2013 Honda CR-V launched in UK, will arrive in India in January

The 2013 Honda CR-V crossover has arrived in showrooms across the UK. This fourth-generation model with all-new front design will arrive in India at the start of next year. The all-new CR-V is available with option of both petrol and diesel engines in UK, however only the petrol version will be made available in India.

The Honda CR-V is probably the first compact crossover in the world; launched back in 1997 with total sales till date of over 5 million units. It is the first vehicle to blend the dynamics of a car with that of tall-boy SUV, making it safer and more spacious than a sedan without losing efficiency and driving comfort.

The 2013 version of the CR-V has become shorter and lower than the predecessor, but with better packaging is bigger on the inside. The boot space has also increased substantially – by 147 litres. The front this model is all-new and sporty, but rest of the design looks like an evolution of the current model. Honda has worked on the aerodynamics as well; the smoother body lines and F1 style flat underbody helps reducing the cabin noise by 3dB.

Under the hood there is a choice of 2.0-litre 155bhp i-Vtec petrol and 2.2-litre 150bhp i-Dtec diesel engines. Both engines are mated to either six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission with optional AWD system.

Honda has confirmed to bring the CR-V to India next year, but unfortunately it will only be the petrol version. The car will continue to be full-import as volumes of petrol crossover will not justify CKD operations.