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Practicality has been a time period lengthy related to the Honda CR-V, with its area and value main the way in which in for a lot of patrons. In more moderen occasions, expertise has been added to the repertoire, however in an age the place packaging is essential, these playing cards will solely get you to date.
Visible attraction has by no means actually been the SUV’s forte. In its adolescence, performance preceded type, and it wasn’t till the third-gen RE that efforts to refine it took place, curvy because the route was. The fourth outing, the RM, appeared misplaced. The fifth iteration, the outgoing RW, clawed its method again into the sport, nevertheless it wasn’t actually due to its form.
The factor is, the RW wasn’t an exceptional leap from the fourth-gen RM by way of styling, regardless of trying edgier. Introducing turbocharging in addition to driver-assist tech into the equation made for a powerful pitch, one which patrons fortunately lapped up, this family included, making the change from a 2011 third-gen to the fifth-gen in 2018.
After all, when all this turns into anticipated and the norm, a recent card to attract in new patrons has to return from elsewhere. Fortunately for the CR-V, it does, within the type of a snazzy new go well with and a considerably extra polished inside.
With the components below the pores and skin having been retained, is there sufficient to entice the phase crowd? Forward of its arrival into our market later this month, we drive the sixth-gen in Thailand to seek out out. The street take a look at concerned each the turbo and the hybrid, the latter being a primary for the mannequin right here, however this outing will discover the turbo, with the line-leading e:HEV set to get its personal report very quickly.
Larger, and bolder
At 4,694 mm lengthy and 1,865 mm huge, the brand new CR-V is 71 mm longer and 10 mm wider than its predecessor, whereas wheelbase has grown by 40 mm to 2,700 mm. The elevated dimensions don’t actually come throughout visually at first look while you examine each outdated and new instantly side-by-side, particularly when the older automobile has extra perceived quantity in its form, particularly lifeless on from the entrance and rear, nevertheless it’s there in the event you look nearer.
The curves seen on the fifth-gen have been ditched for a sharper, extra rugged look. On the entrance, you’ll discover a longer bonnet line, which presents a flatter-looking nostril just like the HR-V, whereas a powerful shoulder line actually tightens up the aspect profile. Narrower mild assemblies entrance and rear add to that tauter projection.
You could possibly argue that the depiction has develop into extra standard, even generic, however that’s not likely a foul factor as a result of the chosen components work, as they’ve elsewhere. There’s fairly a little bit of Continental really feel to it, with styling components you might have seen elsewhere. For instance, the rear has a Volvo-esque tone, with the internal tail lights giving the tail a little bit of a BMW-ish resemblance when considered dead-on centre, particularly when the outside is introduced in darker tones.
The web impact is that it’s fairly a change from the fifth-gen styling-wise, with the CR-V having a more experienced, good-looking look, the shift a lot in the identical vein as that completed for the present Civic. It appears nice within the metallic, and I’m a fan.
If there’s something to nitpick in regards to the exterior, then the wheels are it. The 18-inch 5 double-spoke unit – which is shod with the identical 235/60 Toyo Proxes R45 from the earlier gen – isn’t essentially the most eye-catching design, however you possibly can say it stays in keeping with the shift within the automobile’s exterior design philosophy. Nevertheless, it appears decidedly smaller than its measurement in comparison with the fifth-gen’s wheelstyles, be it on the pre-facelift and facelift. Makes you marvel how the 17-inch unit that can equip the native base S will form up.
Identical mill, similar really feel
Because it was when the fifth-gen made its debut right here in 2017, the brand new CR-V will arrive in 4 variant kinds. Nevertheless, like in Thailand, the naturally-aspirated R20 2.0 litre is has been dropped from the powertrain line-up, and so the place to begin is now a 1.5 litre turbocharged mannequin.
