5 Things You’ll Like in the Honda CR-V
I am no stranger to the Honda CR-V. My grandfather owned a 1997 model imported from the United States. My dad owned a second-generation CR-V and currently drives a third-gen model. While I have not, never, seen the fourth generation in detail, the current generation, which was launched in the Philippines in 2017 has always caught my eye.
My family placed it on our car shopping list just a few months ago, well sadly it didn’t win but there are surely things that you’ll definitely like about it. Here’s 5 things that I think you’ll like about the Honda CR-V.
- Exterior design
When the current generation of the CR-V was first shown to the public, I immediately thought of it as the best designed CR-V ever. The CR-V is no Audi, BMW, or Mercedes-Benz, but its exterior design just continues to catch my eyes everytime I see one. The full LED taillights in particular look great at night and can be easily distinguished from afar.
- The seats
The first time I was able to check out the current CR-V was in a Honda dealership that I happened to be driving by. I wasn’t in a hurry so I decided to make a stop and take a look. The dealer had on display a single unit of the 1.6 V variant which is technically the base variant in terms of features. Once I sat on the driver’s seat, it was probably one of the most comfortable car seats. The leather material was also really nice and posh feeling. Was I really in a Honda?
- The engine choices
Ever wondered why there are just more and more new CR-Vs driving on our streets? It’s probably the Filipino’s love for diesel engines. That’s what Honda did new with this generation. Honda launched the CR-V with the choice of the usual 2.0L gasoline engine and a 1.6L turbodiesel. This was basically a game changer for Honda and it looks like it did them well.
While the figures look small at just 120 horsepower and 300 Newton-meters of torque, it is paired to a 9-speed ZF automatic transmission which really performs well. And again, while figures look small, get behind the wheel, take it for a spin and you’ll feel that the engine actually has the right amount of power and torque. It’s also not as loud as your typical mid-size diesel SUV.
- Fuel economy
Thanks to that turbocharged diesel engine, the CR-V is able to get as much as 10 km/l in the city and 24 km/l on the highway which is one of the best in our market today. The gas-powered CR-V 2.0 on the other hand gets around 8 km/l in the city and 19 km/l on the highway.
- Safety features
The current generation Honda CR-V is the first model in the Philippine lineup of Honda to be equipped with Honda Sensing. This was shortly followed by the new Accord. Honda Sensing is Honda’s intelligent suite of safety and driver assist technologies. With that, the CR-V gets Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist, and Low-Speed Follow. It also gets a Lane Watch camera.
Adaptive Cruise Control keeps a specified distance between cars in front of you once you set a top speed. This is useful when cruising on the highway. Lane Keep Assist adjusts the steering wheel to keep you on the center of the road. Low-Speed Follow is useful in heavy traffic conditions where the car will automatically accelerate and brake for you after setting a distance as well.
That’s 5 things. Now when shopping for your next compact crossover SUV, remember to do yourself a favor by putting the Honda CR-V on your list.
Photos from Honda
