Used Honda ZR-V for sale: everything you need to know

The Honda SUV range is on the cusp of becoming confusing, with the Honda ZR-V arriving in 2023 to slot between the smaller HR-V and larger CR-V in the line-up. Thankfully, it’s not a niche wasted, as the ZR-V is actually a well-designed and appealing car.

It isn’t much to look at, but in almost every other respect the ZR-V hits the mark. It rides and drives well, doesn’t use a great deal of fuel, and being a Honda, it’ll probably go on doing sterling service indefinitely. They’re expensive new (which also means some models are expensive to tax), but you may find a useful discount on used Honda ZR-Vs.

The car to beat in this class, in sales terms at least, is the Nissan Qashqai, while others to consider include the stylish Mazda CX-5, and the good-value Korean duo of the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage.

Should you buy a Honda ZR-V?

The Honda ZR-V’s low-key styling is a shame in some ways, because it’s not the kind of car that’ll grab your attention out on the road - and might have caused you to overlook this fuss-free, high-quality hybrid SUV. But it’s certainly worth considering, thanks to its advanced powertrain, impressive driving experience and excellent interior.

Honda offers the ZR-V with just a single engine, but that’s perfectly okay when it’s as good as this hybrid setup - it’s smooth, seamless, fuel-efficient, acceptably brisk, and pretty refined too, without the disconcerting noises you sometimes get in cars with CVT automatic transmissions. And while the ZR-V is still too new to know for sure, being a Honda it’s probably long-lasting too.

The cabin also feels like it’ll last. The layout is straightforward and it puts quality materials to good use. It’s certainly the most solid-feeling of the mainstream SUV models, and while Honda’s infotainment setups haven’t always been the best, the ZR-V’s works well enough - and Honda has given you physical controls for the air conditioning, so no touchscreen faffing for those. Some rivals are more spacious, and others have larger boots, but it doesn’t lag hugely behind in either area.

It even handles well, feeling not unlike the regular Honda Civic hatchback. The ride quality is better than most rivals too, in part thanks to the fitment of 18-inch wheels on all models, rather than the larger wheels and rubber band sidewalls on some other cars. Only high-ish insurance ratings and some models facing a VED surcharge thanks to their high purchase prices spoil the picture.

The ZR-V competes in a busy segment of the market, which includes cars like the Nissan Qashqai, Mazda CX-5, Hyundai Tucson, and Kia Sportage, among several others. Honda itself offers the larger CR-V and the smaller HR-V, which are also worth a look.

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What’s the best used Honda ZR-V model to buy?

There’s a single powertrain in the ZR-V, a 2-litre hybrid badged e:HEV or i-MMD depending on what literature from Honda you’re reading. Whatever you want to call it, it’s certainly no bad thing, with decent performance and impressive economy.

It does leave your choice down to trim levels though. Honda is somewhat unusual in listing slightly different performance and economy figures for each trim, on account of higher-spec models gaining weight - or perhaps just to make the cheapest model still look attractive, by being quickest and most frugal. Mid-range Sport trim is probably the best compromise in the range, if only for its slightly more upmarket seat trim and foot-sensing power tailgate, but does attract a higher tax rate thanks to its initial purchase price.

Used Honda ZR-V fuel economy and performance

• Honda ZR-V 2.0 i-MMD Hybrid: The ZR-V uses a 2-litre petrol engine and electric motor combination for a hybrid drivetrain, for a combined 184PS. In the Elegance it covers 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds (Sport and Advance versions are slightly heavier and therefore slightly slower), while combined economy is up to 49.6mpg.

What used Honda ZR-V trim levels are available?

The ZR-V uses the Elegance, Sport, and Advance trim level lineup similar to several other Honda models, and the format is the same here: a well-equipped base model, a Sport trim that’s more about visual upgrades and a few extra toys than any sporting intent, and a top-spec Advance with upgraded audio and a more luxuriously-trimmed cabin.

• The Honda ZR-V Elegance gets 18-inch alloy wheels, a 9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and navigation, heated front seats, adaptive cruise control, eight-speaker audio, front and rear parking sensors, and a rear-view camera.
• The Honda ZR-V Sport adds wireless phone charging, sports pedals, a black finish for the alloy wheels, a power tailgate with a foot sensor, electric driver seat height adjustment, privacy glass, black exterior detailing, and fabric and synthetic leather seats.
• The Honda ZR-V Advance goes a step further with leather front seats (and synthetic leather rear seats), heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, 12-speaker Bose audio, a gloss black and diamond-cut finish for the 18-inch alloys, and a panoramic glass roof.

Used Honda ZR-V dimensions and boot size

The Honda ZR-V’s dimensions are:

• Length: 4568mm
• Width: 1840mm (without mirrors)
• Height: 1620mm

The Honda ZR-V’s boot size is:

• 380 litres (370 litres Advance)
• 1312 litres with the rear seats folded (to window line, 1291 litres Advance)

Used Honda ZR-V road tax

Both Sport and Advance models start at more than £40,000 new, which unfortunately makes them subject to a tax surcharge from their second to sixth years. These models will set you back £560 per year, while Elegance models just sneak under the £40k threshold, for a much more reasonable bill of £170 per year.

How much is it to insure a Honda ZR-V?

Insurance is another potentially high cost, with the ZR-V starting in group 35 out of 50 - ten groups higher than the most expensive Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson variants, and higher even than half of the BMW X3 range.

Read our full Honda ZR-V review