Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V feels even more refreshing as soon as you enter its cabin. The new generation model does get an all-new cabin, which unlike all the previous generation CR-Vs and other current Honda cars, is not tilted towards the driver, but has a centre oriented design.

The steering wheel is all new and feels premium due to thick buttons and nice chrome inserts on all the three spokes. The instrument console on this CR-V looks very fancy and comes with a full digital theme with three different partitions, one each for speedometer and tachometer, MID and fuel gauge, and tell-tale lights. The whole black theme for the cabin does make it look a bit gloomy, however, there is a nice thin chrome strip running on the upper portion of the dashboard. The cabin also gets fake wood strips running all the way on the side doors and the lower portion of the dashboard, which try to lift up the overall ambience.

When it comes to features, one must be happy that this new CR-V does not lack in comfort and convenience as well as cosmetic features as compared to its previous generation models. The CR-V comes packed with features like a sunroof, power tailgate with adjustable height, LED headlamps with daytime running LEDs, LED fog lamps, LED tail lamps, dual zone climate control, paddle shifters, leather upholstery, steering mounted audio and Bluetooth controls, 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, reverse camera, navigation, Apple Carplay and Android Auto and 8 speakers, electric parking brake, push button start with keyless entry, rain sensing wipers, remote starter button, cruise control.

The cabin space has never been an issue on the CR-V, not with this iteration as well. However, what is new here is the third row which is a first for the Honda CR-V. However, due to limited legroom, the third row is best suited for kids.

The Honda CR-V has always been that one SUV which broke the code. It displays a sleek profile compared to all its butch and huge looking similarly priced rivals. In this new generation avatar too, the CR-V looks the sleekest and most aerodynamic looking SUV which has the ability to sweep you off your feet just by the way it looks.

At the front, the Honda CR-V has a larger but sleek fascia, which bears resemblance with all the current generation premium Honda offerings like the HR-V and Accord. The hexagonal front grille consists of a thick chrome garnish on the upper partition and a large honeycomb grille on the lower partition, thus dividing the front grille into two parts. Adjacent to the upper chrome partition of the front grille is the sharp-looking full LED headlamps which add some bling factor to the front face of the CR-V.

Moving towards the sides, the Honda CR-V now looks even more dramatic than the previous generation model, thanks to the larger side glasses and raised ground clearance. These alterations, along with the traditional-for-CR-V feature of inclined rear quarter glass, make the SUV look bold. The chrome strip on the side body cladding, as well as 18-inch machined alloy wheels, add some elegance to the side profile.

At the rear, the Honda CR-V looks even more striking and is perhaps the best angle to look at the vehicle. One does get large L-shaped tail lamps with LED inserts, which extend all the way from the centre to the upper corners of the vehicle. There is a nice thick chrome strip running between the tail lamps, which add some more visual mass to the rear. As before, the CR-V has got a large trapezoidal housing for the number plate on the lower portion of the rear door.

As compared to the old-school traditional SUVs, the Honda CR-V has always been one SUV which feels car-like to drive, thus giving it the best driving dynamics in this segment. With the new generation model, this particular trait has not witnessed any changes, despite the raised ride height. The overall ride quality is on a slightly stiffer side but isn’t anywhere close to being uncomfortable. Advantage? Thanks to a sturdy monocoque frame, the CR-V feels sure-footed on straights as well as corners with equal composure, something which is rarely seen on an SUV.

The new Honda CR-V retains its mechanical strengths from the previous generation model. And it centres all towards its heart – a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. The engine produces a maximum power output of 154 PS and a peak torque output of 189 Nm. Mated to a CVT transmission, the engine feels as refined and smooth as before, and with some minor changes and tuning advancements, it now feels more responsive. Thanks to paddle shifters, the driving experience of the CVT transmission is enhanced with minimal rubber-band effect.

Apart from this petrol engine, the Honda CR-V also gets a diesel engine option for the very first time. The 1.6-litre four-cylinder Earth Dreams diesel engine has a maximum power output of 120 PS and a peak torque of 300 Nm. On paper, the engine size is a tad too small for an SUV of this size, making it slightly underpowered. However, what compensates in the loss of power is the magical 9-speed automatic gearbox sourced from ZF, which has precise gear ratios to make full use of the torque available on tap across the rev range.

Honda is known for being one manufacturer which has been a pioneer in terms of equipping its cars with class-leading safety measures. The Honda CR-V too comes with some really noteworthy safety features like dual, side and curtain airbags, driver attention monitor, ABS with EBD and electronic brake booster, traction control, hill start assist, agile handling assist, vehicle stability assist, emergency stop signal, tire pressure monitoring system, engine immobilizer, and ISOFIX mounts for child seats.

The Honda CR-V has always been an SUV for all those people who loved being on both the driver as well as rear passenger seats. While the new CR-V takes the driving experience to an even greater level, the higher quality and equipped interior cabin make the overall cabin even more luxurious. The increase in space and features now make it a complete and much more practical SUV than before. Adding to it, its core strengths of engine performance and exterior swanky design that too have seen an evolution, making it a better SUV in terms of appeal. No wonder that despite its crossover roots, the Honda CR-V has been giving a tough fight to the traditional ladder-on-frame SUVs.