Honda CR-V: UK-spec SUV previews Australian model

By David Zalstein | July 19th, 2012

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The upcoming fourth-generation Honda CR-V has been revealed in its British-built European specification, giving Australians a glimpse at what our Thailand-built version should look like when it arrives here in November.

For the first time in Australia, the all-new Honda CR-V will be available in two-wheel drive as well as four-wheel drive, with the entry-level models to feature an entry-level 2.0 i-VTEC petrol engine. The engine is already available in European versions of the outgoing CR-V, but has been comprehensively revised for enhanced fuel efficiency and lower emissions for the new model.

Power from the 2.0-litre petrol has risen from 110kW to 114kW while torque is been up 2Nm to 192Nm. CO2 emissions have fallen from 192 grams per kilometre to 174g/km for the six-speed manual transmission variant, and from 195g/km to 176g/km for those equipped with Honda’s five-speed automatic transmission. Two-wheel drive variants will see even greater improvements with emissions dipping to 170g/km.

The larger 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine will continue to be offered in the local line-up, potentially upgraded to match the output of the US-spec CR-V’s powerplant, which produces 138kW and 221Nm.

Honda Australia will also add a diesel engine to the new CR-V line-up for the first time, with the third engine option expected to join the range in 2013.

Along with the first-time addition of 2WD, upgrades to the CR-V’s suspension, steering and four-wheel drive system have all been undertaken to improve ride quality without compromising handling or high-speed stability.

Compared with the current model, the new CR-V is 5mm shorter and 30mm lower in height, but Honda says this has been achieved without compromising interior space. The hip point of the rear passenger seats has been lowered by 38mm, providing a more comfortable seating position and increasing headroom.

‘Easy-Fold Down’ 60/40 split-fold rear seats have also been introduced, allowing the back seats to be folded completely flat in one movement to provide 1648 litres of space. Honda says the CR-V can now accommodate two mountain bikes, or four sets of golf clubs.

A sound reduction and sound insulation program has also been undertaken netting a 3dB reduction in cabin noise.

Featuring in the cabin is a five-inch ‘intelligent’ Multi-Information Display (i-MID) that controls audio, telephone and navigation systems, and a centre console located between the front seats that houses two cup holders, a storage compartment, an armrest and air vents for rear occupants.

Helping to reduce the CR-V’s wind resistance and benefit performance and efficiency, the adoption of a flat underfloor, sculptured wheel-arches, longer roof, and aerodynamically optimised front bumper and rear spoiler has seen a drag coefficient improvement of 6.5 per cent.

Standard fare will be Honda’s ECON mode and Eco Assist systems, seen before on other models, which work to improve fuel consumption.

The car’s motion-adaptive electric power steering system (MA-EPS) has been refined to enhance manoeuvrability, feedback and response. The system also works with the car’s stability control system to detect instability in slippery road conditions and automatically initiates steering inputs to prompt the driver into steering correctly.

Honda’s ‘Real Times’ all-wheel drive system has been swapped from the previous hydraulic system to an electronically activated system that provides a faster response when a loss of traction is detected. It also sees a weight reduction of 17 per cent.

The new CR-V will employ Honda’s advanced driver assist system incorporating a string of safety systems including lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control and collision mitigation braking. The latter warns drivers of an impending collision and applies the brakes to reduce the severity of an impact.

Full specifications and pricing information will be released closer to the CR-V’s Australian launch in November, but Honda Australia director Stephen Collins told CarAdvice last month, “you don’t need to be Einstein to work out two-wheel-drive has got to be cheaper than a four-wheel-drive”. The outgoing, and four-wheel-drive-only, third-generation CR-V currently starts at $28,090 for the base model manual but Honda is currently offering the Honda CR-V with 17-inch alloy wheels and rear park assist for $29,990 drive away.

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Henry Toussaint

The back is weird looking from the first photo…
Kriss63

What posseses the minds of honda designers,for that i do not have an answer,the crv was always hideous and this thing ain`t no different,you will continue to alienate prospective buyers across many of your models then you all wonder why the hell market share is decreasing…sigh……….
- Legnab
  
  Honda what are you doing , all i see is a very bad copy of a volvo rear end .
- Billybuckethead
  
  Always hideous? Perhaps that is why it has sold so well for so many years.
  
  Market share decreasing? Have you heard about the floods in Thailand? That perhaps has a little more to do with it than exterior design
  - Shb_jcb
    
    Some Aussies have a weird concept of what good looking is! There are things beyond looks and that’s why the adage “form follows function”. The crv has been an immensely popular vehicle and as rightly said due to floods and earthquakes,the productions have been messed up. The only thing lacking in the outgoing model was power and torque. If the newer 2.4 comes updated in that,it will sell. Especially with suv’s being them in thing amongst consumers. Good work Honda.
- Phunken
  
  The answer: they made this for the USA.
http://www.facebook.com/antmindel Anthony Mindel

I have just returned from the USA,there are thousands of brand new CRVs on the road,and they are very upmarket looking,should do reallt well here again.
Keefattleo

I own a 2003 Petrol Honda CRV. Comfortable, drives well and reasonable fuel economy. Only complaint is its range, which is around 400 km. Makes driving long distance a problem.
- Smart US
  
  that does not sounds right for 4pot…
- Werewr
  
  If your doing “long distance” driving and only getting 400km a tank……..well it has a 58L tank so if your using about 50L before refueling, your guzzling 12.5L100km.
  
