Design and technology make CR-V a most desired SUV

MOTORING NEWS - Honda's CR-V has found a loyal market in over 150 countries worldwide.

The company says its space and appearance make it one of the world's most desired sports utility vehicles (SUV).

In South Africa, it has proved popular and attracted a loyal following, says Konaka Toshiaki, president of Honda South Africa.

"We have found customers loyal to the brand overall and particularly in the very competitive SUV segment. We have confidence that our strong vehicle line-up in this segment will find even wider market acceptance."

With the CR-V, the company also has its sights firmly set on future mobility. It is the only vehicle designed for three different power units: plug-in hybrid, electric or fuel cell technology.

The long view is that this will give future customers freedom of choice and contribute to a collision-free society as human error would be largely eliminated through driver assistance programmes.

Honda's CR-V has found market acceptance to the extent that the company says it is one of the world's most desired sports utility vehicles.

The current model already has four functions to make automated highway driving possible, although the driver remains in control. The level of artificial intelligence (AI) will also be increased, which will allow the car of the future to keep learning how to cope with different situations.

The car will eventually be able to recognise a scene encountered before and also remember the reaction of the driver.

It will make a decision in a fraction of the time a human being would.

With this fascinating introduction, motoring journalists were given a presentation on the CR-V's features and benefits, before being introduced to the newest version of the SUV from Honda.

We then took the vehicle for an interesting drive through the Cape's scenic routes and the (currently not-quite-so-scenic) views of Cape Town's water supply, such as the Theewaterskloof dam.

Keeping to the good news though, the CR-V was everything we were told to expect. We drove both the 1,5 and 2-litre variants.

The CR-V has been redesigned and now offers a more spacious and quieter cabin.

My fellow driver did not enjoy the continuously variable transmission (CVT), but I found it comfortable in the stop-start situations encountered.

Surprisingly, the 1,5-litre engine was the favourite of everyone in the group we chatted to. It impressed by being more quiet yet willing when a bit of power was needed.

APPEARANCE
Completely redesigned from the ground up, the new Honda CR-V is striking outside with a more spacious and quieter cabin. There is more legroom at the rear - in fact, its fairly compact outside belies the huge inside space.

The 60/40 split rear bench seat can be folded flat to expand cargo capacity, creating a completely flat loading floor. With the seats in place, the CR-V offers 522 litres of luggage space, extendable to 1 084 litres with the seats folded down.

Driver information is located in a binnacle directly ahead of the driver with a graph-type revolutions counter and a digital speedometer.

The cabin execution is smart, with enhanced ergonomics and materials. The CR-V's two-mode floor allows the interior to be configured in different ways for individual requirements.

In addition, the infotainment systems have been upgraded with extended functionality.

The vehicle has soft-touch surfaces, matt alloy accents and finely crafted stitching. Ergonomically, one of the highlights is the introduction of a full-colour driver information interface. Located in a binnacle directly ahead of the driver, the display has a graph-type revolutions counter and a digital speedometer.

Depending on model, a centrally located 5" or 7" display provides access to the infotainment system. The centre stack also houses the controls for the dual-zone climate control system and extends to the selector lever for the CVT, which is standard across the range.

THE DRIVE
The drivetrain offering includes the option of a high-efficiency turbocharged engine for the first time on CR-V. The four-cylinder engine delivers power and torque output across a broad revolutions range, benefiting performance and tractability, and during the test drive we experienced economy figures close to those promised.

The new CR-V is based on a new platform, which meant a comfortable overall ride with Honda's typical refinement. The steering response was crisp and overall the vehicle offered ride comfort and composed handling.

The new Honda CR-V is offered with a choice of two drivetrains. The 2,0 Comfort and 2,0 Elegance models are powered by a refined version of the 2,0-litre, four-cylinder i-VTEC petrol engine employed in the previous CR-V.

The normally aspirated unit is equipped with variable valve timing and programmed fuel injection and has a rated maximum power output of 113kW at 6 500r/min, combined with a torque peak of 189Nm at 4 300r/min. Drive is to the front wheels.

The 1,5T Executive and 1,5T Exclusive models break new ground for the CR-V by offering turbocharged power.

The new Honda CR-V range consists of four models, comprising a choice of two engines and four specification levels.

The 1 498cc turbo engine is equipped with programmed, direct fuel injection, variable valve timing to deliver 140kW of maximum power at 5 600r/min and 240Nm of maximum torque in a broad band between 2 000 and 5 000r/min.

