Honda ZR-V review: New crossover is a better drive than most of its rivals but beware, it’s pricey

The new crossover shares the same parts bin as the Civic and is powered by the hatchback’s tried and tested 2.0 litre petrol engine and twinned to two electric motors that drive the front wheels.

Honda’s hybrid system is quite complex and instead of calling the powerplant an engine, the engineers prefer to describe it as a generator which makes electricity and that in turn, drives the car.

All you need to know is it works brilliantly and even though it has a tiny battery (1.05kWh) every journey begins in serene EV mode.

Design-wise, the jacked-up Civic is clean and unfussy, and from the front looks a tad more classy than its siblings.

The slim LED headlights above the vertically slatted piano-black grille gives it an urban, aggressive look, while the high-gloss apron, side cladding and diffuser adds a touch of sportiness.

Our test car came in platinum white pearl, which was closer to primer grey and even prompted one curious onlooker to ask where I got the car wrapped.

Breaking with tradition, the LED rear light clusters on the ZR-V run horizontally almost coast-to-coast and have a smoked finish.

The biggest bonus is on the inside, where you will be very pleasantly surprised.

There’s wall-to-wall leather, a panoramic roof, soft-touch materials in the upper dash and a spacious and versatile centre console. Both types of USB ports are found either side just below the automatic gear select and handbrake.

Wireless charging is available in higher spec cars, while you’ll be treated to two digital displays — a 10.2in driver’s binnacle which is crammed with information and a nine-inch touchscreen in the centre that’s home to the car’s infotainment system.

Thankfully not everything is controlled through this and you’ll be delighted (I was) by the array of buttons and dials for traditional things such as climate control, a home button and radio volume.

There’s ambient lighting with interchangeable colours and the honeycomb strip between the air vents is really premium.

The build quality in the cabin is second to none and would make some luxury brands blush with embarrassment.

There’s plenty of room on board for a typical 2.4 kids and even a couple of six footers won’t be crippled on long journeys.

The boot, however, is a bit snug and at 380 litres (including under-floor storage) – it lags behind many of its rivals and is 30 litres smaller that the Civic, which shares the same platform.

Savvy buyers should invest in a roof box for that fortnight down the country to see granny for the holidays.

The new offering is generously kitted out with three trims – Elegance, Sport and Advance. Standard equipment includes 18in alloys, heated front seats, adaptive cruise control, parking sensors and a suite of Honda Sensing safety tech.

On the road, the ZR-V is a better drive than most of its rivals because the driving position isn’t as lofty as one would expect. In fact, it’s just 30mm higher than the Civic, giving it added grip in corners.

Decent grunt from the 184bhp under the bonnet will see you sprint to 100kmh in 7.9 seconds, which is not bad for car weighing 1.6 tonnes.

It cruises effortlessly too, but road noise, not helped by bigger rims on top-spec model, is annoying. Overall, though, the ZR-V is a top crossover.

The only drawback is the price, which starts at €54,995.

Opel Frontera is back as a hybrid or full electric

Opel is breathing new life into its SUV line-up with the reintroduction of the Frontera.

First launched in 1991, the boxy AWD with a choice of three or five-door models failed to capture the hearts and minds of Irish motorists and sales fizzled out.

The off-roader, which was made in conjunction with Isuzu, just didn’t live up to the German brand’s reputation for build quality and the drive experience was best described as agricultural.

Fast-forward three decades, and the new offering is just about to roll off the production line and is expected in Irish showrooms this summer.

It will replace the ageing Crossland and will sit below the Grandland and Mokka in the line-up. Unlike its predecessor, this offering promises to be fun and spacious.

It will be available both in fully electric and hybrid power trains.

It also boasts a minimalist and airy cabin, which will be home to Opel’s new digital Pure Panel cockpit with two 10in displays and multimedia infotainment system, as well as a bold new steering wheel.

There’s oceans of space on board, offering more than 460 litres of luggage space, which increases to 1,600 with the seats folded flat. A split boot also comes as standard.

Engine-wise, there’s a choice of either a pure battery electric variant, with a 44kWh battery and a range of around 400km, or a three-cylinder petrol unit twinned to 48-volt hybrid technology.

Prices and specs will be announced closer to launch.

Toyota’s C-HR plug-in available from €45,315

Toyota has announced the arrival of the all-new C-HR plug-in hybrid (PHEV), which is available at dealerships across the country, priced from €45,315.

The 2.0 litre joins the 1.8 and 2.0 litre mild hybrid models, which are already proving to be a big hit with Irish motorists.

The PHEV has a pure electric driving range of up to 66km (WLTP), making it the ideal option for those who want to drive electric for their daily commute and can revert to petrol for longer drives, thanks to its dual DNA powertrain.

The second-generation model gets a bold new design with precision-cut lines, a new bi-tone paint, and flush door handles for a more aerodynamic, futuristic look.

The interiors on some specs feature ambient lighting alongside a 12.3in multimedia screen and 12.3in fully digital instrument cluster.

Online reservations are available with a deposit of €500.