Honda ZR-V Hybrid SUV Arrives In India: First Pictures
Honda Cars India is considering a new product for the country, which they think would turn the tables around for them. The Japanese brand has been struggling with its India sales for quite some time now. The next Honda car for India could be a mid-size SUV- the ZR-V that will sit below the CR-V and compete with the likes of Creta and Seltos. Soon after the plans were confirmed, a couple of pictures of the ZR-V have now surfaced from a dealers meeet held in India.
The pictures show a Red ZR-V parked on some venue. It appears to be from Honda’s annual dealer convention 2025, conducted internally. No word was given on the features included or specifications. It also remains to be seen when the manufacturer will give the ZR-V an official market launch.
Honda ZR-V: What Is It?
All we know now is that Honda is evaluating the ZR-V for India. In the Honda global portfolio, the ZR-V competes with the Toyota Corolla Cross and is essentially based on the latest generation Honda Civic. It shares the platform and underpinnings with the popular sedan. It measures 4,568 mm in length, 1,840 mm in width, and 1,611 mm in height. It is longer and wider than the Creta. The wheelbase is a good 2655 mm- higher than that of the Creta. The SUV also gets 126mm ground clearance in the global markets.
The ZR-V looks modern and classy. It comes with an octagonal grille with vertical slats, sleek LED headlights with L-shaped LED DRLs, sharp front bumper, bold body lines, 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, large ORVMs, clear taillights, a simple tailgate, a twin-exit exhaust, a silver skid plate, and a blue & chrome Honda logo. Most of the exterior panels are smooth and curvy.
Honda will likely bring the ZR-V to India as complete CBUs. No plans for local assembly or production. There would thus be higher duties imposed on the vehicle, and the same could be reflected in the price as well. A definitive launch timeline is yet to be out, but most expect the SUV to be out in late 2025 or early 2026.
The interior gets a modern, tech-packed design. It comes with a 12.3-inch freestanding touchscreen infotainment system in the center, sleek AC vents, automatic climate control with rotary controls, unique centre console, sporty multifunction steering wheel, a digital instrument gauge cluster, and metal pedals. The vehicle also gets a button-operated gear shift panel instead of a conventional shifter.
Globally, the ZR-V gets the same powertrain options as the Civic sedan. The India-spec would most likely be powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine. This engine will be mated to an electric CVT transmission and will likely be able to produce 180 hp. It will also get hybrid assists and offer AWD as well. Some international markets also have the car with a smaller 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine mated with a CVT gearbox.
The Biggest Challenge Is…
Having said all these, the biggest challenge to bringing the ZR V here is the pricing. Since Honda has no plans to assemble/make the vehicle locally, pricing it right would be difficult. The Indian government charges 70-100% tax on CBU imports, depending on various factors. This means that Honda may have to put a hefty price tag on the ZR-V’s neck. If the pricing goes wrong, we might have a ‘dead on arrival’ Honda SUV!
Source: Team BHP