents, along with two USB-C ports of their own in all but the base model. The optional rubber boot mat is ideal for carrying muddy boots, and will protect the carpeted floor when loading a bike, for instance.
Size
At 4,568mm long, the ZR-V is 137mm shorter than the new CR-V, and 228mm longer than the HR-V. It also has a 2,657mm wheelbase, measures 1,840mm wide and 1,620mm tall.
Leg room, head room & passenger space
Rear passenger space in the ZR-V is very generous, with a simply fantastic amount of legroom available in the back, topping pretty much any other rival in the mid-size SUV segment. We also found during our twin test between the ZR-V and Nissan Qashqai that the Honda’s cabin is wider, though the headroom on offer in the ZR-V is just fine, rather than spectacular.
Boot
It’s clear that cabin space was the bigger priority for Honda with the ZR-V, as this mid-size SUV has a 380-litre boot (including the underfloor storage). That’s not just smaller than many of its rivals’, but 30 litres less than the Civic’s, too. However the ZR-V’s luggage capacity shrinks by another 10 litres if you upgrade to one of the higher trim levels, because more space is taken up by the Bose subwoofer.
The folding parcel shelf is at least both sturdy and incredibly easy to remove and install, plus the load bay is impressively low and level. The rear seat cushions also slide down and forward when you fold them away, which sees the space on offer grow to 1,301 litres. There are also two bag hooks (rated at 3kg each) and a 12-volt socket in the boot.
Towing
The ZR-V won’t find much appeal among caravanners as it has a maximum towing capacity of 750kg, if you’re pulling a braked trailer. For context, a typical two to four-bed caravan weighs in the region of 1,000kg, and both the Kia Sportage and Nissan Qashqai have towing capacity well in excess of that.
