Honda CR-V offers 7 seats, 9 gears and diesel engine

The all-new CR-V will be a go-for-broke model for Honda Philippines.
The new SUV, one of the original car-based crossovers, intends not just to dominate its traditional market segment, but also disrupt the dominant pickup-based SUV market, with a diesel option and seating for seven.

Here are some of the features we can expect from the all-new CR-V, to be launched on Aug. 8:

1. Diesel engine

Hyundai and Mazda may have been first in the segment with this configuration, but there are high expectations for the Honda diesel engine, dubbed i-DTEC.

The 1.6-liter turbodiesel produces 120 ps and 300 Nm of torque, the latter much more than in any previous CR-V.

Fuel efficiency is expected to easily be in the double digits (km/liter) even in city driving.

The other engine option is expected to be the 2.0-liter gasoline inline-four, with i-VTEC but no turbo. It’s good for 154 ps and 189 Nm.

2. Seven seats

Honda attempts to capture a wider market with seven seats, in three rows.

Early attempts by the CR-V to be a seven seater (indeed, a “ten-cheater” some years ago) have been half-baked, but this one looks like the best effort so far, making use of the new CR-V’s bigger interior dimensions.

The third row should be comprised now of proper seats with seatbelts, and its own aircon vents. Still, the rear seat may still be best suited to kids and short rides. Only the diesel variants will have a standard third row.

3. Nine-speed automatic transmission

Attempting to make the best use of the diesel engine’s torque is a nine-speed automatic. The gasoline engine gets a CVT.

The gasoline variant will be front-wheel drive, while the diesel variants will be equipped with part-time four-wheel drive, Honda’s automatically-activated Real Time system.

4. Newfangled shifter

Or rather, no shifter. A logical next step after the CR-V’s previous attempts to do away with the traditional shifter and handbrake lever, the new shift system uses buttons on the instrument panel instead.

If a bit of fantasizing helps, it’s similar to the system in the new Legend luxury sedan and NSX supercar.

5. Virtual instrument panel

Also missing from the CR-V are gauges as we know them. Instead, there’s a digital display behind the steering wheel, as seen in high-end cars like Audi and Tesla.

Honda reckons that the new digital instrument cluster will be highly legible and informative, while minimizing driver distraction.

An available 7-inch touchscreen will control secondary functions like audio and airconditioning.

Apple CarPlay is expected to be standard in the higher variants of the CR-V.

6. Automatic tailgate

Powered tailgates are even more useful when linked with a hands-free function.

The Honda CR-V can be activated even with both hands full and with the key inside your pocket.

7. Design

The silhouette is more evolutionary, but the all-new CR-V’s details allow it to be distinctive from the outgoing model.

The CR-V gets some of the sleek and sporty look first seen in the new Civic.

Beady LED headlamps flank a large chromed grille. The rear gets high-mounted taillights similar to the ones in the new Jazz.

If you thought the Montero Sport’s rear looks mecha-like, you should check out the CR-V’s: It’s a fresh, more stylish take on the CR-V.

Six colors will be available at launch, with a dark olive green being the stand-out color.

8. Suspension

One of the strongest selling points of the CR-V had been its ride comfort and fuss-free driving.

Being related to the all-new Civic, the CR-V has car-like road manners on its plus side. This means better body control, a much more compliant ride, and more responsive handling than its pickup-based rivals.

The CR-V will ride on MacPherson struts up front and independent multi-link rear with steel stabilizers.

Expect disc brakes on all four wheels.

Base models will get 17-inch wheels, with the all-wheel drive models going 18 inches.

9. Space

The final frontier for some SUV buyers is the amount of stuff they can carry. The Honda CR-V obliges with its expanded interior space. The third and second row of seats can be folded flat to maximize cargo area.

10. Safety

The Honda CR-V will have as available the full suite of electronic safety features, including vehicle stability assist, collision mitigation with auto braking, road departure mitigation, driver alertness monitor, lane keeping system, adaptive cruise control, hill start assist, ABS brakes, side and side curtain airbags.

11. Modulo aero add-on options

If you think the looks need a bit of jazzing up, the new CR-V offers Modulo aerokit additions.