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Mark Higgins23 Jan 2024
ADVICE

Honda CR-V – What you need to know

Honda’s excellent new sixth-generation CR-V mid-size SUV has a broad range spanning five- and seven-seat cabin layouts and turbo-petrol and hybrid powertrains, so which one is right for you?

Honda’s excellent new sixth-generation CR-V mid-size SUV has a broad range spanning five- and seven-seat cabin layouts and turbo-petrol and hybrid powertrains, so which one is right for you?

The Honda CR-V has been a popular model in Australia for almost three decades, playing a major role in driving the SUV boom and doing wonders for the Japanese brand as one of its top-selling cars over many years.

Now, the new sixth-generation Honda CR-V has rolled into Australian showrooms, boasting a bigger body, more equipment and improved technology in what is today a family-focused SUV.

The latest range offers a choice between turbo-petrol and hybrid powertrains, two-wheel drive (2WD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) layouts, and five-seat and seven-seat cabin configurations.

Seven variants complete the line-up, with the five- and seven-seat models closely aligning specifications, making it easier to choose.

There are three five-seater CR-V models with 2WD – VTi X, VTi L and the hybrid e:HEV RS. There’s also a couple of AWD five-seaters, the VTi L AWD and VTi LX AWD. The two seven-seaters are badged VTi X7 and VTi L7 and both are 2WD only.

Prices range from $44,500 to $59,900 drive-away.

So, which one is right for you?

For $44,500 drive-away, the entry-model VTi X five-seater, with its front-drive 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) has the following standard features:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• 9.0-inch infotainment touch-screen
• Wireless Apple CarPlay with Siri eyes-free
• Android Auto with built-in Google features
• Rear-view camera
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Adaptive cruise control
• Eight-way powered driver seat

Honda CR-V options

Happily, you don’t get slugged with a surcharge for premium paint on the Honda CR-V, and up to six colours are available – depending on the model.

Honda CR-V safety and driver assistance

The latest Honda CR-V contains the most up-to-date ‘Honda Sensing’ active safety suite, including forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane departure and lane keep assist, traffic jam assist, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control with low-speed following, low-speed braking control, traffic sign recognition and high beam support.

Also standard is a multi-angle reversing camera with dynamic guidelines, front and rear parking sensors, electronic traction and stability control, trailer sway assist, hill start assist and hill descent control, anti-lock brakes, driver attention alert, tyre pressure monitoring, a speed limiter and an emergency stop signal.

Depending on the model, there’s up to 11 airbags fitted throughout the CR-V. These include a centre airbag between the driver and passenger, plus knee and side airbags in the front, while second-row passengers have side airbags. The curtain airbags, for head protection, covers the first two rows in the five-seaters and all three rows in the seven-seaters.

Stepping up to the VTi L adds blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert, but only the e:HEV RS has automatic high beam for its headlights, plus an acoustic vehicle alerting system.

Being a family-focused vehicle, child safety is looked after with two second-row ISOFIX child seat anchor points plus three tether strap points.

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Honda CR-V infotainment

A 9.0-inch infotainment touch-screen is located in all Honda CR-V models, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay with Siri eyes-free mode, Android Auto with Google Assistant, a DAB+ digital radio, Bluetooth music and phone connectivity and over-the-air system updates.

There’s one USB-A port and three USB-C ports, wireless smartphone charging, and an eight-speaker sound system.

The standard Honda Connect telematics system allows you to remotely control the air-con, lock or unlock the CR-V via a smartphone, flash the front and rear lights to locate the car and, if an airbag is deployed, it automatically notifies Honda Customer Care, which will in turn notify emergency services.

Moving up to the VTi L adds satellite navigation with five years of complimentary map updating, while the most affordable way to add the premium 12-speaker Bose audio system is by ticking the box marked VTi LX AWD.

A 7.0-inch multi-function instrument cluster is found in all variants except the VTi LX AWD and e:HEV RS, which sport a 10.2-inch digital display.

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Honda CR-V comfort and convenience

Apart from the entry-level VTi X and seven-seat VTi X7, with their black fabric trim, all variants of the new Honda CR-V score black leather on the seats, the e:HEV RS adding red stitching to brighten the cabin.

Black leather (with red stitching on the e:HEV RS) also wraps the multi-function steering wheel and gearshift knob, on all but the entry models.

Black honeycomb is the interior garnish in the VTi X, VTi L, VTi X7, VTi L7, VTi L AWD, with woodgrain in the VTi LX AWD. A metal hairline finish is used in the e:HEV RS and a black roof lining.

An eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with four-way power lumbar support is standard across the range. Moving up to the VTi L in five- or seven-seat layouts adds a memory function, four-way powered front passenger’s seat and heating in both front positions.

A one-motion, 60/40-split folding rear seat with a centre arm rest contains a pair of cup holders, with another six cup holders spread across the cabin. And all variants have a retractable cargo cover and a remote tailgate release.

LEDs are used for the automatic, dusk-sensing headlights, tail-lights, front and rear fog lights, front turn indicators and daytime running lights. The e:HEV RS hybrid is the only one with LED active cornering lights, but all have electric-folding door mirrors with LED indicators.

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Do you want the year-round comfort of air-conditioning? All five-seaters have dual-zone air-con with tri-zone in the seven-seaters, with vents in all rows.

Moving into the VTi L snares side and rear privacy glass, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, auto up/down power windows on all doors, rain-sensing wipers, roof rails and 18-inch alloy wheels, up from the 17-inch on the entry model and one inch down from those on the VTi LX AWD and e:HEV RS.

The e:HEV RS has a tyre repair kit in lieu of a spare wheel, and while five-seaters have a full-size spare, seven-seater models make do with a space-saver.

Is a sunroof sitting on your wish list? You’ll have to stump up for a VTi L7 as a minimum, which stands out with its matte black sports bumpers and auto-tilting left-hand side door mirror when reverse is selected.

The VTi L7 shares chrome exhaust tips and a piano black grille with the e:HEV RS. The hybrid model employs piano black on the door mirrors, shark fin antenna, rear spoiler and middle and rear pillars. The body colour decorates the hybrid’s sports bumpers and wheel-arch accents.

While all variants score an acoustic windscreen to minimise outside noise, only the hybrid receives acoustic front door glass.

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Honda CR-V engine, transmission and drive layout choices

Powering six of the seven Honda CR-V variants is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing 140kW of power and 240Nm of torque.

It’s paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and drives either the front wheels only or all four wheels, depending on the model grade. The VTi X, L, X7 and L7 models are 2WD only, while the on-demand all-wheel drive system is employed on the VTi L AWD and VTi LX AWD.

The e:HEV RS hybrid powertrain pairs a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine with an electric motor for a combined output of 135kW and 335Nm. It has an electric CVT and steering-mounted deceleration paddles.

Two drive modes – Normal and Econ – give drivers the ability to change modes on the go. There’s also a Sport mode, but it’s exclusive to the e:HEV RS flagship.

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Honda CR-V key dimensions and capacities

It doesn’t matter whether you go for a five-seat or seven-seat Honda CR-V as all measure 4704mm long, 1866mm wide and 1681mm high. The wheelbase length on all is 2701mm and ground clearance is 198mm.

Gross vehicle mass ranges from 2258kg to 2350kg, depending on the variant, while kerb weight spans 1613kg to 1771kg.

The maximum braked towing capacity is 750kg on the e:HEV RS hybrid, with 1000kg available on the VTi X7 and VTi L7 and 1500kg on the VTi X, VTi L , VTi L AWD and VTi LX AWD.

With the rear seat up in the VTi X and VTi L five-seater variants, the cargo capacity is 589 litres. This drops to 581L in the VTi LX and e:HEV RS. Fold the rear seat flat and the cargo area increases to 1671L in the VTi X and VTi L and 1636L in the VTi LX and e:HEV RS.

As you’d expect with the seven-seaters, the cargo area is compromised when the third-row seats are up, with just 150 litres available. Fold them down in both rows and the cargo volume varies from 1457-1671L depending on the variant. These figures are measured to the roof.

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Verdict on the Honda CR-V

The sixth-generation Honda CR-V carries on from its predecessors in delivering comfortable, effortless and, on all but the worst surfaces, quiet motoring.

The cabin is spacious and the controls are well laid out and easy to use, without distracting you from driving.

Performance isn’t the best asset of the turbo-petrol models on paper, however the hybrid offers a combination of strong performance and excellent economy.

The VTi L is the junction where I believe specification best meets value. There is plenty of standard fare and the safety and infotainment tech has the bases covered. At a drive-away price under 50 grand, this is the one I’d park in my shed.

The CR-V hybrid is expensive by comparison, but it’s an excellent vehicle to drive and comes loaded with standard gear, so if your budget can extend that far it’s one to definitely put on your shortlist.

How much does the 2024 Honda CR-V cost?
VTi X – $44,500
VTi X7 – $46,800
VTi L – $48,800
VTi L AWD – $51,300
VTi L7 – $53,000
VTi LX AWD – $57,000
e:HEV RS – $59,900
*All prices are drive-away (including on-road costs)

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Written byMark Higgins
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