We now have the sixth generation of Honda’s revered SUV on our shores, the CR-V.

Timeless hit

We now have the sixth generation of Honda’s revered SUV on our shores, the CR-V. Making its debut way back in 1995, you can thank it for indirectly popularising the SUV body style. 

Short form for ‘Comfortable Runabout Vehicle’ (the Japanese have fun names), it’s a staple in Honda’s bread-and-butter lineup of popular cars.

But, can the new boy hold up to its predecessors’ famed values?

 

Sharp Dressed Man

The Honda CR-V is now gunning for upmarket appeal, in line with Honda’s push for a more minimalist brand design language. That’s why current-gen Hondas look like they have sleek waxed hair, compared to the ruffian posteriors of their predecessors. 

The new design direction works well on this car: it’s imposing but not obnoxious, and the commanding height gives you reassurance over other motorists.

From the side, it still has the discernible stature of a boxy SUV, but thankfully there aren’t any sharp creases to break up the otherwise macintosh-ish facade.

A familiar pair of taillights bring up the rear and breaks up the otherwise spotless rear facade. 

Overall, this new design language does well in keeping the CR-V understated, yet recognisable to the discerning eye.

 

Paint it, Black

Singapore-bound CR-Vs only have one trim option, but it’s one with most of the top-end bells and whistles.

Like the outside, the cabin also takes after a minimalistic nature. It feels rather serene while on the move, thanks in part to the new design, and better noise insulation from outside elements. 

Instead of following other manufacturers in the race to fit humongous television-sized screens, the CR-V comes with a respectable 9.0-inch touchscreen alongside an array of handy quick-menu buttons.

There’s smartphone integration as standard, with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto working an absolute treat. Another nice touch is the fan integrated with the wireless charging pad, to stop your phone from cooking itself while juicing up.

You even get a little camera that shows the nearside blindspot view when you’re overtaking, a very useful feature. While it only covers one blind spot, it works better in practice than Hyundai or Kia’s version.

This demo unit is the 7-seater variant, and it has ample space onboard. Third-row occupants also get HVAC vents, but leg room is best saved for humans who haven’t gone through puberty.

The rear doors also open nearly 90 degrees, making ingress or child-seat mounting a cinch.

Cargo space is aplenty with the 3rd-row seats down (589 litres). The 2nd-row seats also fold down 60:40 for added versatility. Plus, it even comes with a full spare tyre, a rare blessing in today’s ‘tyre kit’ era.

The other thing that I appreciate is the effort Honda has put into visibility ergonomics. The A-pillars and B-pillars are thinner and unobtrusive, and the large wing mirrors are positioned closer to the front fenders to minimise the blindspot area that plagues cars in this segment.

No matter a user’s driving skill, the CR-V is an easy affair on the roads.

 

Sweet Emotion

Despite its bigger proportions, the Honda CR-V still chugs along with the same 1.5-litre 4-pot engine you’ll find in other familiar Honda vehicles.

190bhp and 243Nm of torque do not sound like much, but it’s enough grunt to keep the car energised when you put your foot on the go pedal. 

You do feel the car being occasionally sluggish in picking up speed, especially with a full posse of humans in tow, but it’s still speedy enough to perform the ol’ overtake should you need to. 

The CR-V is also reasonably fun to drive. Of course, I don’t mean hot hatch levels of responsiveness, but rather it will enthusiastically enter a corner with manageable body roll. Maintain enough speed and it’ll lumber through with ease. Just make sure to throw the car’s weight in correctly, if not you’ll induce bouts of understeer.

Rather more lively than you’d expect from a car that gets to the century mark in a sedate 10.2 seconds.

And if in the unfortunate scenario you get into an accident, the CR-V has a comprehensive 8 airbags system inside the cabin.

That car rode impressively smoothly, smothering out the worst of Singapore’s roads quite well. 

Keep it in Eco mode and you save fuel as you trundle along too; my average was 10.8km/litre, a decent figure with heaps of enthusiastic pedal pressing thrown in. Maintain a frugal foot, and the 57-litre fuel tank is more than sufficient for your weekly activities.

 

Competition Smile

If you are someone who is looking for a 7-seater family car, your options are split into two general paths. You could go the compact MPV route and get a Toyota Sienta or Honda Freed.

Or, if you still insist on an SUV, you’ll have a pool consisting of the Peugeot 5008, Skoda Kodiaq, Hyundai Palisade, Mercedes-Benz GLB, or the Honda CR-V.

The CR-V does have its work cut out in finding its place in the market, but in essence, it is a well-sorted bit of kit.

The latest version doesn’t mess with the car’s winning formula, plus it adds a dash of practicality with an extra row of seats. The car is reasonably fun to drive too, so everyone in the family will find something to like about it. 

If you’re in the market for a new family-oriented SUV, the CR-V should definitely be on your radar.

 

Credits: Ignitionlabs. Author: Sean Loo

Original source: https://autoapp.sg/2024-honda-cr-v-review-timeless-hit/