Honda’s CR-V has been a remarkable product for the Japanese company. In its history which spans over two decades, it has constantly been lauded as one of the best SUVs on the market, particularly as far as reliability is concerned.

The latest generation of the Honda CR-V was launched here in September 2017. It gained striking new styling and a new engine range that saw no diesels being offered, this time around.

The latest Honda CR-V has most of the attributes that made it such a success here over the years. But in this generation, there are also a few drawbacks. Thus when listing the latest CR-Vs  standout features that set it apart from the competition, we should stress that not all of them are of a positive nature.

Honda CR-V Top 5 stand-out features

1. Space. Honda has a great reputation for space packaging, notably with its smaller Jazz, and the latest large CR-V offers passenger accommodation that is amongst the best in class, as well as plenty of luggage space. The boot measures 522 litres with 1 084 litres on offer with the rear seat backrests folded flat. In addition there are numerous smaller stowage areas around the cockpit. Even more impressively, the luggage space is achieved with a full size spare wheel as standard equipment.
   
   
2. Plush interior. The fit and finish on the interior of the Honda CR-V is superb. Soft-touch finishes abound, and the mix of fine grade plastics and leather used is top class. It is a premium class cabin, thanks also to the futuristic but non-flashy design of the steering wheel, instrumentation and the infotainment system.
   
   
3. The ride. The Honda CR-V looks great from almost any angle. Yet this stylish but classy look is achieved without resorting to ridiculously large wheel sizes and low profile tyres, which hurt ride quality. The CR-V rides on 235/60 R18 rubber, which makes it one of the most comfortable SUVs around.
   
   
4. Reliable engines. The two petrol engines offered on the CR-V are very efficient. The lower-priced unit is a two-litre non-turbo, producing 113 kW and 189 NM of torque. The 1,5-litre turbo is considerably more powerful at 140 kW and 240 Nm of torque. The latter offers a 7,0 second 0-100 km/h time, a 200 km/h top speed and a claimed average fuel consumption of 7,0 litres/100 km. Honda probably has the best reputation for engine reliability for any make of car sold in South Africa.
   
   
5. CVT transmissions. What a pity! The current Honda CR-V only comes with a CVT (Constant Velocity Transmission) gearbox. This gearbox is disconcerting to most drivers as it keeps engine revs constant no matter what the speed, and this results in a droning noise in the cabin that can be extremely irritating. On the AWD models there is a step function that simulates different ratios and cuts down droning but it still takes too much concentration to use. We wish Honda would consider a dual-clutch automatic transmission or even a conventional torque convertor automatic.

CR-V engines and powertrains

After the last 2015 facelift, the CR-V was still available in 2.4-litre guise, but with the launch of the fifth-generation CR-V these were replaced with the turbocharged 1.5-litre models. The naturally aspirated 2.0-litre models that were available still remain, but have been optimised for overall efficiency.

2.0-litre, naturally aspirated models

The current Honda CR-V is offered with a choice of only two engines. The 2.0 Comfort and 2.0 Elegance models are powered by a more refined version of the 2,0-litre four-cylinder i-VTEC petrol engine also found in the previous CR-V. Output is rated at 113 kW at 6 500 r/min, combined with a torque peak of 189 Nm at 4 300 r/min.

This engine is mated with Honda’s Continuously Variable Transmission with G-Shift control logic, which "provides all the convenience of an automatic gearbox, but optimises the drive ratio for the particular driving circumstances. The gearbox also offers pre-set steps for manual selection." The naturally aspirated models are both front-wheel-driven.

Convenience

When road-tripping with your family or even day-to-day school runs, the advanced driving technology comes through the elegant layout of the dashboard. Adding to the overall convenience of the journey, the digital instrument cluster provides useful information related to your journey, with operation controls located on the leather steering wheel. In fact, every feature in the CR-V’s cockpit has been positioned exactly where the driver needs it, so you are always in control. 

Fuel Consumption

You can travel far and wide or even make several trips just down the road and know that this big CR-V is not gonna eat too much out of your pocket for fuel. Fuel consumption is rated from 7.0-litres/100 km in the 1.5T Exclusive AWD CVT and goes up to 7.3-litres/100 km in the 2.0 Comfort FWD CVT. The CR-V is fitted with a 57-litre fuel tank.

Safety

A great deal of complex engineering and vigorous testing has gone into the CR-V in order to keep you and your family members in the car safe. We don't even realise the amount of clever technology working behind the scenes for us while we are driving. It can be seen as co-operative control as all the systems work seamlessly with each other to constantly support the driver. 

Such systems include:

·         A Rear Camera

·         Lanewatch

·         Forward Collision Warning

·         Active Cornering Lights

·         Whiplash Mitigation Front Seats

·         Electronically Controlled 4WD System

·         Front & Rear Parking Sensor

Verdict?

The CR-V’s magic-carpet ride quality and oodles of comfort and convenience features do the trick for me. From its movable armrest and plentiful storage solutions to an additional mirror to see back-seat occupants, the CR-V shines as a family SUV. Then there’s the cavernous boot, and fully-maximised legroom on the rear bench. Honda totally gets what the modern family needs and wants: To travel in supreme comfort, safety and style, with enough ports to charge everyone’s tablets and phones and enough luggage space for those of us who can never decide what to wear.

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