Honda's medium SUV has run as a sedan, exudes comfort, carries the brand's reputation, but has never taken off in the market
We usually say that certain Japanese brands in Brazil sell anything just by name. But even Honda bitterly its exception to the rule with the ZR-V.
SEE ALSO:
The medium SUV has everything you expect from a car from the manufacturer. Comfort, pleasant ride, efficient engine and the brand’s praised after-sales.
Even so, it wasn’t enough for Honda to make the ZR-V a success like other SUVs, such as the HR-V and the new WR-V. Or even previous generations of the CR-V.
Which doesn’t stop the Honda ZR-V from being a good purchase option. Even more semi-new and under warranty.
So, check out 10 facts about the Honda ZR-V now.
The Honda ZR-V was presented in the US in April 2022. In Brazil, it arrived in October 2023 in a single version and imported from Mexico.
The only update the SUV received was in the second half of 2025. As for the 2026 line, the Honda ZR-V received more equipment.
That’s it. The model uses the same platform that serves the 11th generation Civic. Generation that is not made in Brazil – today the medium sedan is imported from Thailand in hybrid and sports versions.
Produced in Mexico, the ZR-V focuses mainly on the United States market. But there (and in markets like China) it is called… HR-V. Name of the compact SUV produced by Honda here in Brazil.
As it is derived from the base of the Civic, the ZR-V has many similarities with the famous Honda sedan. In particular in handling.
The driving position is not high, and the ergonomics are practical and functional. The steering wheel offers a good grip and satisfactory adjustment angles. It really feels like you’re aboard the Civic.
With 4.56 meters long, 1.84 m wide and 2.65 m wheelbase, the Honda ZR-V welcomes occupants. Driver and passenger have clearance for legs and knees and the rear seat also provides good space for two adults and a child.
The seats, by the way, offer great density. They accommodate the body well and the occupants arrive at their destination in one piece even on long trips.
It plays against the acoustic insulation, quite disappointing for a car in this category. The finish, with a design devoid of any inspiration, has rubberized parts.
A negative point is the trunk. For a medium SUV, the volume for up to 389 liters is disappointing.
The ZR-V’s suspension receives a precise adjustment by Honda’s engineering. In particular, the multi-link game independent of the rear, which isolates holes well and delivers balance in higher-speed corners.
The ZR-V is a Honda in essence. The only flair that the aspirated engine allows is direct injection. It rides comfortably and smoothly, but doesn’t deliver any excitement.
The 2.0-liter pure gasoline engine generates 161 hp and 19,1 kgfm at 4.200 rpm. Along with it, the indefectible continuously variable gearbox with seven simulated gears.
In this way, you have gradual and comfortable accelerations. The SUV progresses accurately, but without immediate responses to the accelerator or rougher jerks.
This translates into a consumption that can be considered ok. Without any electrification feature, it does 10.2 km/l in the city and 12.1 km/l, by PBEV/Inmetro standards.
As said, the ZR-V did not sell what Honda imagined. In the first full year in the Brazilian market, it ran aground at dealerships and received discounts of up to R$ 20 thousand.
In the first full year of sales, 2024, it even sold almost 6 thousand units. But in 2025 there were only 1,800 registrations. And from January to May 2026, the ZR-V has only 80 licensed cars.
Perhaps because of his positioning. It is not as big as the HR-V, but it is much more expensive – and the compact SUV has a turbo flex option in the top-of-the-line Touring.
In addition, the midsize SUV segment is full of thick-skinned and Chinese rivals with levels of hybridization. We are talking about cars like Jeep Commander, Toyota Corolla Cross, Geely EX5 and GWM Haval H6.
Since launch, the ZR-V has been well equipped in its unique Touring version. In safety, the Honda Sensing package brings ADAS items such as ACC, autonomous emergency braking and active lane departure assistant.
Seven airbags, full LED headlights, photochromic rearview mirror and reversing camera are also part of the list. There is also the blind spot camera: when you activate the right arrow, the image of what is happening next to the SUV is projected on the multimedia screen.
This one uses a 9″ screen and suffers from that poor resolution and slow operation typical of Japanese brand centers. In the case of the Honda ZR-V, until the 2026 line it only allowed wireless connection for Apple CarPlay – for Android Auto, cabling was required.
Two-zone automatic air conditioning, instrument panel with 7-inch screen and analog speedometer, electric driver’s seat, induction cell phone charger, face-to-face key with push-button start, rain sensor and leather upholstery are also standard.
Honda started offering a six-year warranty on its cars. At the same time, the ZR-V has revision prices within the category average, but some body parts are expensive.
Among the main complaints collected in forums with Honda ZR-V owners and on the Reclame Aqui website are:
