The lightly facelifted Honda ZR-V has been revealed in Japan ahead of its expected release here in the not-too-distant future.
For all but the most dedicated car spotters the differences are hard to spot. The Japanese model range has been pared back to three trim lines with the base-spec Z sporting a design that’s completely unchanged except for new 18-inch alloy wheels.
There are also some additions to the paint palette, including Twilight Mist Black Pearl, Meteoroid Gray Metallic, and Seabed Blue Pearl.
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Step up to the Z Black Style, and there’s a new honeycomb grille, while the wheel arch protectors, side sills, and lower section of the bumpers are finished in gloss black. While the wheels are shared with the Z, they are given a darker finish.
At the top of the pile is the Z Cross Touring (pictured top), which has a new, more aggressive front bumper design complete with faux bash plates. To give it the appearance of greater off-road ability, matte black is used for the wheel arch protectors, intake trim, side sills, and alloy wheels.
Also new are the protection strips on the lower section of the doors, which have more than passing resemblance to the “air bumps” fitted to Citroens in the 2010s. The Cross Touring is available with a dark beige interior that includes orange stitching.
In Japan the revised ZR-V range loses the 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. The only drivetrain on offer now is the 2.0-litre hybrid, which maxes out at 135kW and 315Nm.
Japanese buyers can choose between front- or all-wheel drive. So far all Australian-delivered ZR-Vs have been front-wheel drive.
On the inside the 9.0-inch infotainment system now has the latest level of Google integration with built-in Google Maps, voice assistant, and app store. Other available features include a 10.2-inch instrumentation screen, heated seats, leather trim, and a 360-degree camera system.
The updated ZR-V will be available in Japan from late March, but pre-orders are now open.
Honda Australia has confirmed the facelifted ZR-V and CR-V are on the cards for local release this year. With the current ZR-V in runout mode, it’s likely the facelift will arrive sooner rather than later.
The local arm is also keen on expanding its hybrid offerings, but it’s not clear if it will follow Japan’s lead in axing the turbo ZR-V.