For Malaysia, that would be the 1.5L S, adopted by a 1.5L E, each being 2WD variants. An AWD model sits on the prime of the turbo vary, and the 1.5L AWD now will get a V grade identifier. All three function the acquainted 1.5L VTEC Turbo from the earlier outing, paired with the equally acquainted Earth Desires CVT.
The blown mill has been carried over just about unchanged, though there was point out of it through the technical presentation that it was now quieter and having a smoother acceleration response. This may very well be a results of the outputs arriving at totally different engine speeds in comparison with earlier than.
Within the fifth-gen, the L15BE DOHC VTEC turbo four-pot provides 193 PS (190 hp) at 5,600 rpm and 243 Nm from 2,000 to five,000 rpm. The output numbers stay unchanged on the brand new CR-V, however peak horsepower now arrives 400 rpm later at 6,000 rpm, whereas peak torque now arrives 300 rpm earlier, from 1,700 to five,000 rpm. Apparently, the CVT has additionally been tweaked to scale back noise and vibration.
These outputs are a slight variation from that seen on the Thai-market CR-V, with the unit providing 190 hp at 6,000 rpm and 242 Nm of torque at 1,700 to five,000 rpm in that software, the distinction in numbers being put right down to the gasoline high quality.
A veneer of sophistication
Mirroring the brand new outlook of the outside is an inside with a dashboard styled alongside the strains of that of the Civic FE, lastly bringing the CR-V’s inside as much as par with choices from rivals akin to Mazda.
Like on the Civic, you get a clean-running sprint fascia, a three-spoke steering wheel, full-width mesh-covered air vents and a freestanding infotainment touchscreen, which on the Thai instance was a nine-inch unit. Aside from the bottom S (seven-inch unit), our vehicles may even function the identical show.
The gearshift lever is now extra horizontally-oriented and appears extra naturally positioned on the centre console, which can be dwelling to the digital parking brake change, brake maintain and Econ buttons on the turbo. New to the automobile is hill descent management, with the button for that additionally positioned within the console switchgear array.
As for inside trim, the turbo variations proceed to run with fake dark-wood panel inserts on the dashboard and door playing cards, however the sample and end of the inserts look extra premium than those on the outgoing automobile. Elsewhere, you get black leather-based upholstery, with mild gray headliner, though we now know that the native base E variant will function cloth seats.
New to the CR-V are objects akin to Qi wi-fi charging, a 360-degree digicam and a Honda key card, and there’s now wi-fi Apple CarPlay along with Android Auto connectivity. As for the instrument cluster, relying on variant, it’s both a seven-inch semi-digital unit, with the speedometer being analogue (like on the Civic) or a ten.25-inch totally digital show.
Point out has been manufactured from the MY-spec automobile coming with a 12-speaker Bose audio system, however that shall be solely be on the RS hybrid, as it’s in Thailand. I’m curious as to how that can sound, as a result of the generic sound system within the new one really sounds first rate, undoubtedly a step up from the outdated automobile’s. Does the brand new HU have something to do with the improved sonics? Perhaps.
In contrast to markets akin to Australia, the CR-V in Thailand – and Malaysia as properly – continues to function the automaker’s LaneWatch blind-spot aspect digicam system, which is decidedly trying extra antiquated with every new mannequin introduction. One wonders how lengthy will probably be earlier than blind-spot monitoring turns into a normal problem merchandise.
As for Honda Sensing, Thailand fashions have it fitted as customary throughout the board, and barring any surprises, that also needs to be the case right here. Enhancements have come about to the suite of security and driver help programs, together with the introduction of a brand new 90-degree subject of view digicam and 120-degree subject of view millimetre-wave radar in addition to improved response to the adaptive cruise and lane retaining help programs.
A lot the identical poise, however a faster steer
Because it has been moved over nearly unchanged, the behavioral points of the 1.5 litre blown mill feels the identical as earlier than, and I didn’t actually discover there to be any perceivable distinction in smoothness climbing up the rev vary to that on the resident pre-facelift RW, regardless of being very aware of the powertrain.
