Honda ZR-V hybrid confirmed, to bridge gap between HR-V and CR-V in Europe

After USA and China, the larger Honda Civic-based Honda ZR-V has been confirmed to launch in Europe in 2023. The C-segment SUV will slot between the Honda City-based Honda HR-V and the (also) Civic-based Honda CR-V.

Europe’s (and also China) Honda ZR-V is essentially a North American market Honda HR-V, adapted to European regulations.

Also read: China’s Honda ZR-V is just the Civic-based HR-V with a new name, 1.5T with 182 PS and 240 Nm

Like the HR-V and CR-V in Europe, the ZR-V will also be sold exclusively with Honda’s e:HEV hybrid drivetrain. Whether it will be the 1.5-litre unit from the HR-V or the 2.0-litre unit from the Civic is yet to be confirmed.

Starting from this generation onwards, the Honda HR-V lineage has been split into two, and to make things more confusing, the HR-V nameplate may refer to a different model, depending on which market you are referring to.

So the Honda HR-V in North America is not related to the HR-V sold in South East Asia (also known as Vezel in Japan). That same North American market HR-V is also known as the ZR-V in Europe and China.

Why the complicated arrangement? Because there is a huge demand for SUVs and Honda can’t rely on just the HR-V and CR-V to satisfy market demand.

It doesn’t matter if the ZR-V and CR-V are both C-segment models. Remember that the Honda CR-V is also based on the Civic’s platform, just like the ZR-V.

Most SUVs on sale today are derivative products, meaning that they are built on a shortened / lengthened platform of an existing sedan. So traditional demarcation lines don’t mean much.

At the end of the day, what matters is whether the product meets the customer’s needs, expectations, and budget. Honda knows this very well and believes that there is enough demand to support two C-segment SUVs of different sizes.

Also read: Launching soon in Malaysia, here’s all you need to know about the 2022 Honda HR-V