It’s not every day that you find a perfect balance between class and performance in an automobile. The right balance of design and technology can often create a product which can last for generations. A company most often associated with this kind of balance is Japanese giant Honda Cars India Ltd. One such car from their stable is the Honda CRV. Honda’s premium 7-seater SUV. It offers a balance of power and poise rarely seen in cars of this segment. The CR-V moniker has been around for almost two decades. The model has cumulatively sold over 10 million units globally, making it the second largest selling Honda car. In India, Honda had introduced the CR-V in its second generation avatar, back in 2003. Since then, the SUV has been setting benchmarks in its segment and the latest version is no different. 

POWER PACKED

The new premium design features a sharp-lined front grille enhancing a stronger look; LED headlights, turn lights, tail lights and brake lights; and LED daytime running lights

The 5th-generation Honda CR-V comes with two engine options from Honda’s advanced powertrains. First is a 1.6-litre DOHC i-DTEC 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine which produces a maximum power of 120 ps @4000 rpm and a maximum torque of 300 Nm@2000 rpm. Sweetening the deal on the diesel is the Shift by Wire 9-speed automatic transmission which comes equipped with an Electronic Gear Selector, for a relaxed yet powerful drive. Honda’s Earth Dreams diesel engine is designed to provide effortless acceleration along with a best-in-segment fuel efficiency of 19.5 km/l (ARAI). This is the first time that the CR-V has been launched in India with a diesel option. Second is a buttery smooth 2.0-litre SOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine which produces a maximum power of 120 ps @4000 rpm and a maximum torque of 300 Nm@2000 rpm. Sweetening the deal on the diesel is the Shift by Wire 9-speed automatic transmission which comes equipped with an Electronic Gear Selector, for a relaxed yet powerful drive. Honda’s Earth Dreams diesel engine is designed to provide effortless acceleration along with a best-in-segment fuel efficiency of 19.5 km/l (ARAI). This is the first time that the CR-V has been launched in India with a diesel option. Second is a buttery smooth 2.0-litre SOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder petrol engine which produces a maximum power of 154 ps @ 6000 rpm and a maximum torque of 189 Nm @ 4300 rpm. The world-class i-VTEC engines come mated to a CVT gearbox for a seamless shifting experience. Like the diesel, the petrol engine also offers a best-in-segment fuel efficiency of 14.4 km/l (ARAI). A feature first in this segment: Remote Engine Starter.

SUBTLE DOMINANCE

The new premium design features a sharp-lined front grille enhancing a stronger look; LED headlights, turn lights, tail lights and brake lights; and LED daytime running lights

The CR-V’s exterior provides a tasteful blend of mature lines and understated yet contemporary design which culminates into a crescendo with the sharp-lined front grille. To add to the pizzaz, this model also sports attractive LED headlights, turn lights, tail lights, brake lights, and daytime running lights. Let’s not forget about its sporty 18-inch aluminium alloy wheels.

The luxury features is a 7-inch colour touchscreen audio system

The elegant design language continues inside with luxury features like a 7-inch colour touchscreen audio system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. This display audio system is assisted by an 8-speaker system. The dashboard gets a Piano Black and Wooden finish and the seats come in leather upholstery. To top it off, this CR-V also gets a 3-mode Panoramic Sun Roof. Furthermore, Honda has ensured that the driver doesn’t have any difficulty finding the right posture by adding an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with 4-way lumbar support. What more could one ask for, right?

Well, we’re not done listing the CR-V’s attractive features by a long shot. It also gets first-in-segment features like the 7-inch colour TFT Multi-Information Display (MID) with advanced features like Driver Attention Monitor, Torque Distribution Display and more. The Driver Attention Monitor is an audible and visual alert that can detect drowsy driving patterns and can then warn the driver to take a break from a long haul.

So after everything is said and done, what does it boil down to? The Honda CR-V’s feather in the hat comes in the form of its drivability. The combination of the efficient yet torquey diesel with the 9-speed automatic transmission provides a punchy drive. The petrol engine and CVT transmission, on the other hand, make the CR-V a smooth operator.

Both the models come with sufficient boot space

All in all, a sophisticated list of segment-first features and advanced technology make the Honda CR-V one of the most comfortable premium SUVs in the Indian market. It combines the fun-to-drive characteristic of an SUV with dynamic handling, usually associated with a sedan. To ensure this sedan-like handling, Honda has equipped the CR-V with a segment-first (yet again), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with Agile Handling Assist. In short, the Honda CR-V is armed to the teeth to take on the urban jungle.

SAFETY FIRST

The elegant interiors come with many safety and luxury features like six SRS airbags, leather upholstery, piano black and wooden finish center console trim and 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat with 4-way lumbar support

With great power comes great responsibility. Nowhere is the need for responsibility greater than that in the safety department. Honda engineers have ensured that the CR-V makes for a safe and secure drive by adding features like Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) Body, 6 SRS airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA), Motion-Adaptive Electric Power Steering (EPS), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Auto-Dimming IRVM, Rain Sensing Wipers and more. Honda has also offered a Walk Away Door Lock feature which automatically locks the cars if the driver leaves with the key FOB or when the driver’s distance from the car exceeds 6.5 feet for more than two seconds.

The Honda LaneWatch, a segment-first feature, uses a camera mounted on the side view mirrors to detect blind spots

Honda has also provided segment-first features like Honda LaneWatch which uses a camera mounted on the side view mirrors to detect blind spots. ASEAN NCAP, an automobile safety rating programme jointly established by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) and Global New Car Assessment Program (Global NCAP), has provided the Honda CR-V with a 5-star safety rating. Furthermore, the Japanese giant has also ensured that pedestrian safety is given importance with pedestrian injury mitigation technology.

With the latest CR-V, Honda has once again provided a product that is sophisticated, safe and fun. An unbeatable balance of panache and subtlety that offers the unmatched reliability of the Honda badge.

ENGINES

1597cc 4-CYL. DOHC i-DTEC Diesel 1997cc 4-CYL. SOHC i-VTEC Petrol

POWER

120 PS@4000 RPM / 154 PS@6500 RPM

TORQUE

300 NM@2000 RPM / 189 NM@4300 RPM

PRICE

Rs 28 lakh onwards

ON THE INSIDE

Apple Car Play/Android Auto, 8 speakers including 4 tweeters, electric parking brake, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, three-mode panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery

SAFETY

5-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating, advanced compatibility engineering body, 6 SRS airbags, driver attention monitor, Honda LaneWatch, ABS with EBD & BA, VSA, Hill Start Assist, Walk away door lock, Pedestrian Safety