Honda Files Patent For ZR-V Name – A New Small SUV?

Honda recently filed trademarks under the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) for the Australian market for what could be their new small SUV. WIPO Trademarks for the name ZR-V were first filled in mid-April, according to Autonetmagz, adding yet another badge to their growing list (x)R-V nameplates which denote their SUV models.

We’ll all be pretty familiar with the BR-V, CR-V, and HR-V in Malaysia, while South American and Indian markets offer the WR-V, and China, the XR-V, which is essentially what the Chinese call the HR-V. UR-V is another China-specific nameplate.

Image credit: Bestcarweb Japan

The latest ZR-V could point to one of two SUV models that Honda is said to be working on. Japanese website BestCarWeb reported in 2019, that the first one, perhaps the ZR-V will be a sub-4.0 meter (in length) SUV which will be positioned under the HR-V – as the next generation HR-V (due sometime next year) could grow in size for a more upmarket push.

The new SUV model is positioned to take on other small SUVs such as the Toyota Raize and Daihatsu Rocky depending on market. The latter forming the base for Perodua’s new SUV, codenamed D55L.

In markets such as India, where the WR-V (essentially a Honda Jazz on stilts) and the HR-V is sold, the new ZR-V could likely carve itself a niche between the two models.

In other markets such as Europe, a small SUV will likely put it up against the likes of the Renault Captur and Ford Ecosport, which are more popular than the larger HR-V given their slightly more compact size and superb levels of practicality.

Locally, with battles between the upcoming Perodua D55L and Proton X50 heating up, a smaller budget SUV from Honda could be just the thing to throw a spanner in the works.