2024 Honda CR-V
| The Good: – Clean styling inside and out – Good cabin space – Efficiency and driving feel |
The Bad: – Tight third row – Pricier than rivals – Not particularly quick |
The Honda CR-V is one of the pioneers of the compact crossover segment, lighting the match on a trend that has now overwhelmingly dominated the automotive scene. Every other vehicle on the road is now a crossover, as sales of traditional passenger cars and body-on-frame SUVs dwindle. But even in the face of a tsunami of competitors, the CR-V has managed to hold its own and continues to thrive, with an all-new model taking over the torch for 2024.
Honda CR-V Exterior design
The latest CR-V is a more handsome car than its recent predecessors, finally giving up the busy styling that was prevalent over the past decade for a cleaner, boxier look. Base models get 17-inch alloys, while the top Touring version gets 18-inchers as well as roof rails. Our test car also came dressed up with tidbits from the accessories catalogue, such as the side steps and wind deflectors.
While still based on a Civic platform, it surprisingly shares a wheelbase with the previous-generation Civic rather than the slightly-longer current-gen Civic.
Interior
Another surprise is the interior, which is now offered in a 7-seater configuration to differentiate itself from its slightly-smaller new sibling, the ZR-V.
Once you skip over the optional side steps (the car is low enough to not need them), you are greeted with a clean dashboard style that’s become the latest Honda corporate look, with an almost full-width honeycomb grille that integrates the a/c vents. The fascia is decluttered by moving functions to the touchscreen, but important functions still have dials and buttons.
Soft touch materials are present in all the right places, while all lower panels are expectedly hard plastic. The Touring’s light leatherette upholstery contrasts nicely with the otherwise all-black interior, although a strip of faux wood trim is found only on the dashboard.
Legroom and Cargo
The front seats are moderately-bolstered, and Honda says the driving position and design have been improved to decrease driver fatigue on long trips. Rear legroom and headroom are as good as the outgoing model, and even taller passengers will be comfortable, with seatbacks that can both recline and fold down.
After sliding the second-row seats all the way forward, third row access is still tight, and it’s best to throw a couple of smaller kids back there rather than adults.
The boot volume becomes a 150-litre sliver with the third row in use. However, folding those seats down opens up a good-sized 840-litre cargo area, although the boot floor then has a step in it due to the folded last-row. And there’s tons of storage spaces, cubbies and cup-holders throughout the cabin.
Honda CR-V features and tech
Make no mistake, the CR-V is expensive for the segment it plays in. But even the base LX 2WD model comes loaded with decent features such as full LED lighting with auto high beam, power folding door mirrors, smart key with remote start, manual fabric seats, a good tri-zone auto a/c with rear and roof vents, 7-inch screen, a decent 8-speaker audio system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, several USB ports, 7-inch gauge-cluster screen and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.
Skipping all the way to our top model, the Touring adds a panoramic sunroof, power tailgate with hands-free close, power/memory leatherette seats, a very intuitive 9-inch touchscreen with navigation, wireless Apple Carplay, vestigial paddle shifters, wireless charger and a heads-up display.
Honda CR-V Safety
Standard safety features include a full set of airbags including knee airbags, electric parking brake, ESP, hill start assist, hill descent control, wide-view rear camera, driver attention monitor and the Honda Sensing suite of active-safety nannies such as adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking.
The top model just adds a 360-degree camera, front and rear parking sensors and Honda’s unique Lanewatch blindspot camera.
Honda CR-V Engine Specifications
Behind the CR-V’s upright new nose sits a standard turbocharged 1.5-litre 4-cylinder engine, good for 190 hp at 6000 rpm and 243 Nm of peak torque from 1700 rpm onwards. Paired with a CVT automatic, the base model gets front-wheel-drive, while the other three trim levels get all-wheel-drive.
The newfound turbo torque gives the CR-V enough oomph to not feel slow around town, but as our 0-100 kph summer-tested time of 8.9 seconds implies, it’s not a fast car when you want to get to highway speeds quickly. The CVT is efficient in what it does, and isn’t really bothersome as long as you’re not flooring the throttle for an extended period.
Fuel economy averaged at around 9 litres/100 km (11.1 km/litre) during our test, which is pretty economical, and the turbo engine runs fine on the cheapest petrol grade as well.
Suspension and Comfort
Riding on MacPherson Strut front and multi-link rear suspension, there is no real change in the way it handles, which is to say, the CR-V has always been a top-tier handler in this segment.
Body roll is present but it’s never excessively wobbly, while the 235/60 tyres wrapping the 18-inch wheels are very predictable at the limit, when the car just cleanly understeers.
The steering is mildly weighted, just light enough for the daily drive while offering just enough feedback to feel good on the turns. The disc brakes are adequate with linear brake-pedal feel.
The CR-V also rides quite comfortably as the tyre profile is quite chunky. Road and wind noise start to become noticeable as you reach highway speeds.
The Touring comes with all-wheel-drive, and while was never meant to be an off-road vehicle, the CR-V can make decent inroads into soft sand with some skill and care, although we wouldn’t recommend it for amateurs.
Ground clearance is respectable for a crossover at 208 mm, and it comes with hill-descent control for some reason, but the front bumper’s chin is quite long and low. It should still be quite a handy vehicle to cut across a gravel parking lot or for commuting on non-flooded rainy days.
Verdict
The latest CR-V doesn’t really raise the game in the compact crossover segment, and it doesn’t have it. It has always been a people pleaser, and Honda always does just enough to keep it up there as a segment leader.
The price has moved into a whole other realm though, but at least there are now a lot more standard tech features even in the base model to make up for it.
Photos by Marouf Hussain Chowdhury.
| Price Range: Dh 124,900-160,900 Current Model Introduced in: Body Styles: Engines: Transmissions: Setup: Suspension: |
Brakes: Front: discs Rear: discs Curb Weight: Length: Wheelbase: Top Speed: Test Acceleration 0-100 kph: Observed Test Fuel Economy: |
Comments
palioman
160 K AED for a CRV ?! You have to be kidding !
There are a ton of Chinese crossovers with a 1.5 Turbo engine and the ever common 7 speed DCT at 70 k onwards . Some quite good , some so so , but this car is very highly priced for what it is .
Former CRV and Accords owner here.
Angel
If you are talking about sub compact SUVs, they should be compared with HRV
Sunil
You are paying for the reliability over Chinese. Period. And yeah, the car prices here have gone over the roof and over Jabel Jais, but who is complaining? Every car dealer is unable to meet the supply, except maybe Puegot and Skoda.