The new turbo engine also has the CVT gearbox, but is linked to an intelligent real time AWD system that seamlessly transfers power from the front to the rear wheels when additional traction is required.

The all-wheel drive system delivers the efficiency and economy of front-wheel drive on normal surfaces, but offers additional traction, composure and peace of mind when travelling on other surfaces such as wet roads or gravel tracks.

MODEL LINE-UP
The new Honda CR-V range consists of four models, comprising a choice of two engines and four specification levels. There is a choice between front-wheel drive and intelligent all-wheel drive.

• Honda CR-V 2,0 Comfort FWD
The 2,0 Comfort is anything but entry level, offering an extensive package of standard comfort, convenience and safety features. Combining the proven 2,0-litre petrol engine with a CVT gearbox and front-wheel drive, it offers performance and efficiency. Top speed is 192km/h, while the combined-cycle fuel consumption figure is 7,3 litres per 100km.

• Honda CR-V 2,0 Elegance FWD
The CR-V 2,0 Elegance is technically identical to the more affordable Comfort model, including the same drivetrain and exterior execution. Interior features have been added. It has leather upholstery and a larger, 7" display audio interface with the vehicle's infotainment features.

The system offers Apple CarPlay, which allows seamless integration of iPhone features and functions such as own GPS navigation, voice-controlled search capability and selected apps.

The audio capability has also been enhanced to eight loudspeakers and an additional USB connection in front, while rear passengers get a second pair of USB sockets.

The front seats offer eight-way electric adjustment with a memory function for the driver's seat and four-way power adjustment for the passenger seat. Front seat heating is standard. Park distance control is offered front and rear, and the electric rear-view mirrors have a heating function. The left exterior mirror tilts down when reversing for easier parking.

The multi-function steering wheel is leather-trimmed and features gear shift paddles for manual CVT operation. A wide-angle conversation mirror is included below the sunglasses holder. The vanity mirrors are illuminated.

• Honda CR-V 1,5T Executive AWD
Honda's first turbocharged CR-V is offered with all-wheel drive only and more comfort, convenience and technology. The 1,5T Executive is driven by Honda's powerful and efficient force-induced, 1,5-litre petrol engine, delivering 140kW of maximum power and a torque peak of 240Nm. The CR-V makes full use of a real time AWD system to reach a top speed of 200km/h.

Fuel consumption is 7,0 litres per 100km with an associated CO² emissions level of 167g/km. The model has 18" alloy wheels, shod with 235/60 R18 tyres.

The Executive also has a panoramic sunroof, auto-levelling for the headlights and a start/stop button, while the remote central locking system includes keyless smart entry.

• Honda CR-V 1,5T Exclusive AWD
The flagship of the new Honda CR-V range is the 1,5T Exclusive. Mechanically, it is identical to the Executive mode. A key benefit is the integrated satellite navigation system, incorporated into the display system, that offers full-colour mapping and turn-by-turn instructions.

Another stand-out feature is the electrically operated tailgate, with programmable opening height.

Tyre pressure monitoring is another useful feature that provides early and immediate warning of a loss of tyre pressure.

The 1,5T Exclusive is the only CR-V offered with Honda's set of Advanced Driver Assist Systems (Adas) - a comprehensive array of active systems aimed at assisting the driver to safely deal with hazardous driving conditions.

Collectively known as Honda Sensing, they comprise collision mitigation braking (CMBS) with forward collision warning (FCW); road departure mitigation (RDM) with lane departure warning (LDW); adaptive cruise control (ACC) with low speed following (LSF); and lane keeping assist (LKAS). Additional new technology includes Lanewatch (Blind Spot Monitoring - BSM) and Auto High Beam (HSS) headlights.

DETAIL
The new Honda CR-V range is available in six colours: White Orchid Pearlescent, Passion Red Pearlescent, Lunar Silver Metallic, Brilliant Sporty Blue Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic, and Dark Olive Metallic. The new Honda CR-V's recommended retail pricing is as follows: CR-V 2,0 Comfort - R422 900; CR-V 2,0 Elegance - R477 900; CR-V 1,5T Executive - R584 900; CR-V 1,5T Exclusive - R626 900.

The range is backed by a comprehensive five year or 200 000km warranty, as well as a five year or 90 000km service plan.