Honda CR-V

Overview

This SUV in the upper middle class segment has actually been launched for a long time as a car from the Land of Sakura, officially releasing it in the form of a new composition that is cooler and better. In terms of exterior design alone, the impression of elegance and luxury already looks striking with some changes that are more fresh and modern on each side of the body. Meanwhile, the cabin space will also present a luxurious interior that is equipped with a variety of advanced supporting features. On the other hand, the specifications for the engine are also equipped with two engine variants, namely the standard 2.0-liter engine and the 1.5-liter turbo engine variant, both of which have super gahar power.

History

The Honda CR-V is an SUV made by the Japanese automotive manufacturer Honda since 1996. The CR-V is available in front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, although in some countries it is only available in four-wheel drive, such as in the UK and Australia. The first generation Honda CR-V was produced from 1996 to 2001. At that time, only 1 model was available with the 2.0L engine (max. 126 hp (94kW) and max. torque of 180 Nm). Fifth Generation (2016–Present) The fifth generation Honda CR-V was introduced on October 13, 2016 in Detroit, United States and went on sale on December 21, 2016. In Indonesia, the fifth generation Honda CR-V was launched at IIMS 2017 on April 27 2017. The fifth generation Honda CR-V uses a 1.5 VTEC Turbo engine with a maximum power of 190PS with CVT technology.

Price

The Honda CR-V price in the Philippines starts at P1,678,000.00. The lowest price is the Honda CR-V 2.0 S AT, ranging all the way up to the Honda CR-V 1.6 SX DSL AT AWD Honda SENSING priced at P2,158,000.00.

Exterior

From the side of the front body where the Halogen projector head lamp with auto off is installed which is made with a unique design that narrows sharply so that in addition to being able to emit optimal light, the shape of the head lamp carried by this SUV is also more attractive. Then, turning to the side, you can see the shape of the door design with modern door handles complete with super smooth curves that increasingly exudes a luxurious impression. Don't forget the rear wiper also complements the luxury side of this car. In addition, on the rear side it is also more charming and luxurious thanks to the Dual exhaust integrated with the rear bumper so that the sporty impression is also increasingly felt.

Dimensions

The Honda CR-V measures quite big. Measuring 4,584 mm long, the Honda CR-V is longer than a Proton X70 and Mazda CX-5. At 1,855 mm wide, the CR-V is also wider than any of its rivals. 

Light

Lighting elements for the CR-V range start with halogen projectors for the lower trim-level, while full LED lighting along with auto-leveling can be found on the higher variants. At the rear, all variants of the compact crossover come with LED guide type tail lamps.

Wheels

Not only that, the legs will also be equipped with 17-inch (2.0-liter and 1.5-liter Turbo) and 18-inch (1.5-liter Turbo Prestige) type alloy wheels.

Interior

The presence of the latest CR-V made by Honda is indeed as a form of effort to support consumer needs for an SUV with a spacious cabin wrapped in an elegant Beige color. Of course, with the loose cabin space offered by the Honda CR-V, it will be able to accommodate 7 passengers at once with ample space for movement. In addition, the seats are also made with Fabric (2.0 liter type) and quality Leather (1.5 liter Turbo type) which are so soft that comfort will be obtained.

Dashboard

Space and Practicality

Like all Honda cars, the Honda CR-V offers class-leading interior space and practicality hallmarks of Honda’s man maximum, machine minimum philosophy. Legroom, headroom, should room, are better than any of its peers. The centre console box is big enough for a ladies’ handbag. The 522-litre boot is not just the biggest, but has a low and wide opening for easy loading/unloading. 

If you look at it as a whole, it seems that the cabin space in the interior sector of the Honda CRV specification is arguably very elegant and sophisticated with a super high level of comfort. Downsides include the lack of lights for the vanity mirror while cabin materials, including the leather seats, don’t feel as expensive as a Mazda CX-5 or even a Proton X70.

Features

Safety features

The highlight of the Honda CR-V is its Honda Sensing advanced driving aids (ADAS) feature. Of course, it’s not the only SUV to come with this feature as both the Proton X70 and Mazda CX-5 have it too. The difference is that the one in the Honda CR-V is more sophisticated and works better in our local driving conditions.

The Honda CR-V’s Sensing’s Adaptive Cruise Control also comes with Low-Speed Follow, which none of its competitors have. It also adds Lane Keeping Assist, which the Proton X70 lacks (warning only, without steering assistance). The Honda CR-V’s Sensing is also capable of detecting child pedestrians. However, the Honda CR-V lacks a 360-degree parking camera, which the Proton X70 and Mazda CX-5 have.

It also doesn’t have blind spot monitor but LaneWatch serves the same purpose, albeit only on the passenger’s side. However, LaneWatch works much better than regular blind-spot monitors. Since it sends live video feed, it’s extremely useful in the rain at night, when the windows and side mirrors are blurred. It also doesn’t give false alarms like blind-spot monitors.

Comfort features

Meanwhile, in order to support comfort, the latest Honda CRV will be equipped with several advanced features in the cabin space, such as a wide touch screen, audio-visual system, navigation buttons on the driver and seats made of quality materials used by the Honda CR-V which is so soft.

Infotainment features

The infotainment supports Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, and it offers one of the best integration we’ve seen. When you run Waze/Google Maps, the digital meter cluster even shows a distance to next turn indicator. You also get rear air-conditioning vents, which you don’t get in the Mitsubishi Outlander.

Powertrain performance

Engine

There are two engine options. The entry variant’s 2.0-litre’s naturally aspirated i-VTEC is the older engine while the newer direct injection 1.5-litre turbocharged offers more power. Both engines are paired to a CVT-type automatic transmission.

Riding & Control

With 193 PS on tap, the Honda CR-V isn’t slow at all. We’ve recorded a 0-100 km/h time of 9.3 seconds. On the move, the smooth shifting CVT blunts most of its aggressive edges so while it may not feel fast, the numbers tell a different story. Handling is not its forte though. The steering wheel feels light and vague, like most Hondas. It’s conservatively tuned for easy and safe driving. Not the most exciting to drive but it’s what regular folks want. 

This car will rely on MacPherson Strut suspension for the front and Multi-Link suspension type which will be embedded in the rear of the Honda CRV. The Honda CR-V might be spacious but ride comfort is not its strength. At highway speeds, the cabin is rather noisy. The Proton X70, Mitsubishi Outlander, Mazda CX-5 is quieter but in terms of ride quality, only the Proton X70 and Mitsubishi Outlander is better.

Fuel consumption

The Honda CR-V is very fuel efficient, especially the 1.5 TC-P variant, which averaged at 7.0-litre/100 km during our test drive, coincidentally matching the manufacturer’s claim. Even in urban traffic, it burns no more than 9-litre/100 km, possibly the most fuel efficient SUV in its class bar the Nissan X-Trail Hybrid.

Conclusion

The Honda CR-V is neither the cheapest nor the most fun to drive, but it’s a sensible choice for those who appreciate the finer details in practicality, details not offered by the cheaper Proton X70.