FRESHFACEFORFAVOURITE
Honda’spopularSUVhas hadamid-lifeupdate
Itisn’thardtoseewhytheCR-Vhastakenover asAustralia’sfavouriteHonda.
TheSUVisspaciousandpractical,witha hugeboot,roomyrearandclevertouches cateringtofamilies.Afaceliftedversion arrivinginshowroomsnowhasamildlyrevised lookwithchromeorsilvercladding,alongwith theadditionoftwinrearUSBchargingpoints andeasiertoaccessfrontpoweroutlets.
Allbutthecheapestmodelnowhavea modern suite of safety aids that includes auto emergency bra king, active cruise control, lane keeping assistance and other features. That’ s an improvement, but it still misses out on features such as reverse auto bra king, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert in rivals.
The range start sat about $34,000 driveaway w it halow-spe cC R-VVi missing out on a turbo engine and most of the safety tech. Propelledbya2.0-litrenon-turboenginewith 113 kW /189 Nm, the basic C R-Vis under powered and goes without modern essentials such as push-button start and rear US B points. But you do get dual-zone climate control and a 7- inch touch screen with Apple Car Play and Android Auto.
Honda expects most customers to aim for mid-grade models such as the V Ti-X tested here. Priced from about $40,000 drive-away, the V Ti-X has a turbo charged 1.5- litre engine with 140 kW and 240 Nm, plus 18- inch alloys, a touch screen with sat nav, front and rear parking sensors and a powered tail gate.
Premium models build on that with features such as LED head lights, leather trim, wireless smartphone charging and a panoramic sun roof. You can also choose seven-seat or all-wheeldrive variants, though it’ s not a matter of tic king boxes to add elements to your favourite model —you have to pick from seven combinations. Thetop-gradeCR-VVTi-LXAWDseven-seater with the lot costs about $52,000 drive-away.
All models are backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, and metallic paint is free. Servicing is due every 12 months or 10,000 kilometres( most competitors have 15,000 km intervals) and costs a reasonable $312 pervisit.
A week with the updated model highlighted its shortcomings and strengths.
Yes, the engine feels noisy and
VERDICT
Worthwhile safety and connectivity upgrades lift the appeal of Honda’ s family-friendly SUV. underwhelming compared with segment leaders, the steering isn’ t as precise as some and the interior lacks wow-factor. The CV T transmission isn’ t sporty, and the soft suspension is tuned to please passengers rather thankeendrivers.
Yet the C R-V gets a lot of stuff right. The powered tail gate aperture is enormous, the rear doors swing open much further than most, the boot floor is flat and it has a proper spare tyre. While it lacks the precision and dynamic deftness of some competitors, th eC R-V’ s comfortable ride and relaxed manners will hit the spot for many families.
Standard fit ment of Apple Car Play and Android Auto means you don’ t have to use Honda’ s clunky infotainment interface, and the near-standard inclusion of key safety elements makes the C R-V much easier to recommend.