CR-V is coming back!

The first premium-SUV in India is relaunching with seven seats

THE FIVE-SEATER PETROL powered Honda CR-V was the de facto king of the premium SUV space in India several years ago. But then, the rise of the diesel-powered seven-seater cut the CR-V’s life in half with Honda losing its favoured status with the burgeoning lot of SUV buyers in India. The fact that Honda also wanted a premium for its CR-V didn’t help the SUV’s case either.

Honda is now ready to get back into the game with the new CR-V that will not only offer the option of diesel power for the first time but also a third row of seats to entice more people with its offer of extra seating.

The new Honda CR-V for India will come with two engine options. The first is the tried and tested 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine which cranks out 181bhp at 6400rpm and 240Nm of torque at 3900rpm and is paired with an automatic gearbox. However, it is the second one that has everyone interested. The diesel option for the CR-V is a new 1.6-litre twin-turbocharged diesel engine that will be produced at Honda's Tapukara plant. The motor produces 158bhp at 4000rpm and 350Nm of torque at 2000rpm and is mated to a brand new nine-speed automatic gearbox sourced from ZF.

Although similar in styling to the CR-V currently on sale in India, the new CR-V is noticeably wider and longer to accommodate the third row of seats and now boasts of LED head and tail lights. The soft-roader also gets a more butch appearance with plastic cladding and bigger wheel arches.

Honda has also improved the interiors and the cabin gets wood in-lays all around with black upholstery. Customers opting for the automatic will be greeted by a row of buttons below the centre console that will control the transmission.