• Lots of space for passengers
• Reasonable storage cubbies
• Boot space is disappointing

How much space is there?

Lots. Space in the rear of the Honda ZR-V is great, with ample leg, elbow and shoulder room on Elegance and Sport models. Headroom is at more of a premium in Advance-grade cars due to the standard panoramic sunroof, but our six-foot tester still found a good two inches of distance between his head and the roof lining.

Foot space is a little tight on all models because there are some electrical components and a trim panel hiding under the front seats. That means you can’t stretch out as far – but the liberal amount of knee room makes up for this shortcoming.

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We also like how Honda has staggered the ZR-V’s seating like a cinema theatre. The rear seats are mounted higher than the fronts, giving passengers in the back a better view out of the windscreen. That’s sure to delight young children, although we’re yet to test whether the elevated seating increases the likelihood of car sickness. We’ll update you when we know more.

Boot space and storage

We’re disappointed by the Honda ZR-V’s boot. Elegance and Sport-spec cars only have a 380-litre capacity – and the range-topping Advance model sacrifices another 10 litres to the subwoofer for its banging stereo system. These figures pale in comparison to the Kia Sportage and Nissan Qashqai, whose boots offer up to 504 litres and 591 litres respectively.

Even the Civic (on which the ZR-V is based) has a maximum boot capacity of 410 litres, which makes a strong case for bucking UK buying trends and opting for the hatchback over the SUV.

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Storage space in the cabin is hit and miss, too. We like the huge storage shelf in the centre console (complete with charging ports, don’t you know) and the smartphone tray under the climate controls. However, the drinks holders in the door cars aren’t big enough to accommodate bottles larger than 500ml.

Safety

• Honda SENSING safety kit as standard
• Not yet crash-tested by Euro NCAP
• Honda says it’s targeting four stars

The ZR-V hasn’t yet been tested by Euro NCAP, but Honda is targeting a four-star rating for the car. We reckon that score should be attainable, as the mechanically similar Civic was awarded a full five-star rating when it was crash-tested in 2022.

Every Honda ZR-V is fitted as standard with the company’s suite of SENSING safety tech. It forms part of the Honda’s long-term goal to eradicate fatalities in road traffic collisions involving any of its vehicles (cars and motorcycles included) by 2050.

The setup includes adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam assist and lane-keeping assist. And, although they’re not critical safety features, you get traffic sign recognition and a headlight cornering function thrown in as part of the package. Finally, there are two Isofix points on the outer rear seats.