Honda CR-V - changes for the better

Safer, more comfortable, better equipped… According to Honda, the new CR-V is better than the current model in every way. The front wheel drive version will also be a way to attract new customers.

Honda is one of the companies that laid the foundation for the crossover and SUV segments. In 1995, the concern introduced the first generation of the ubiquitous CR-V model. Two years later, the car came to Europe. A spare tire on the trunk lid and unpainted plastic bumpers made the CR-V look like a downsized SUV. The next two generations, and especially the "troika", had a much more road character.

It's no secret that SUVs get off the pavement from time to time, and buyers appreciate them for their spacious interior, high driving position and the driving comfort provided by large wheels and a raised suspension. It was all about it Honda CR-Vwhich is sure to please the customers. The Japanese concern has developed three generations of the model, offered them in 160 countries, and total sales exceeded five million units. The car was also warmly welcomed in Poland - 30% of sales are accounted for by the CR-V model.

It's time for the fourth generation Honda CR-V. Like its predecessor, the car has no off-road aspirations, and all-wheel drive primarily serves to improve safety in difficult conditions. The ground clearance is 16,5 centimeters - for driving along forest or field paths, as well as forcing high curbs, it is more than enough.

The body line is a continuation of the forms known from the third generation Honda CR-V. It was wound up and "seasoned" with details known from the novelties of the Japanese brand - incl. headlights cutting deep into the fenders. The changes proved beneficial to the CR-V. The car looks more mature than its predecessor. LED daytime running lights and taillights are in keeping with current trends.

The cockpit designers eschewed stylistic fireworks in favor of ergonomics and readability. The changes between the third and fourth generations of the CR-V are hardly radical. The largest of them is the expansion of the center console. In the "troika" there was free space under the short center console, and the floor was flat. Now the console and the central tunnel are connected, but the flat floor in the rear is still present.

The fourth generation Honda CR-V is based on a modified troika platform. The wheelbase (2620 mm) has not increased. This was not necessary as there is plenty of legroom. Despite the slightly lowered roofline, headroom is also more than enough. The seats are spacious and have a wide range of adjustments. Their advantage is not in profiling. Much attention has been paid to refinement of interior details - optimized door panels do not take up space, and a boot lip lowered by 30 millimeters makes it easier to load heavier items.

The trunk has been increased by 65 liters. This means that 589 liters are available - a record in the segment - and can be increased to 1669 liters. It should be emphasized that the rear seat folding system is extremely convenient. Simply pull the lever on the side of the trunk and the headrest will automatically fold, the backrest will tilt forward and the seat will automatically raise to an upright position. When the rear seat is folded down, a level surface is created. Ten centimeters longer than before.

Much attention was paid to the aerodynamic optimization of the body and chassis, which made it possible to achieve low noise levels in the cabin. Even at high speeds, the cabin is quiet. The overall level of acoustic comfort, as well as steering precision, was positively affected by the increase in body rigidity, which was achieved thanks to special reinforcements.

Depending on the version of the Honda CR-V, it will be on 17- or 18-inch rims. 19" wheels are an option. The running gear was quite rigidly tuned, thanks to which it provides better driving performance than the “troika”. Importantly, in our realities, the suspension calmly picks up even large irregularities, and the number of shocks penetrating the cabin without filtering is kept at a low level.

The new Honda CR-V will be offered with a 2.0 i-VTEC petrol engine (155 hp and 192 Nm) and a 2.2 i-DTEC turbodiesel (150 hp and 350 Nm). Well-muffled units with a high work culture provide almost the same performance - maximum 190 km / h and acceleration to “hundreds” in 10,2 and 9,7 seconds, respectively. The disproportion in dynamics becomes much greater after replacing the precise six-speed manual transmission with a five-speed "automatic" with paddle shifters. The diesel version will accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in 10,6 seconds, and the petrol version in 12,3 seconds, the diesel version will need only four-wheel drive. Those interested in a petrol engine will be able to choose between 2WD and AWD drives.

In the middle of next year, the lineup will be supplemented by a 1,6-liter turbodiesel. In Poland, due to its power, it will be subject to a much lower excise duty than the 2.2 i-DTEC engine. Honda hopes that this will significantly increase the share of the diesel version in the sales structure. The smaller diesel will power the front wheels, which should also make it easier to reach new customer groups. The Japanese company expects roughly 25% of CR-Vs to leave the factory without Real Time AWD.

Previous generations of CR-Vs had an unusual hydraulically actuated two-pump rear-wheel drive system. The biggest drawback of the solution was a noticeable delay in the transmission of torque. The new electronically controlled Real Time all-wheel drive system should respond faster to clutch changes. Due to its simpler design, it is 16,3 kg lighter than the one used so far and increases fuel consumption to a lesser extent. The real-time all-wheel drive system works automatically. Honda CR-V, unlike other SUVs, does not have buttons to control the drive.

In the cabin of the new CR-V, two new buttons appeared - to control the Idle-stop system (engine shutdown while parked) and Econ. The latter will appeal to drivers looking for savings. In Econ mode, fuel maps are changed, the air conditioning compressor is only activated when absolutely necessary, and colored bars around the speedometer tell the driver whether the current driving style is saving money.

The car also received many solutions that increase safety. The third generation CR-V can offer, among other things, Active Cruise Control (ACC) and Collision Avoidance System (CMBS). Now the list of equipment has expanded, including through the whiplash relief system, Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS) and ABS with brake assist, which were not previously available on the CR-V.

The fourth generation Honda is better than its predecessor in every way. Is this enough to attract customers? It's hard to judge. Of course, the car enters the market at the perfect time. Mazda dealerships are already offering the CX-5, and Mitsubishi has begun selling the new Outlander. The Volkswagen Tiguan, upgraded last year, is also a serious competitor.

The base Honda CR-V with a two-liter gasoline engine and front-wheel drive was estimated at 94,9 thousand. zloty. The cheapest car with Real Time AWD costs PLN 111,5 thousand. zloty. For a 2.2 i-DTEC turbodiesel, you will pay 18 thousand extra. zloty. The flagship version with a diesel engine and a full range of equipment that improves comfort and safety costs PLN 162,5 thousand. zloty. The new CR-V is cheaper than its predecessor only in the Comfort package. The Elegance, Lifestyle and Executive variants have risen in price by several thousand zlotys, which the manufacturer explains by an increase in the level of equipment.