Sixth-gen Honda CR-V priced for Oz

HONDA has announced further details of its sixth-generation CR-V this week, the Medium SUV due to launch in Australia soon priced from $44,500 drive-away.

Offering what Honda says is a more spacious, better performing and handling vehicle with improved connectivity and safety technologies, the CR-V (or Comfort Runabout Vehicle) will be offered with petrol and petrol-electric hybrid drivelines, mimicking those found in the latest generation Civic.

Longer and wider than before, the Honda CR-V will now sit above the HR-V and ZR-V in Honda Australia’s SUV portfolio, bringing more choice than ever to local buyers. The seven-variant range is available in five- and seven-seat formats, all boasting more premium finishes, improved ergonomics, and a more intuitive human-machine interface.

The main technology highlights of the CR-V cabin include a 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment array with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto connectivity, front and rear illuminated USB outlets, improved wireless phone charging with faster charge times.

A greater array of standard safety inclusions see the CR-V fitted with Honda’s latest range of Sensing driver-assistance technologies, including a new front camera and radar system and updated Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure.

Honda Sensing functions now include a collision mitigation braking system (essentially AEB with vehicle, pedestrian and moving bicycle detection), a road departure mitigation system, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, lane keep assist, traffic jam assist, auto high beam, front and rear low-speed braking, traffic speed sign recognition, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, rear and multi-view camera, driver attention monitor, blind spot monitor, rear seat reminder, and adaptive headlights (e:HEV RS only).

A total of 11 airbags are standard across the range.

Like the Civic and HR-V before it, the front of the cabin has been re-engineered to allow improved outward forward and lateral vision, the range of visibility between the A-pillars increased by 4.4 degrees.

With its larger body, the new CR-V provides greater cargo space than before (+67-litres), as well as second row sliding seats (fore-aft 190mm) and increased rear-seat legroom (+15mm). In five-seat format, the CR-V offers 589-litres of luggage area, rising to 1072-litres in two-seat mode. In seven-seat mode the CR-V offers 150-litres of cargo space, unchanged from the current model.

All grades receive a handsfree tailgate.

Styled to complement the HR-V and ZR-V, the CR-V now measures 4704mm in length (+69mm), 1866mm in width (+11mm) and 1655mm in height. The wheelbase grows 40mm to 2700mm, while the front and rear track is broadened by 10mm.

The CR-V is said to feature “sportier proportions” when viewed against the outgoing model and features a new frontal mask with more upright grille, thinner LED headlights, and low-set air intakes (with active shutters) on each side of the lower bumper cover.

Depending on variant, three alloy wheel diameters are available: 17-inch on VTi-X in Sparkle Silver, 18-inch in Sparkle Silver or Berlina Black on VTi-X, and 19-inch in Berlina Black on VTi-LX or e:HEV RS (hybrid).

Wheel choices are complemented by a range of largely carried over paint hues, including Ignite Red, Platinum White, Lunar Silver, Meteoroid Grey, Crystal Black, and Canyon River Blue (new).

Inside, an “intuitive and intelligent” technology bundle includes 7.0- or 10.2-inch instrumentation screens, the aforementioned 9.0-inch infotainment array, and Bose branded audio on high-grade variants. Satellite navigation is offered and is backed by a five-year over-the-air update program.

Keyless entry and push-button start is standard across the range, as are several connected services funtions.

Under the bonnet, the CR-V is offered with the choice of a direct injection and turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol unit offering 140kW/240Nm coupled with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive, or a direct injection 2.0-litre petrol unit with two-motor electric hybrid arrangement providing 152kW/335Nm also utilising a CVT and driving all four wheels via Honda’s Intelligent Control System.

Three drive modes (Normal, Sport and Econ) are available, as is hill descent control. All variants ride on a strut (front) / multi-link (rear) suspension arrangement and are halted by four-wheel disc brakes. Steering is all electric and tuned to provide what Honda says is “excellent feedback and improved straight-line stability”.

Additional measures to reduce the CR-V’s noise, vibration and harshness attributes focus on wind, mechanical and road noise, with petrol models receiving an acoustic windscreen for a quieter cabin.

The all-new Honda CR-V is expected in local dealerships shortly.

2024 Honda CR-V pricing*:

*National drive-away price.