Trailblazer CR-V soon here

FUNCTION AND STYLE: GLOBAL DEMAND BRINGS RELIVED HONDA EXPERIENCE TO SA SHORES

Latest model promises old reliability with new interior comfort.

The current Honda CR-V is the world’s best-selling SUV, with cumulative sales of more than 9 million units in 150 countries worldwide. At the core of the CR-V’s success is its combination of efficiency, functionality and capability, which have made it a favourite choice among buyers seeking a versatile and accomplished vehicle that has style, quality and safety on its side.

First launched in Japan in 1995, the CR-V was among the first models to pioneer what would become the compact SUV segment. It’s a category which has since grown in leaps and bounds, and is now one of the largest and most important sectors in the industry.

That first CR-V’s combination of chunky, SUV-inspired styling, on-demand all-wheel drive, and legendary Honda quality soon established it as a firm favourite among customers.

Global demand also dictated that production of the CR-V needed to be expanded beyond Japan. Thus, Honda’s Swindon manufacturing plant in the UK started building European-specification CR-Vs in 2000.

Arriving a year later, the second-generation Honda CR-V continued the tradition of bold SUV styling linked to Honda’s Real Time 4WD system, but represented significant improvements with regards to interior space and comfort. The newcomer also debuted Honda’s 2.0-litre i-VTEC engine.

The third-generation Honda CR-V made its global bow in 2007. The all-new model offered buyers a compelling and innovative design, including a tailgate that opened vertically, thanks to the relocation of the spare wheel.

The current, fourth-generation CR-V was launched in 2012, and updated in 2015. Larger than its predecessors, the handsome and sophisticated compact SUV set new benchmarks for quality and safety, while also offering buyers a spacious and versatile interior.

Like the latest Honda Civic, the new, fifth-generation CR-V has been designed as a global model, and promises to be the most versatile and sophisticated expression of the CR-V nameplate to date. It is due to make its South African debut at the end of August.

The new CR-V has already attracted a string of awards and accolades, including being named the 2017 Kelly Blue Book Best Family Car, and 2017 US News Best Car For The Money award. – Own correspondent