Honda CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC 160 HP Executive – moderate savings
Honda's SUV does not indulge in the number of engines. The range of their power is between the words "reasonable" and "decent". However, a person lives not only by strength, because a low failure rate, good suspension, good equipment and a spacious interior contributed to success. We tested this on a Honda CR-V with a 160-horsepower diesel and a new 9-speed automatic.
The abbreviation CR-V stands for "Compact Recreational Vehicle", which loosely translates as "Compact Recreational Vehicle". The exterior design, however, is quite heavy, making it appear larger than it actually is. I even wanted to refer to the first generation and show how much Honda has grown, but the technical data is relentless. The latest generation is 13,5 cm larger than the first and has dimensions of 4605 mm. So it still fits within the scope of a compact car.
The facelift, introduced in October 2014, brought a stylistic change. There's a new front apron, some new fins, and redesigned taillights. The car is optically wider, which makes it more massive. The roofline tends to the rear, creating a distinctive hump that increases headroom, but is perhaps the most controversial design element. Honda CR-V. Love them or leave them. But we don't buy a car just for looks.
Japan Square
Criticizing Honda, it should be noted that this is perhaps the last brand that still stands on its own. Does not collaborate with others on projects. And since the production line does not operate on the scale of Volkswagen, certain measures aimed at saving are understandable. However, the client receives the finished product in his hands and will not listen to the translations. The only question is how much this economy suffers?
A little. Thrift turns into lasciviousness. Most of the buttons, whether they are responsible for lowering the windows or heating the seats, look straight out of the 90s. They are black, rectangular, with rounded edges. They should act, but certainly not raise prestige. And how do they compare with a neat air conditioner panel or an interesting automatic transmission knob in the form of a computer mouse? no way.
The Honda Connect multimedia system is also crude. It works fine, but I would not call it beautiful. It's provided by Garmin and therefore doesn't align with the rest of the project. A device from an external vendor is allocated and we won't do anything about it. However, all this has some potential in the form of Android. Firstly, with a possible update, the appearance of the interface may change dramatically, and secondly, we can install the application using the Aha service. At the moment you will find there, for example, Facebook.
On-board computer data is displayed on two screens - between the clock and at the top of the dashboard. We definitely don't mind the readability of the on-board instruments. In general, although individual elements are not very beautiful, in general, a decent interior is obtained, where everything is at hand. Ergonomics wins. Let's not forget that the SUV today is a model of a family car. At the back we attach the seat to the ISOFIX connectors, the floor is flat, and above the driver's head we put forward a spherical mirror aimed at our children.
The amount of legroom pampers every traveler. Nothing to complain about. The 589-liter trunk has all the necessary elements - several hooks, levers for quickly folding the sofa, nets, a 12-volt outlet, a warning triangle mount, and under the floor there is a spare wheel and a place for tools.
"A Bit of Culture"
Remember the movie that convinced everyone that "mohair berets" exist? Grandmother yelled at the greengrocer lady, calling her names, and then, like an old lady, calling for "a little culture." She could say it to ours too Honda CR-V. The 1.6-liter diesel just doesn't want to be quiet. He constantly breaks into conversations and demands attention. Of course, I'm exaggerating a little, but the characteristic knock does not stop - whether while driving or idling.
This is due to the peculiarities of the 9-speed automatic from ZF. Initial gear ratios are primarily designed to ease starting off, with subsequent gears reducing engine speed during fast driving. However, with this number of gears, their gear ratios are similar. The gearbox runs smoothly and fairly quickly, but idling the engine eliminates unwanted knocking. His culture of work is visible, but this is enough to make the cabin a little quieter.
Although a diesel with such low power does not cause optimism, there is nothing to fear. It reaches 160 hp. at 4000 rpm and 350 Nm at 2000 rpm. Torque distributed over that many gears works well in the vast majority of situations. The good thing is that we don't have to change them manually. Surprisingly, however, fuel consumption is quite high. Modern diesels on the highway are content with about 5 l / 100 km, but here you need 6,5-7 l / 100 km. But perhaps it is the rational approach to combustion that results in this "Honda" reliability.
The driving position is more like that of a car than an SUV. This is the main assumption Honda KR-V – combine the best of a passenger car and a recreational vehicle. So don't be surprised to find that driving is like driving a subcompact, the well-tuned suspension is comfortable but not wobbly. We can also always take advantage of active cruise control, a smooth track control system (between lanes on the road) or an automatic emergency braking function. The list of options also includes a system that recognizes signs and warns of approaching cars when leaving a parking space.
Practical but not very economical
Honda CR-V she prefers to fulfill the tasks assigned to her, rather than caress her feelings with sophisticated lines and materials. It is easy to use, a pleasure to drive and has a functional spacious interior. In the tested configuration, it is not perfectly quiet and does not break burning records, but it promises trouble-free operation. This attitude has earned the recognition of customers and may be of interest to future customers.
Prices start from PLN 98. We will get a diesel engine for PLN 800 in the lowest equipment version, with front axle drive. The 111×900 diesel is only available in a tested version, i.e. with a 4 i-DTEC with 4 hp. for PLN 1.6. We have a choice between a 160-speed manual or just a 131-speed automatic. The price of the test model is at least PLN 500 (Executive version), but it already includes most of the extras.
