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CR-V and ZR-V now better value across Honda’s electrified SUV range

Honda CR-V

Honda has cut prices across its CR-V and ZR-V ranges, with the new figures taking effect from November 2— and the ZR-V Advance now slips under a tax threshold that could save buyers real money.

Honda’s electrified SUV lineup just got cheaper. The brand has trimmed pricing across both the CR-V and ZR-V from 2 November 2026, a move that makes its hybrid and plug-in hybrid SUVs noticeably more attractive against a crowded market of rivals.

The ZR-V Advance cheaper — and dodges a tax hit

The biggest talking point is the ZR-V Advance, which now comes in at £39,585. That’s not just a lower price than before — it drops the Advance below the £40,000 threshold that triggers the Expensive Car Supplement (ECS) on hybrid models.

The ECS adds £440 a year on top of standard road tax for five years, from years two to six of a car’s life . Keeping the ZR-V Advance under £40,000 means buyers avoid that extra charge entirely. It’s a quiet but significant win for anyone speccing up the mid-range ZR-V.

The entry-level ZR-V Elegance starts at £35,215, with the Sport at £37,455 — both comfortably clear of the threshold.

CR-V also better value

The larger CR-V now starts at £43,995 in e:HEV Elegance form, rising to £46,995 for the Advance. The plug-in hybrid e:PHEV versions come in at £44,995 (Elegance Tech) and £47,995 (Advance Tech).

Those models sit above the £40,000 mark, so the ECS still applies — though for the PHEV variants, the calculation is more nuanced given their zero-emission capability.

Honda CR-V

Why it matters

The cuts land at a time when hybrid SUVs are fighting hard for buyers’ attention. Honda’s argument is simple: you get advanced hybrid tech, premium comfort and everyday practicality — now at a lower price.

Honda says the CR-V remains the brand’s largest SUV in Europe, offering up to 596 miles (WLTP) of range, with the e:PHEV version managing up to 50 miles of electric-only running.

The ZR-V, meanwhile, uses a 184PS 2.0-litre e:HEV full hybrid setup, a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Honda SENSING safety tech as standard across the range.

Michael Doyle, Head of Automobile at Honda Motor Europe (UK), said the new pricing structure “strengthens the appeal of both the CR-V and ZR-V, making our electrified SUVs an even more compelling choice for customers.”

Better for customers

Price cuts are always welcome, and Honda’s decision to trim the CR-V and ZR-V makes both models easier to recommend. The ZR-V Advance in particular now looks like stronger value — a well-equipped hybrid SUV for under £40,000, and crucially, one that won’t sting you with the luxury car supplement. If you’d been put off by the previous pricing, it’s worth another look.

Isuzu D‑Max EV: Silent power, serious payload and towing capability

Isuzu D-Max eV-Cross

By Bill McCarthy

This electrified D-Max is a bit of a motoring paradox. It looks, works, and tows like the diesel pick-up it’s based on, yet glides along in near silence. The experience is slightly surreal — I found myself humming Simon & Garfunkel’s The Sound of Silence within the first few miles. Having driven many versions of the D-Max over the years, I found the absence of that familiar diesel clatter strange … and welcome – even though a new 2.2 litre diesel has joined the range.

It is the first fully electric pick-up in the UK to offer over one-tonne payload, 3.5-tonne towing capacity, and permanent four-wheel drive, matching its diesel sibling. That’s proper capability.

All-wheel drive comes via a 66.9 kWh battery driving dual motors on the front and rear axles, producing 149.3 kW (roughly 200bhp) and 347.6 Nm of torque. Performance is rapid for such a big beast: 0-62mph in 10.1 seconds, about three seconds quicker than the diesel.

Impressive performance

The big takeaway is how closely the EV matches the diesel’s capacity. It offers 1,015kg payload for the Double Cab (1,060kg for the Extended Cab) and a 3.5-tonne maximum towing capacity.

That qualifies it as a commercial vehicle, which means low Benefit-in-Kind tax rates for EVs.Visually, the range-topping eV-Cross tested here looks the part — muscular and practical, with some classy touches.

A new bronze-silver grille and Bi-LED headlights with blue accents. It sits on 18-inch alloy wheels with black side steps, honeycomb side vents, and an integrated charge port. At the rear are triple-shield LED lights, V-Cross/EV badging, and a battery protection plate.

The EV trade-off

Getting in, I initially thought I imagined that I felt lower to the ground than in the diesel — but it’s real. The EV sits 25mm lower (210mm versus 235mm ground clearance) because the battery pack is mounted beneath the floor, encroaching on the space under the truck.

Wading depth also drops from 800mm to 600mm.Isuzu says it has added underbody protection for the battery, but the lower stance is an unavoidable trade-off of the EV powertrain packaging.

I couldn’t judge how this affects off-road performance, though Isuzu says the EV has already been trialled in left-hand drive with National Grid Electricity Distribution, testing it in the most challenging UK terrains and conditions, including towing and winching.

Interior and equipment

Like many modern pick-ups, the D-Max EV drives almost like a car, and the interior trim follows suit. Available in leather or high-grade cloth, it comes in eDL40 and eV-Cross trim levels, both with either Extended Cab or Double Cab configurations.

Standard kit includes Rough Terrain Mode, dual-zone climate control, heated seats, front and rear parking sensors, a seven-inch driver information display, and an eight-year/125,000-mile battery warranty.

Range and charging

Range could be an issue for some buyers. Isuzu quotes a combined 163 miles, though city driving improves this to 224 miles — a figure I could not confirm. On a mixed motorway and country lane road test in fine weather, the quoted figure seemed accurate. How those figures would vary with maximum payload or towing, I couldn’t judge.

DC charging is slow by modern standards and peaks at just 50kW, meaning a 20-80% charge takes around 60 minutes. Standard 11kW three-phase AC charging, however, gives a full charge in 10 hours, which suits fleet users who can plug in overnight.

On the road

Dynamically, the D-Max EV is more responsive and quieter than the diesel, and rides well if still bouncy when unladen. Instant torque makes light work of overtaking and loaded acceleration, and the near-silent running — apart from a little wind and road noise — delivers a decent driving experience.

Advanced safety kit

The EV retains the same suite as the diesel, with advanced driver assistance systems including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Traffic sign recognition and rear cross-traffic alert are also standard.

Cost and warranty

It’s not cheap. The Extended Cab eDL40 starts just under £60,000 excluding VAT, the Double Cab adds £1,000, and the top eV-Cross tested here is £62,495. That’s pushing £20,000 more than equivalent diesel automatics and considerably more than the KGM Musso Electric.

The Musso is cheaper but doesn’t offer the same payload or towing capacity. Isuzu believes its unique payload and towing capacity will attract buyers.

Verdict

For fleet operators who need a workhorse with low running costs and can live with modest range, this EV could well be the answer. For everyone else — lifestylers included — the premium over diesel is a tricky one to justify.

It’s silent, capable, and expensive, but at its heart it’s still a very capable D-Max.

Fastfile

Model: Isuzu D-Max EV eV-Cross Double Cab
Price: £62,495 (excluding VAT) 
Mechanical:  Dual electric motors, 66.9 kWh battery, permanent four-wheel drive, automatic transmission
Max speed: 80 mph  
0 to 62mph:  10.1 seconds 
Range (WLTP): 163 miles combined (24 miles city)
CO2 emissions: 0 g/km 
BiK rating: 3%
Insurance group: TBC
Warranty: Five years/100,000 miles