If something, the unit on the comparatively well-used Honda Thailand AWD demonstrator typically felt rougher within the decrease band than it ought to have been, when pushed over the course of the journey from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai.
Like with the fifth-gen, preserve the throttle enter tidy and the engine does properly, offering appropriate quantities of pull to get the SUV as much as tempo in good style with out fuss. Ground it and it stays brisk into the mid finish, however don’t count on it to be a livewire past that, as a result of the scope, because it all the time has been, is geared for development. Likewise, the CVT, which prefers a gradual software of energy to all-out barnstorming.
No radical adjustments to the way it drives too, regardless of the brand new go well with. The CR-V is glad to amble alongside, the suspension feeling a bit extra refined than on the outdated automobile, with good poise up the velocity vary. Push it a bit tougher on windier roads and its prepared to oblige, within the case of the Actual Time AWD providing good ranges of predictable grip and manoeuvrability. Noise and wind insulation is improved from the fifth-gen, however the brand new CR-V nonetheless lets a good bit of tyre noise in.
A fast be aware in regards to the electrical energy steering, which now has offers improved suggestions and a quicker response in comparison with that on the outdated automobile. Whereas turn-ins are faster and cleaner, the draw back of it’s that extra corrective micro enter was wanted in freeway driving, a little bit of a throwback to the third-gen on this regard.
Moreover, all 4 drivers assigned to the automobile famous that it additionally had a sensation of void within the first cm or so of flip, particularly when stationary. Whether or not that is an anomaly peculiar to the demonstrator or to the system will finally be answered once we get our fingers on a neighborhood instance.
Elsewhere, switchgear ergonomics are superb, and make contact with factors really feel premium not simply to sight however contact as properly, from the AC adjustment dials to the steering wheel perform buttons, a particular enchancment from the earlier mannequin. As for the entrance seats, they supplied good assist and luxury ranges, however the sixth-gen lastly introduces one thing that I personally have needed to see for a protracted whereas.
New to the CR-V – on higher-end variants – is a driver’s seat reminiscence perform, which permits two seating positions to be saved. It’s a small however helpful factor to have, particularly when you could have multiple driver utilising the automobile, as is the case in our family.
Additionally new to the automobile is a sliding function for the rear seats in addition to seat again recline adjustment, one other welcome addition. A by-product of that for the seven-seater (which the Thai AWD unit was), the place the power to shift the second-row ahead makes for a lot wanted leg area for the ultimate row occupants, its look on the five-seat mannequin provides dimensionality to rearmost area contained in the cabin, gaining you extra cargo space quantity if wanted.
The neat half is that even pushed to its most ahead place, the rear bench nonetheless offers ample knee room. The CR-V has all the time been ace by way of presenting area to rear seat occupants, and that doesn’t change on the sixth-gen, the rear part being as cavernous as ever, what extra so with an extra 15 mm of legroom in comparison with earlier than. The recline adjustment – with eight angles to select from – additionally improves rear seat consolation considerably.
Finishing the image
The brand new sixth-gen Honda CR-V stays a extremely sensible providing, nevertheless it now has a stage of sophistication to match that technical competence. Whereas not the ultimate phrase in pleasure, the turbo continues to drive properly, performing ably to all the things requested of it.
Whereas all of the acquainted hallmarks are current beneath the metallic, it’s evolution quite than revolution, with increased ranges of refinement throughout many areas making a very good automobile a fair higher one. The true progress, nevertheless, comes from how the CR-V is now styled, each inside and outside. Elegant isn’t one thing that you simply’d have known as the SUV beforehand, however right here it’s, lastly added to the vary of descriptors.
It does come at a price, after all. The brand new CR-V is predicted to be pricier than the previous-gen, however we’ve been instructed that the rise gained’t be that phenomenal, at the least not for the turbo variants. The hybrid will push new worth obstacles, however as earlier than, a lot of the vote will go to the compelled induction variations.
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