First Drive: The all-new Honda CR-V reminds me why I love it so much
I am no stranger to the Honda CR-V. Back when I was a little boy, my grandparents owned a first generation model bought in 1997 and imported from the United States. My dad also owned a second generation 2003 year model, infamously known as the “10-cheater.” Today, my dad drives a third generation model from 2008 with over 260,000 kilometers on the odometer. My family even considered purchasing the previous fifth generation in the early days of the pandemic.
That all just goes to show how important the nameplate is to me, with no bias. We also have to consider the fact that the CR-V was the model that created the compact crossover SUV segment.
Those are why I was very excited when Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) emailed me an invitation to join them on a two-day drive to the beautiful and underrated province of Bataan, and the popular Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales, with the all-new Honda CR-V. With plenty of highways, twisty roads, and in-town roads, we were able to fully experience what the new generation CR-V has up its sleeves.
Design Impressions
From the moment this new generation Honda CR-V was revealed, I already liked it. Honda has given it a sleeker and more elegant design on the outside, with a bolder front fascia and more aggressive bumper. The rear also looks way better than before with the L-shaped taillights which are reminiscent of Volvo vehicles as has always been the case with the CR-V. They also give slight hints of BMW now.
The interior has also been vastly improved. While I do find it a bit sad that it looks very similar to the interior of the Honda Civic, Honda has done the CR-V in a way that you won’t feel it with even more premium materials, and a little bit of more rugged-looking touches here and there. I also have to say that the CR-V’s interior just really takes the crown of having one of the most ergonomic layouts in the whole industry with everything placed well and where you’d expect them to be.
All three variants of the CR-V were present during the drive—1.5 V Turbo, 1.5 VX AWD Turbo,and the range-topping 2.0 RS e:HEV. The first two are very similar with minor differences such as the front grille finish, rear bumper, and interior trim. The RS meanwhile gets sportier body-colored cladding, blacked-out wheels and exterior accents, and sportier looking finishes inside.
First Drive
I was assigned to take the wheel of Car No. 1, a white CR-V RS e:HEV, during the first segment of today’s drive which took us from Okada Manila, through the NAIA Expressway and Metro Manila Skyway, and through the North Luzon Expressway until the Total Gas Station in San Simon, Pampanga, a favorite stopover during these media drives. That means my drive was composed mostly of highways which is perfect given that I drive between 500 to 2,000 kilometers every week on highways, plus the route was also my usual.
The Honda CR-V e:HEV is powered by a 2.0-liter Inline 4-cylinder naturally-aspirated i-VTEC gasoline engine that is paired to an electric motor. Combined output is at 207 horsepower and 335 Nm of torque, mated to an E-CVT. Also good to note that this is a series-parallel hybrid system which combines the use of gasoline-only or electric motor-only options. It’s hard to explain but basically it allows for a more efficient drive.
Right off the bat, I was already impressed with how smooth the powertrain was. Since we got the hybrid, it was expected but everytime it would transition to the internal combustion engine, it was seamless. As with most electrified powertrains, torque is instant especially when on pure electric power. Power delivery is also excellent with no delays whatsoever. What makes it even better is the signature Honda sound which remains my favorite engine note from any car on the market.
In addition, the presence of Honda SENSING always made the drive a lot more relaxing. The adaptive cruise control on the CR-V, like with other Hondas, is surely among the best in the industry. The lane keeping assist system also does a very good job of helping you keep the vehicle in the center of the lane, even on curves.
Ride Comfort and Features
After a quick driver switch, it was my turn to enjoy the comfort and features that the CR-V RS e:HEV has to offer. For starters, I have to say that Honda has managed to balance-well the suspension of the CR-V with the right amount of firmness and smoothness. NVH insulation has also been greatly improved as I’ve always thought of the CR-V as being one of the loudest in its class. That is no longer the case.
The seats are also very supportive with large bolsters and plenty of adjustment, making it easier to find the right position for you. The leather material Honda uses also feels pretty good and premium unlike some materials used by other brands who claim to be using Nappa leather.
On the technology front, Honda has put in a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, paired with an oh-so good sounding Bose premium audio system on the RS.
Later on, as we entered the provincial highways of Bataan, the CR-V RS continued to shine. While the roads here are mostly newly paved, they’re not the best and yet the CR-V still gave us the comfort we expect from a crossover. You can also tell that my carmate assigned to driving duties at that time was having fun as the CR-V is able to manage everything well from the way it controls the body in tight corners, and how the powertrain responds to any input. Not only will you feel confident in driving it, you will also as a passenger.
Lower variant with no compromises
After a lunch stop and some photo opportunities at the Rancho Bernardo in Bagac, Bataan, it was time for us to switch to another car. This time we were assigned the mid-grade 1.5 VX Turbo AWD variant. It was once again my turn to drive and this was the time to have fun as we were to take on the popular twisties of Morong, Bataan before entering Subic Bay.
First things first, the 1.5 VX Turbo AWD variant can be set apart from the RS e:HEV with its black plastic body cladding and silver-painted alloy wheels. Obviously, the RS badges are no more. The interior is largely similar but with faux wood trim, without the red stitching, and with the inclusion of a third row seat here, making it a 7-seater SUV, something very important to Filipino car buyers.
Anyway, once we got on the road, I did not feel the lack of power and torque compared to the hybrid. It’s a given with this variant’s 1.5-liter L15 Inline-4 cylinder VTEC turbo that produces 190 horsepower and 240 Nm of torque, mated to an Earth Dreams CVT that sends power to all four wheels.
Pushing the car hard on the twisties did not feel bad at all. The engine was very responsive to inputs and never felt underpowered which some people say about this particular engine. At the same time, the paddle shifters responded well for when I needed to use them. The best part is taking the vehicle through the corners as it still remained very planted, giving me much confidence while driving. The fact that we have an AWD system also helped further to improve the overall experience. This to the dismay of my carmates who started judging my decisions while driving (hehe).
The rest of the drive went on with us enjoying the CR-V VX Turbo, capping off the day with a beautiful sunset and some drinks at the Kamana Sanctuary in Subic. The next day, we drove back to Metro Manila with smiles on our faces as we drove what is the best Honda.
By the way, if you’re curious on fuel economy, it would be difficult to say given that driving in a convoy tends to end up with more fuel used. Regardless, I was able to get the hybrid version to go as high as 25 km/l on the highway which is a great number. As for the turbo, we averaged around 9 km/l while driving spiritedly on the provincial roads.
The Best Honda
Honda Cars Philippines has already disclosed that they are on track to meet their sales targets for the all-new CR-V. That’s no surprise given what we’ve observed about the vehicle during this drive. Whichever variant you get, but more so on the 1.5 VX Turbo AWD and 2.0 RS e:HEV, you get what you pay for.
Many people seem to be apprehensive with the 2024 Honda CR-V’s price tag which starts at Php 2,100,000 for the entry-level 1.5 V Turbo CVT, followed by Php 2,280,000 for mid-grade 1.5 VX Turbo AWD CVT, and tops-out at Php 2,590,000 for the range-topping 2.0 RS e:HEV. Yes, that’s pricey, but let’s not forget that Honda’s target market has also changed, with the CR-V now targeting buyers who used to drive luxury crossovers like the Lexus RX, BMW X3, and Audi Q5, among others.
As one of my close friends always says, Honda has never done the CR-V wrong, and that is the case here. Everything just feels so right.
