Upcoming Honda ZR-V Hybrid SUV: 1st Teaser Out [Video]

Honda is all set to start a new chapter in the Indian market. The company aims to improve its position by launching new and updated models. The Honda City facelift has already started reaching dealerships, and its official launch is scheduled for May 22. Along with the City facelift, we are also expecting another major launch - the Honda ZR-V SUV. Honda has now released a teaser image of the SUV just days before its launch.

In the teaser video, we can see the SUV’s signature LED DRLs and the Honda logo on the bonnet. We also get a silhouette of the SUV showing its roof rails and wing mirrors. Honda had announced last year that it planned to bring more premium models to India as part of its new strategy.

The ZR-V is not an entirely new product, as it is already sold in several international markets. Interestingly, the same SUV is known as the Honda HR-V in North American and Chinese markets. Honda also recently updated the SUV globally.

Internationally, this is a C-segment SUV positioned below the Honda CR-V. The Honda ZR-V will reportedly come to India as a CBU model, which means it is expected to be priced on the expensive side. Once launched, it will compete against rivals like the Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line and the Skoda Kodiaq. It will also become Honda’s flagship SUV in India.

The exterior design of the ZR-V remains similar to the international model. It gets a rounded crossover-like design along with sleek headlamps, a large front grille, premium-looking bumpers, LED tail lamps, and machine-cut alloy wheels.

Since this is positioned as a premium product, Honda is expected to offer several premium features such as Google Assistant integration, a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Honda Sensing ADAS, a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, and multi-zone climate control.

The international version also comes with heated seats, although there is a possibility that Honda could replace them with ventilated seats for the Indian market. It remains to be seen whether Honda will offer all the international-spec features here or hold back a few to keep pricing competitive.

While the SUV looks largely similar from the outside, Honda has made several mechanical changes underneath. The older version of the ZR-V was available only with a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine. However, the updated model now gets a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated Atkinson-cycle petrol engine paired with an e-CVT gearbox.

The upcoming ZR-V uses Honda’s latest strong-hybrid system, which is already seen in several global Honda models. Like most strong-hybrid systems, the electric motor and battery pack can drive the SUV in EV mode for short distances, and once the battery charge drops, the system seamlessly switches to the petrol engine. The battery can also recharge itself while the engine is running and provide assistance whenever needed.

The petrol engine is expected to generate around 141 PS and 182 Nm of peak torque, while the electric motor is rated to produce 184 PS and 315 Nm of torque. The combined power and torque output figures are not available at the moment.

The SUV is scheduled to be officially launched on May 22, and it is expected to be priced in the Rs 40–50 lakh segment.