Latest SUV might make a few turn back to Honda

Poor old Honda buyers must be wondering which way is up.

Once responsible for the most popular and best-made machines from the Japanese market, Honda has been on a surprising slip, slowly at first before things went wonky a few years back.

But 2024 is shaping as a year of improvement. And it's partly thanks to a bunch of sharp little SUVs, although it's still a bit of a hit-and-miss affair.

In addition to the HR-V and CR-V, Honda has added a fresh and athletic model called the RZ-V.

The slippery-looking addition landed in the Australian market late in 2023 and is making waves in its competitive segment.

The stylish little machine is offered in four variants, headed up by the e:HEV LX (plug-in Hybrid) tested here. Below that are the VTi LX, VTiL and VTiX.

Honda describes the RZ-V as the "first brand-new core model to be introduced in Australia in almost 20 years".

Honda engineers have avoided the lure of going fully electric, instead using a ground-breaking new hybrid drivetrain, known as the e:HEV, featuring a twin-motor hybrid attached to a two-litre direct injection engine.

The same motor has been featured on the Accord and CR-V models, but feels more at home on this sharp little soft-roader which feels sprightly and light on its feet.

The RV-Z's $55,000 price tag looks a little confronting at first, but it's competitively priced and well-enough separated from the lower-spec models.

Those three other models each use a 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo - delivering a modest 131kW, 240Nm - hardly the kind of machine you'll use to belt down a muddy road any time soon.

But it enjoys a well-resolved blend of road manners and driver engagement, well-equipped for the price (starting at $40,200 for the entry-level).

At the other end of the model spectrum, the intelligent hybrid pumps out a combined 135kW and a punchy 315Nm, giving it the sporty image and good looks to match its loveable exterior.

It's inside, though, where the RZ-V impresses.

Features across the range include 18-inch wheels (17-inch on the entry level), heated front seats and door mirrors, black leather appointed seats (VTiL), 12-speaker BOSE sound system, blind spot information system and 360-degree camera.

Honda says the interior of the new RZ-V is "a masterclass in large and small item storage". Presumably that means it not only has somewhere for sunglasses and a garage opener, but also a couple of bags of groceries.

It's expected that the RZ-V's typical buyers will be early adopters and, no doubt, a fair mix of small families. Significantly for Honda, it will be attractive to their flock of empty-nesters, a loyal servant of the badge.

The RZ-V's intuitive technology features include Android Auto or Wireless Apple CarPlay, bluetooth with streaming for those Spotify lovers - all driven through the car's nine-inch infotainment display which favours apps rather than rusted-on functionality. That display sits alongside an additional 10.2-inch driver information interface.

Honda also pays a five-year subscription for its connect system - a bag of tricks for owners to flash off to their friends. This includes remote lights on/off, and a function for finding the vehicle's location in crowded car parks. There's also a 24-hour automatic collision response.

The app can also remotely check your fuel range for the drive home; as well as recent log and archive driving information - no doubt to see if the kids have been misbehaving in your shiny new Honda.

The continuously variable transmission delivers not only a smooth application of power but also the two-motor hybrid setup delivers more power without the revving so common in many hybrid vehicles.

Sport, normal and eco modes give the driver further choices about the driving experience.

This blends well with the impressively smooth and quiet road manners of the RZ-V, which also feels well grounded at highway speeds.

Add a few more pieces of tech, for instance traffic jam assist, where the car maintains a lane-keeping distant at speeds of 70 km/h and under, which is perfect for skirting up alongside crawling vehicles.

HONDA RZ-V e:HEV LX

* HOW BIG? It's listed as a compact SUV which sounds about right. It's spacious inside, has some clever storage and is comfortable in the front and rear.

* HOW FAST? With a combined output of 315Nm torque or 135kW, it's a spirited drive, even if Honda doesn't provide an exact performance number.

* HOW THIRSTY: Once again, the two-motor Hybrid is impressively light on thirst.

* HOW MUCH: The flagship, plug-in hybrid model costs $54,900 - decent value for a car with a truckload of technology. It's the only RZ-V to use the hybrid system - the three less expensive models make do with a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder. Not as frugal and not as fast.