Honda ZR-V vs Lexus IS
What's the difference?

Honda ZR-V

$37,900 - $54,900

2026 price

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Lexus IS

$39,990 - $62,990

2021 price

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Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Mercedes-Benz G63

Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

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Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

Mini Countryman

Mitsubishi ASX

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Mitsubishi Pajero

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

Summary

2026 Honda ZR-V

2021 Lexus IS

By Jack Quick

By Tom White

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Inline 4, 2.0L

Inline 4, 2.5L

Fuel Type

Unleaded Petrol/Electric

Premium Unleaded/Electric

Fuel Efficiency

5.0L/100km (combined)

4.9L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Finally cheaper hybrid trims
Incredible fuel efficiency
Affordable servicing

Sleek and efficient hybrid drive
Graceful ride
Spec improvements

Dislikes

No spare wheel
Roof-mounted rear centre seatbelt
Small touchscreen

Slow
Busy interior design
Fiddly and over-complicated software

2026 Honda ZR-V Summary

Honda used to be a big deal in Australia back in the 1990s and early 2000s but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s moved off your radar in recent years.

The Japanese carmaker has seemingly fallen out of favour in the last few years following its move to an agency retail model which negates haggling on price with dealers.

However, Honda is making a resurgence and it’s putting a heavier focus on hybrid power.

The ZR-V small-to-medium SUV has been updated for 2026 and picks up new, more affordable hybrid trims, among other minor tweaks. Read on to see if this car should be on your shortlist.

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2021 Lexus IS Summary

One question frequently discussed in the skunkworks of the CarsGuide office is: What exactly does Lexus stand for?

When the brand debuted its original export-market IS sedan in 1999 the messaging was more or less clear: Toyota’s premium sub-brand was here to be a Japanese BMW.

The brand even employed Nobuaki Katayama – chief engineer on the iconic Corolla AE86 program – to again take the reins of its small rear-wheel drive sedan program.

As the years went on though, Lexus changed. Fundamentally geared toward the US market, the second-generation (wild IS F aside) became a bit more sedate and softer around the edges, while the third generation strayed even further from the sedan’s performance-inspired roots, leaning into a plush interior, hybrid drive, and even CVT transmissions.

This brings us to today’s Lexus IS. Essentially a heavy facelift of the third generation (which arrived back in 2013), the brand has “reimagined” its core sedan with a tweaked design and updated technology for 2021.

Is it enough to keep it relevant against its ever-present European rivals and the newly arrived threat from Hyundai’s Genesis G70? I took a signature IS300h hybrid for a week to find out.

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Deep dive comparison

2026 Honda ZR-V 2021 Lexus IS

Verdict

The Honda ZR-V has always been an engaging and fun car that’s the right size for many people. The frugal hybrid powertrain has always been the pick too.

It’s great that Honda has finally introduced more affordable hybrid trims with this update which addresses one of my biggest criticisms of this car previously.

If you’re willing to forgo some luxury features, this entry-level hybrid trim is a fantastic car that still offers enough creature comforts to be driven daily.

Hopefully Honda has some renewed sales success with this car as I believe it’s a clear benchmark for the segment.

Verdict

Smooth, cosy, quiet, the IS looks and feels better than ever, but without a doubt this hybrid version is a car best suited to cruising the dense metropolis of Chiba at midnight more than it is carving up a bunch of S-bends in the Australian countryside on the weekend.

While that might still limit its appeal for fans of German sports luxury sedans and place it further from the original IS’s ambitions, it does offer an intriguing efficiency and luxury focused alternative, without the compromises brought by rivals with more sporting intent. In a way then, the IS 300h perhaps inadvertently best embodies what Lexus is as a brand.

Honda ZR-V vs Lexus IS What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Honda ZR-V vs Lexus IS
What's the difference?