Honda is set to launch the ZR-V hybrid SUV in India as the Japanese carmaker’s new flagship offering for our market. The ZR-V will be sold in India as a fully imported CBU model, and is expected to rival the likes of the Volkswagen Tayron, Jeep Meridian, and Skoda Kodiaq. How compelling a package is the ZR-V at that price? We’ve compiled the upcoming Honda’s most notable strengths and weaknesses below.

Pros

Punchy and refined powertrain

The ZR-V comes with a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol-hybrid powertrain that outputs a combined 184hp and 315Nm, which is routed to the front wheels via an e-CVT. During our BIC track drive of the ZR-V, we found that the SUV deploys all of its torque from the off, which makes it feel rather zippy. Power flows to the wheels in a smooth and linear fashion, and part-throttle inputs feel responsive too.

Overall refinement is excellent, with barely any engine, road, or tyre noise making its way through to the cabin. Provided there’s enough charge in the battery, the ZR-V can even run in pure electric mode at low speeds, thereby reducing NVH levels further. Moreover, Honda claims a 22.8kpl fuel efficiency for the ZR-V, which will likely be appreciated by buyers seeking lower running costs.

Relatively agile handling

Despite its higher-up centre of gravity and front-wheel drive layout, the ZR-V felt nimble and enjoyable to drive around the Buddh International Circuit. The well-weighted and precise steering rack ensured stable and predictable handling around corners, and the ZR-V even held its own around a slalom course, with body control kept well in check.

Well-built interior with good ergonomics

Step inside the ZR-V and you’re greeted by a smartly laid-out dashboard with a plethora of soft-touch materials and premium-feeling trim pieces. The 10.25-inch digital driver’s display also looks neat and well-executed, the front seats feel nicely padded and comfortable, and the low-set dash enables great visibility.

The ZR-V’s dashboard layout isn’t as flashy or tech-laden as some of its rivals, but this isn’t all that bad, as it’s packed with tactile physical controls for nearly every function. There’s a lot of storage space too, including a decently sized glovebox and door bins, and a bridge-type transmission tunnel with a cubby underneath.

Cons

Misses out on some crucial features

A downside of not being as tech-laden as its rivals is that the ZR-V lacks quite a lot of features that buyers may expect at this price point. First off, the ZR-V has a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen, which is bright and works perfectly fine, but is quite small by segment standards – even the much cheaper Honda City has a larger 10.1-inch touchscreen.

The ZR-V also doesn’t get a panoramic sunroof or heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats (the City offers ventilated front seats), and its 360-degree camera is quite low-res too.

Rear seat comfort feels lacking

While the ZR-V’s low-set rear bench makes ingress rather easy, it also means that you sit in a somewhat knees-up position, which may not be comfortable over extended periods. There are no rear sunshades to block harsh sunlight either, and the tapering roofline limits headroom for occupants over 6 feet tall.

Expected to be expensive

Since the ZR-V will retail as a CBU, pricing is anticipated to land at around Rs 45 lakh (ex-showroom). At that price, and with all the aforementioned drawbacks, the ZR-V could end up being a hard sell, especially when rivals like the Tayron, Kodiaq, and Meridian are bigger, more feature-loaded, and can even be had as 7-seaters.