Honda is a well-known brand worldwide. It has built a strong place in the world of cars by providing quality features to its customers. The Honda CR-V was among the first compact SUVs for sale when the first generation arrived in 1995. Since then it has been a popular model around the world. As a complete package, the CR-V is a very impressive and highly capable car. It’s a perfectly suited family car.
Honda CR-V: Features
The fifth-generation model was introduced in 2018. The CR-V looks relatively similar to the outgoing model. Underneath the skin, it has several significant changes, including a hybrid drive system and many other major updates. These updates can surely attract the maximum number of customers.
Exterior
Honda clearly knew that the previous-generation Honda CR-V had the right kind of exterior style because the new generation model is very similar in appearance. There are flashes of chrome around the nose and large alloy wheels as standard on higher specification models, but ultimately this is a safe and sensible design.
LED Day Time running lights (DRL) is an addition to the exterior in the latest model of the CR-V which adds to the beauty of the car. Honda offers CR-V in a wide color range from which you can choose what suits you.
Interior
The fifth-generation CR-V has a longer wheelbase than the last car to allow the third row of seats. Although five-seat models are also available. The driving position is one of the best aspects of the car’s interior. It has plenty of adjustments in the seats and steering wheel. There are multiple storage areas in the cabin which are of great use.
The system now has a rotary controller to change the volume and separate controls for the climate control system. While Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard on SE models and above. The CR-V’s in-built Garmin navigation system is also quite up to date, with very simple graphics.
The layout of the CR-V’s dashboard is sensible and convenient, with a high-set central spar. It puts putting the major controls close to the wheel. It also includes the manual or automatic gear levers that were fitted. A digital instrument display is fitted as standard and gives the driver plenty of options to display. But a head-up display system is also available as an option.
Trunk space
The latest CR-V’s design has a boot that is fractionally smaller than the previous generation models. It still offers a substantial 561 liters of space. An electric tailgate is standard only on the top specification SR models. But the boot itself has a relatively low loading lip for an SUV and a broad opening.
Folding the seats is also easy, with a single strap for the third row and convenient levers located in the boot for row two. Honda’s Magic Seat design means the second-row folds flat into the floor automatically too. The boot space increases up to 1,786 liters with all the seats folded, making it one of the largest in the segment.
Honda Driving and Handling
Much greater emphasis has been placed on the ride quality of the latest CR-V, so the suspension is much softer than before. This makes the CR-V significantly better at absorbing lumps and bumps in the road, increasing comfort for passengers. And although the trade-off is an increased amount of body roll in corners, many prospective owners will be happy to make this compromise.
Honda has made several significant changes to the steering and suspension settings of the latest Honda CR-V to improve its performance on challenging roads. A quicker steering rack means there are fewer turns from lock to lock, giving the CR-V a more reactive and responsive feel when negotiating corners. As a whole, both the driving and handling of the car satisfy the driver.
Honda Safety Features
As with other Honda cars CR-V is also packed with maximum safety features for the driver and passengers. It has front and side-impact airbags to protect the driver and passengers during a crash. Vehicle stability assist comes with traction control.
This means the car would in full control of the driver when at high speed. It has a brake assist that improves the overall braking system of the car. Other features like lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and forward-collision warning also include in the safety of the car.
Pricing
The CR-V has a starting price of 27,270 which is of the base variant. The fully loaded and top model of the car has a price of 34,740. The price may put off some buyers as this car is a bit overpriced as compared to other cars.
Running Cost
The 1.5 VTEC turbo petrol engine in the CR-V is designed by Honda with efficiency in mind. The most efficient CR-V petrol in S trims with two-wheel drive. A manual gearbox has the best fuel economy at 38.7mpg. Emissions of this car are 143g/km for the 2WD manual, 151g/km for the AWD manual, and 162g/km for the CVT 4x4 petrol model.
The CR-V hybrid performs better and has a fuel economy of 40.0mpg for the 2WD model and 38.7mpg for the four-wheel-drive model. Emissions for the CR-V Hybrid are 120g/km, or up slightly to 126g/km for the 4WD version.
The CR-V Hybrid charges its battery by energy regeneration or via the petrol engine, so cannot be charged by plugging into a charging point.
Honda Variants and Specs
The new comes in 6 variants which are S, SE, SR, EX, SE (7-seater), SR(7-seater). The 1.5 VTEC turbo petrol engine is used in CR-V. The two-wheel-drive manual model can accelerate from 0-62mph in 9.3 seconds and reach 130mph, while the four-wheel-drive version manages 9.8 seconds and 129mph respectively.
The additional power and torque that come with the CVT automatic gearbox option are welcome here, and in many ways are preferable to the manual because of its more relaxed operation. Demands for maximum acceleration can cause a typical CVT drone as the engine stays at high revs for an extended period. But when driven with restraint, it’s smooth and refined. The four-wheel-drive CVT model accelerates from 0-62mph in 10.0 seconds and can reach up to 124mph.
The CR-V Hybrid has a completely different setup, using a 2.0-liter petrol engine and an electric motor that also acts as the gearbox. The result is that the Hybrid is the most refined model in the range, with a smooth and quiet operation and a seamless switch between power modes.
At low speeds, the CR-V Hybrid can operate solely on electric power, while out on the motorway the electric motor cuts in to provide additional acceleration for overtaking. The two-wheel-drive Hybrid CR-V can achieve 0-62mph in 8.8 seconds and reach 112mph, while the four-wheel-drive version performs the same sprint in 9.2 seconds and can reach the same top speed.
Thoughts of GoodAutoDeals
The CR-V offers more driving pleasure and is more comfortable to travel in than before, with high levels of refinement, low noise levels, and a smooth ride. The updates and changes will attract more customers to this car. Honda’s commitment to hybrid powertrains means there’s no diesel, and only that version offers acceptable fuel consumption. The lack of a diesel option will put off some buyers and it is a negative point for the Honda CR-V.
