Honda CR-V gets tech injection
Honda has given its venerable CR-V a refresh for next year and while it doesn’t look much different, the changes are meaningful, writes Colin Smith.
Three years have passed since Honda launched its fifth-generation CR-V in New Zealand. On sale now is a 2021 upgrade with a revamp of the four-variant lineup – two in front-drive configuration plus an all-wheeldrive duo.
The CR-V entry point is the front-drive Touring at $39,990 and the road test vehicle is the flagship AWD Sport Premium, which nudges the CR-V through the $50K price point.
Honda’s formal and chromedetailed styling hasn’t changed much with some detail grille changes, revised headlights and new oval-shape tailpipes.
Model nomenclature changes include the return of Touring grade for entry-level models while Sport designates the highgrade duo with the front-drive Sport 7 being a seven-seater.
The MY21 upgrades bring the greatest benefit to the Touring grade with the addition of a powered tailgate, additional Honda Sensing Safety technologies, smart key access and push button start plus dualzone air conditioning.
The AWD Sport Premium moves onto larger 19-inch wheels with Michelin Latitude Sport5 tyres in 235/55 R19 size and a specific suspension tune.
Honda’s 1.5-litre VTEC turbo engine may not seem that big on paper, but it employs plenty of technology, including direct
injection and electronic wastegate control. It develops 140KW to be competitive with two-point-something normally aspirated competitors but the key to the CR-V’s smooth acceleration and relaxed highway performance is the 240Nm of torque that flatlines from 2000-5000rpm.
The plateau of torque is a nice match to the stepless continuously variable transmission and there are paddle shifters to prompt seven-speed sequential shifting if you feel the need for greater control.
The engine is notably fuel efficient. Honda claims combined consumption of 7.4L/100km (ADR test) while I made a highway run at 6.9L/100km and achieved a
7.8L/100km road test average.
On the inside there’s smartly stitched leather seat trim and mesh metallic detailing but colour and character is absent and it’s a drab decor in multiple shades of grey.
I drove the CR-V after some time in the Mazda CX-30. Where the gently arched Mazda dash sweeps into the doors and presents an integrated design theme, the Honda effort is more like components placed around the dash.
You need to search near your right knee for some of the minor switches and the touchscreen seems relatively small by modern standards, at 7.0 inches.
The positive side of the interior story is the space the CR-V offers. There is excellent
rear seat legroom, plenty of headroom in spite of the sunroof installation and a very nearly flat floor in the rear that creates generous footwell space.
The 60/40 split fold rear seat folds to almost flat – with remote releases in the load area – and the generous 522 litres of fiveseater load space becomes a wagon-like 1084-litres with the rear seats folded.
The Sport 7 and AWD Sport Premium have leather seat trim, heated front seats, eight-way powered front seat adjustment with four-way power lumbar adjuster and two position memory for the driver’s seat.
A wireless phone charger, rear privacy glass, panorama sunroof and rain sensor wipers are also standard. Only offered
in the AWD Sport Premium is an auto-dimming mirror and auto reverse tilt function for the door mirrors.
All CR-V models are now equipped with adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist and lane departure warning, forward collision warning, driver attention monitor, collision mitigation braking system, hill start assist, auto high beam and tyre pressure loss warning.
The lane watch camera is a useful feature. It’s a rear-facing camera housed in the left-side mirror which displays a blind spot image (in the centre screen) along the kerb side of the CR-V when the left indicator is on. It’s a handy feature for a left turn in busy traffic, allowing that double check glance that spots a cyclist riding down the inside.
While the CR-V safety suite does a clever job of looking forward it doesn’t offer the helping hand of blind spot detection or rear cross traffic alert functions.