Honda ZR-V Launching On 22nd May: What To Expect From Honda's First Hybrid SUV
Honda, as part of its new strategy, is trying to come up with new and updated products for India. Along with the updated City sedan, Honda also has plans to expand its lineup with premium products. One of the models that it will be bringing to India is the ZR-V. The launch of the ZR-V is also expected to happen on 22 May 2026, and here is what to expect from the upcoming SUV from Honda.
Honda announced last year that it plans to bring in premium models to India as part of its strategy. The ZR-V is also known as the HR-V in the North American and Chinese markets. The ZR-V has been in the market for quite some time, and it recently received an update.
Honda is likely to launch the updated version in India. It is a C-segment SUV and is internationally positioned below the CR-V SUV. The Honda ZR-V will come to India as a CBU, which means it will be a bit expensive.
The ZR-V will compete with the likes of the Tiguan R-Line or Tayron in the segment. It will be the flagship Honda product in India once launched.
The exterior design of the ZR-V is similar to the older version. It will come with a rounded, crossover-like exterior design. It would come with sleek-looking headlamps, a large front grille, a premium-looking bumper, LED tail lamps, machine-cut alloy wheels, and so on.
As this is a premium product, Honda is offering features like Google Assistant, a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Honda Sensing (ADAS), a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, multi-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel wrapped in leather, and heated seats.
The last two features are likely to be swapped for ventilated or cooled seats and a regular steering wheel, as heated seats are not necessary in a country like India. It remains to be seen whether Honda will offer all the features in India or hold some back to keep the price in check.
While the SUV looks the same from the outside, Honda has made several mechanical changes. The older version of the ZR-V was only available with a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine.
This engine has been replaced with a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated Atkinson-cycle petrol engine that is paired with an e-CVT gearbox. The upcoming ZR-V uses the latest hybrid system that Honda is offering in its other models.
Like most strong hybrid systems, the electric motor and the battery setup in the SUV can be used to drive it in EV mode, and when it runs out of charge, it can seamlessly shift to the petrol engine. While running on the petrol engine, the battery can recharge itself and provide power and assistance whenever needed.
The engine generates 141 PS and 182 Nm of peak torque. The electric motor is rated to generate 184 PS and 315 Nm of torque. Coming to the pricing, Honda is expected to launch the ZR-V in the ₹40–50 lakh bracket. With the ZR-V, Honda aims to revive its presence in the premium segment and also expand its line-up in India. It is clear that Honda is not aiming to make the ZR-V a volume seller.