Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

66 | AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE

H

onda’S CR-V, the world’s
top-selling SUV, lost its way
for a while but is now back in
serious contention with the fi fth
generation since 1997. Priced
from $28,290 for the Vi front-
drive auto, the latest version
has expanded its repertoire
with seven-seat availability
as part of a range that also
includes all-wheel drive but no
more diesel option.
Beneath the contemporary
styling is Honda’s latest ‘Earth
Dreams’ architecture — a
sophisticated low-centre-of-gravity
platform plus a four-cylinder
turbo petrol engine, multi-link
rear suspension and a clever fuel-
saving all-wheel-drive system that
cuts in and out only when required.
This CRV is pleasingly
spacious, easy to drive,
comfortable, quiet, powerful,
economical and agile. So it
shares many of the attributes of
its better competitors.
Let’s take the packaging.
This is a true fi ve-seater with
heaps of space up front in all
directions. Cushy yet supportive
seats perched up high, superb

all-round vision, a nicely fi nished

dash featuring a huge central

touchscreen that’s simple to

operate, clear instrumentation,

ample ventilation and almost

endless storage all prove that

Honda has studied SUV buyers’

requirements intensively.

That’s confi rmed in the back.

Rear legroom is exceptional, the

split backrests recline and there

are face-level air vents, while

two USB ports should sustain

attention-diverting electronics

for hours.

The two back seats in the

VTi-E and VTi-L are tight and

suitable for young kids only,

which is usual in this class. If

you want seven full-size seats,

you need a Mazda CX9.

A long, fl at luggage area is

accessed on all but the base

variant by an electrically operated

tailgate. A full-sized alloy spare is

fi tted to all variants.

The 1.5-litre four-cylinder

turbopetrol powering all models

(bar the base Vi, which has

a 2.0-litre petrol) provides a

respectable dose of acceleration

for quick and seamless

getaways, assisted by a smooth

and unexpectedly responsive

CVT continuously variable

transmission. It’s also pretty

frugal, at least according to the

offi cial fi gures.

Handling is responsive and

predicatable thanks to quick

steering and very assured

roadholding. Honda’s engineers

seem to have dialled in just the

right amount of steering effort

and feedback.

And though there is an

underlying fi rmness to the ride,

with nothing like the cushiness of

the outstanding Forester, there’s

still suffi cient suppleness to ably

deal with most road irregularities.

Quietness is another virtue.

The 1.5-litre VTi front-

wheel drive, priced from

$30,690, includes a 7.0-inch

touchscreen, reverse camera,

automatic air, keyless entry and

start with walkaway locking,

Apple CarPlay/Android Auto

connectivity and alloys.

VTi-S, from $33,290, adds

a power tailgate, navigation,

parking sensors and passenger-

side blind-spot monitoring — but

not driver’s side. The all-wheel-

drive VTi-S is $35,490.

Seven seaters start with

the VTI-E front wheel drive at

$34,490. VTi-L, with leather and

a sunroof is $38,990.

Honda’s full safety kit,

including autonomous

emergency braking, is only

available on VTi-S AWD and the

top spec VTi-LX AWD, priced

from $44,290, which is poor form

and gives the CRV markedly

inferior safety specifi cation to

Mazda’s CX5, Subaru’s Forester,

Toyota RAV4 and the VW Tiguan.

The fi fth-generation CR-V is

a roomy, practical, sophisticated

SUV. It’s secure and capable as

a drive, but if safety is a priority,

the Mazda, Subaru and VW are

better choices, with the Subaru

the clear class leader overall.

By Byron Mathioudakis

HONDA CRV FROM $28,690

THINGS WE LIKE

 Strong, refi ned 1.5-litre turbo

 Sporty handling

 Spacious cargo area

 Powered tailgate

 Easy and logical control layout

 Long warranty

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

Way off the pace with safety features

In fi ve-seater models the middle-

centre seatbelt is mounted on the

roof

Back seats in seven seaters are

suitable only for young kids

SPEX (VTi-S)

Made in Thailand

1.5-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol/

seven-speed automatic/front-

wheel drive

140kW of power at

5600rpm/240Nm of torque from

2000-5000rpm

0-100km in 9.9 seconds (claimed)

6.2L/100km highway; 9.2L/100km

city; 91 octane; CO² emissions are

166g/km. Fuel tank is 57 litres

Warranty: Five years/unlimited

kilometres

Max towing weight: 1000kg

Six airbags, stability control,

parking sensors, navigation,

camera, Lane Watch offside

camera, power tailgate, automatic

air, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto,

Bluetooth, auto on/off lights, walk-

away auto locking, AUX/USB port,

tyre-pressure monitoring, 18-inch

alloy wheels, full-size spare

Redbook future values: 3yr: 54%;

5yr: 43%

compare with ...

Mitsubishi Outlander, Mazda CX-5,

Nissan X-Trail, Subaru Forester,

Toyota RAV4, Volkswagen Tiguan

Safety

ANCAP

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money



Overall

STARS

S