  A 12.5L100km on long distance driving….and you call that “reasonable fuel economy”?
carl

This is a really nice looking CRV and really practical inside, i would consider buying one. I won’t cause i’m sick of being a taxi driver for my friends, gonna get a GT86 instead.
- Mad Max
  
  S Carl, your going to wait nearly two years for your new car? Toyota´s list is now 19 months and growing. At this rate you might get a series two… Good choice of car though. I´d love one but with a big hairy (and often wet) Golden Retreiver its not a practical choice for me.
  - carl
    
    Wow! that’s really a long time to wait, hmmmm…..it does give me time to save money. I’ll see what else comes out in 19month plus i don’t ever wanna go through finance again. I wanted something different to what i’ve been driving(station wagon) for years and really would love to drive something fun like the gt86. There is nothing wrong with the CRV, but i’d be feeling like i haven’t experience what fun driving is truly about. love golden retreiver too
    - Smart US
      
      dont worry carl – there will be lotsa 2nd soon after owner get thru their disappointment and trade with a loss
      - carl
        
        just read that toyota are replacing the full size spare for a puncture kit, you might be right with alot of unhappy customers wanting a refund or just selling their cars off
      - Phunken
        
        How many 86 owner will do a trek across the Nullabor? I think for a sportscar thats acceptable… If you hit he race track the engineer designed the rear to accomadate extra spare wheels.
    - Mad Max
      
      Well carl I realy hope you get the 86. From what I´ve read its a great drive and I also hope that the car continues to be a raging success worldwide. If it does, then more companies will build cars like it and that means that all car loving people like us win! The more sports/sporty cars like this and the BRZ can only be a good thing. Thank you Toyota and Subaru for having the guts to do it!!!
Clem

I have to tell you that this car is powerless. You need to keep reving to get the car moving and that is not green!
Greater improvements with emissions? I doubt … currently I’m driving an accord euro and I know how bad this is going to be compare to CRV which is even heavier.
- peddy.d
  
  Hey clem wat’s your fuel consumption like for your accord euro? Can it pull up to speed without having to be revved a lot?
  - Smart US
    
    bet you can… if you have plenny of time…
  - Clem
    
    Hey Peddy.d, manual, average 8.3 litre per 100km (bought 2011). I drive conservatively (feather foot). That’s the best I can do.
PIZZA

Wish the 2.0 2WD version come downs to $25990 drive away….
Chest Rockjaw

If Honda prices the new CRV aggressively it should sell like mad. I also think the new RAV4 will be priced aggressively making punters think twice about a Sportage or IX35. The price war is on with the Koreans, and the winner is… the consumer.
Silver Streak

The irony being that the 2.0 will use more fuel than the 2.4…. which was underpowered to start with, meaning that it used more fuel and was slower than a hypothetical larger engine. This is yet another case where Honda’s marketing has tried to patch over a complete lack of actual engineering integrity.
Edward

I am sick of all the next generation cars looking like a revised version of the previous generation. I might have to wait another 5 years before replacing my car, so i will at least have something that LOOKS new.
MisterZed

Entry level models will come with entry level engines? Really? Will high-end models feature high-end engines?
Nick01

The front end looks ok though.
Saltypigeon

Why are Honda’s larger vehicles (CRV, Odyssey) so underpowered?
- Phunken
  
  I think it has something to do with taxes in other countries…
  and the have contiued witht the past belive that small capacity engine but high output from the revs is enough, however the cars in the past decades are getting heavier. In most other countries they come with smaller entry engine.
Ehlcal1

I have a 2002 Honda Crv and will probably change to the new model next year, we bought it brand new and it has been a fantastic car, good on fuel and very zippy.
Zerk

People seem to confuse power with torque. Torque is easier to understand as the twisting force an engine exerts on it’s crankshaft, and subsequently, the vehicles axles. Torque is good. Gimme more….
Torque is mostly a function of engine displacement, or swept volume. Turbocharging increases effective swept volume by increasing the VOLUME of air shoved into an engine. It is a clever engineering trick used to get higher torque from a smaller, LIGHTER engine, hence the fuel saving potential. I say potential, because unfortunately some people drive around “on boost” all the time. Might as well have a bigger, heavier engine which necessitates a bigger, heavier body to carry it around, which means larger brakes, heavier suspension, etc. etc..
The point is, everything in engineering is a balancing act , juggling compromises. Perfect cars exist on paper and in imaginations. Unfortunately, we don’t all own bank accounts that look like international phone numbers, so perfect is for the super wealthy.
I’ll buy a car that is comfortable, has decent safety, good reliability, can fit into it what I carry most weeks, or will tow a trailer etc. for those extra big trips, without requiring an engine big enough to push an oil tanker or drink it’s contents. A car needs enough torque to pull its own weight plus 5 people and their luggage up a 1 in 10 gradient at 90 to 100 km/h, on a hot day. Funny, my “underpowered” 2.4 litre CR-V will do that, my friends larger, heavier $65,000 turbodiesel 4×4 won’t….
But I wouldn’t say no to 25% more torque, especially if it meant the same or better fuel economy I get now….

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Honda CR-V: UK-spec SUV previews Australian model

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