Auto-enthusiasts who reluctantly said no to the older Honda CR-V because of its fuel-guzzling petrol engine and its small(ish) cabin are in for a bit of good news. Honda has been showcasing the fifth generation CR-V at the ongoing Bangkok Motor Show. And this one is a full-scale seven-seater with an all-new diesel engine which has already been launched in Thailand. Now, pretty soon, the same-spec CR-V is likely to make its way to India as well. Now isn’t that something eh?
The all-new CR-V was unveiled in October last year in USA - Honda’s largest market, and also got a turbo-charged engine for the first time. The new generation CR-V looks more aggressive than before with sharp front-end design elements like LED headlamps with daytime running lights, signature Honda grille and a muscular stance with short overhangs and dual exhausts. The crossover gets a newly-designed 18-inch alloy wheel and for the first time in Honda, electrically powered tailgate. The longer wheelbase helps to shove an extra row of seat in the new CR-V.
On the inside, the cabin is spacious and features upgraded materials all around. A seven-inch touch-screen infotainment system is complemented by a modern TFT virtual instrument cluster. Both the second and third rows have recliner seats, with the former also being able to slide fore/aft. There are air vents for the second row, and the third row gets roof-mounted vents. The third-row split folds 50:50, and the boot floor can be set in two positions. The full-size spare tyre is located inside the car, under the third row. The Thai-spec gets an NSX-style button selector instead of a gear lever, but when introduced in India, we’ll get the conventional stick.
Engine wise, the new ASEAN-spec CR-V is powered by a 1.6-litre i-DTEC engine that generates 156bhp of power and 350Nm of torque. The petrol version, on the other hand, continues with the trusted 2.4-litre i-VTEC powerplant that powers the current generation model. The oil burner comes mated to an all-new ZF nine-speed automatic transmission, while the petrol variant gets a CVT, in front-wheel drive and an optional all-wheel-drive setup.
Following the Thai launch, the new gen CR-V is expected to be introduced in India soon. Honda is likely to introduce the CR-V with top-of-the-line variants, and a slight hike in pricing which is expected to be in the range of Rs 21-25 lakh. It will go up against the likes of Hyundai Tuscon, Renault Koleos and Skoda Yeti.
