The new Honda CR-V finally hits the SA SUV market

The new Honda CR-V finally hits the SA SUV market

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The Honda CR-V has been around since 1995, and as SUV nameplates go within the automotive fold, it’s safe to say that it has helped invent the segment to a large extent or, at the very least, popularised it.  ‍

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Entering its sixth generation, the CR-V seems to have moved slightly upmarket while adopting a much cleaner and minimalistic stature.

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It follows the same styling direction we've seen on the current Civic, with sportier proportions such as a sleek roofline, a wider stance, an elongated bonnet, and slimmer LED headlights. 

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Boasting 115mm of increased length and 10mm of additional width compared to the outgoing CR-V, the new model is fitted with a large, upright grille and LED signature vertical rear lights. 

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Sold in two variants, Executive and Exclusive, the former features 18-inch wheels while the latter sits on bigger 19-inch alloy wheels. In terms of exterior colours, the range is available in seven different shades, including the new Canyon River Blue metallic. 

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As a 7-seater, Honda says it has made significant improvements, and in that case, the CR-V is quieter, more spacious, and comes fitted with more standard technology and premium materials.

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Like the Civic, the CR-V comes with a metal honeycomb mesh accent that stretches across the dash. The Executive variant boasts a new 7-inch colour TFT instrument display, while the range-topping Executive gets a large 10.2-inch interactive digital LCD instrument cluster.

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Both models are fitted with a 9-inch infotainment screen that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone pairing. The Exclusive version gains a new head-up display that is projected directly onto the windscreen. 

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Powering the range is a 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 140kW and 240Nm channelled to the front axle via a CVT transmission. While CVTs may not be universally preferred, if this particular model’s performance parallels that of the CVT in the Honda Civic RS, it could potentially position Honda as a strong contender in the market. 

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When it comes to safety, the Honda CR-V comes equipped with a collision mitigation braking system, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist system, road departure mitigation system, and lane departure warning.

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In a nutshell, the Honda CR-V seems to bring a huge improvement over its forebear, but what might be its biggest letdown is the pricing. It’s priced at R959,900 for the Executive and R1,039,900 for the Exclusive. For example, a Volkswagen Tiguan R costs R1,074,800, while the R-Line variant will set you back R843,000. You do the math.

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