2017 Honda  CR-V with diesel engine launching on August 8

MANILA: After releasing the details of the upcoming diesel engine in its premium SUV, Honda Philippines has finally decided a date to unleash it in the country. According to the reports, the manufacturer is gearing up for the launch the 2017 CR-V with the diesel engine on August 8 in Cebu. This is the first time that Honda will be introducing a diesel variant in the Philippines.

The fifth-generation CR-V highlights a more angular and modern look that improves the overall appeal of the SUV in an effective manner. The overall design reflects the current philosophy of the company which is also seen in the current generation Civic. The all-new CR-V is 41 mm longer than the outgoing model and offers 53 mm more legroom in the second row. In the cabin, a completely refreshed dashboard welcomes you which features a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The overall cabin is treated with soft-touch materials and fine leather upholstery on the seats.

The all-new CR-V will be offered with three engine options - a 1.6-litre -i-DTEC turbo diesel engine coupled to a shift-by-wire nine-speed automatic transmission and the other is a 2.4-litre i-VTEC petrol mill carried forward from the previous generation model, which is coupled to a 5-speed automatic transmission. In addition, there will be also a 2.0-litre i-VTEC petrol engine which comes with either a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission.

All the engine options are developed by incorporating Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology that ensures minimal Carbon emission and improved fuel efficiency. According to HCCI (Honda Cars Cebu Inc.), the sales of the CR-V petrol will begin in mid-Aug while the much-awaited diesel variant will be available from late September. The pricing of the upcoming CR-V is yet not revealed by the manufacturer but, it is expected that it will be around the existing range.

Let’s see how the updated version of the CR-V performs against the likes of Toyota Fortuner, Ford Everest, and Isuzu mu-X.