Honda’s new CR-V breaks cover with electrified engines

Honda’s new CR-V breaks cover with electrified engines

Honda has been quite busy of late, from introducing its all-new HR-V to letting the potent Type R loose around the Nurburgring as it finally applies final touches to the model.

Now, Honda has debuted its sixth-generation CR-V, which isn’t just a subtle update over the outgoing model but is longer, and bigger than its forebear. The CR-V’s overall length has been stretched by 2.7″ and the wheelbase has also been increased by 1.6″ for improved space.

On looks alone, the Honda CR-V boasts a complete departure from its predecessor, thanks to a large, upright grille, a long bonnet and standard LED headlights. It features a body-coloured roof spoiler and a new, all-LED interpretation of signature vertical taillights.

Model dependent, the CR-V can be had with standard 18″ 10-spoke alloy wheels or 19″ split 5-spoke alloys.

Honda South Africa is yet to confirm local derivatives; however, overseas markets are getting the EX, EX-L, Sport and Sport Touring, each with distinctive styling cues.

Moving on inside, the new CR-V gets a 7″ digital instrument display and a larger 7″ or 9″ touchscreen that comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone pairing. A 15 Watt mobile wireless charging pad has been thrown into the mix for certain variants in the range.

The CR-V EX is fitted with grey or black cloth upholstery with an eight-way power driver’s seat and black trim on the dash. The EX-L further adds grey or black leather seating surfaces, a four-way power passenger seat and piano black dash trim.

The Sport features exclusive black cloth upholstery and black dash trim, while the Sport Touring comes with either black or grey leather seating surfaces and piano-black dash trim. The range-topping duo are further bolstered with a black headliner and orange contrast stitching on the seats, console, steering wheel and shifter as standard.

As for the powertrains, the EX and EX-L kick off the range with a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 142 kW and 242 Nm. The Sport and Touring models pack an updated 2.0-litre four-cylinder hybrid powerplant with 152 kW and 335 Nm of torque.

The EX and EX-L wield an updated CVT transmission, while the Sport and Touring employ what Honda calls a two-motor hybrid system. For the first time, the CR-V features hill-descent control.

The new CR-V is equipped with the latest version of Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) architecture. This has been enhanced for even better compatibility with larger vehicles.

For safety sakes, there is a full house of airbags including a standard knee, and rear-passenger side-impact airbag for the first time. Other safety features include a new Honda Sensing, blind spot information, traffic jam assist, low-speed braking control and traffic sign recognition, plus adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, and lane-keeping assist.

Honda SA hasn’t given out the local introduction timing of the new CR-V, but we expect it to land here sometime before the end of the year or early 2023. Local specifications will be communicated prior.