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Honda USA has revealed its own version of the HR-V small SUV – all but confirmed to wear the ZR-V nameplate in Europe, China and, eventually, Australia.
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Honda’s US division has released further details of its new 2023 Honda HR-V small SUV – a model expected to go global in Europe, China and, in time, Australia as the ZR-V.
As reported last month, America’s new HR-V is a larger vehicle than the HR-V sold by Honda in Europe, Japan and Australia, riding on the larger Civic small car’s platform, rather than the Jazz city car’s chassis, like the HR-V sold Down Under.
However, that doesn’t rule out the American HR-V for sale elsewhere – instead, the vehicle will be exported to Europe and China as the ZR-V, slotting between the Jazz-based HR-V and larger, next-generation CR-V.
Expected (but not confirmed) to follow suit before the end of next year is Australia, as a promised third SUV for Honda’s local division. It’s slated to be built in right-hand-drive in Japan for the Japanese market – where Australian cars will likely come from.
Revealed in initial images in April, the American HR-V (or ZR-V, from here on) is powered by the 2.0-litre non-turbo four-cylinder petrol engine offered in the US-market Civic, developing 118kW and 187Nm, with a CVT automatic and front- or all-wheel drive (with hill descent control).
While this engine will be the only choice in the US, it’s more likely Australia will get either a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine rumoured to feature in Japanese ZR-Vs, or a hybrid system confirmed for the European market.
Honda Australia has committed to offering all new models with a hybrid option – making the Euro powertrain a certainty if the ZR-V is to come Down Under.
In US-market trim, the ZR-V measures 4567mm long, 1829mm wide and 1610mm tall, riding on a 2654mm wheelbase – about 200mm longer and 50mm wider than Australia’s HR-V.
The ZR-V’s styling combines elements from across Honda’s model range, with a distinctive front grille shape, LED headlights and tail-lights, smooth body surfacing, 17-inch or 18-inch alloy wheels, and black accents on the US-market Sport variant.
Inside, drivers of the new Civic will feel at home, with a choice of 7.0-inch or 9.0-inch touchscreens atop the dashboard, equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on flagship models.
While the honeycomb air vents and 7.0-inch instrument display have been lifted straight out of the Civic, there’s a new centre console with unique stitching and a storage pass-through (with USB ports).
Available interior features include wireless phone charging, an eight-speaker sound system, automatic climate control, and ‘Body Stabilising Seats’ designed to reduce fatigue on long drives.
A full suite of advanced safety aids will be available, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring and driver attention monitoring.
The 2023 Honda HR-V is due in American showrooms imminently. Its international ZR-V counterpart is due on sale in China soon, in Europe next year and, once its identity is confirmed for Australia, here next year.
A Honda Australia spokesperson told Drive: “We will have an all-new SUV model joining the Honda line-up in Australia in the next 12-18 months – we’ll be able to confirm further details on the new model, including the name, as we get closer to launch.”
Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines as a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.
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