Pricing and specifications for the fifth-generation 2017 Honda CR-V have been announced ahead of the car’s local arrival mid-July, boasting improvements in every area of the car. It’s been very well received in North America, where the CR-V is the highest selling car in its class. In fact, Honda claims the CR-V is the world’s best selling medium SUV for the last three years in a row.
Honda Australia is no doubt wanting to recreate that level of success in our market and as part of the sales push, every new CR-V boasts a new 1.5-litre turbocharged engine and CVT automatic transmission across the range as standard equipment. Also for the first time, the CR-V is also available with seven seats in a move to appeal to a wider range of buyers.
“Twenty years ago the first generation Honda CR-V redefined the segment by delivering space, efficiency and versatility in a compact package. One that Australian families had never seen before,” said Honda Australia Director, Mr. Stephen Collins.
“Our customers consistently tell us what a joy their CR-Vs are to live with and the fifth generation builds on this reputation with new levels of style, versatility, technology and value.”
Pricing across the 2017 Honda CR-V range hasn’t changed drastically, with a new starting price of $30,690 (plus on-road costs) only $900 higher than the previous entry-level automatic – the manual is no longer available. Move to the top-spec VTi-LX and you’ll pay $1,500 less than before, at $44,290 (plus on-road costs).
Combined with extra equipment on all grades, Honda says that the overall value equation of the CR-V has increased by up to $5,850. For the first time, the CR-V is available with seven seats with a single VTi-L variant priced at $38,990 (plus on-road costs), and is only available with front-wheel drive.
Inside the new CR-V, Honda has taken the simplistic design theme from the latest Civic and added more practicality and a higher-quality finish. It’s a much less complicated and more stylish design than the previous generation CR-V, and is aimed at enhancing ergonomic usability within the cabin.
Centrepiece of the interior is a seven-inch infotainment system with a rear-view camera and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. From the VTi-S and upwards, you also get in-built satellite navigation. Across all grades is an eight-speaker sound system with a DAB+ digital radio coming as part of the VTi-LX’s equipment list.
Honda appears to have listened to criticism regarding the car’s usability and has added a volume knob for the infotainment system and fan speed buttons on the dashboard, instead of behind menus in the screen.
Standard on all variants of the 2017 Honda CR-V is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 140kW of power and 240Nm of torque, matched to a CVT automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Fuel consumption ranges from a combined 7.0L/100km on the VTi 2WD to 7.3L/100km on the higher-spec VTi-S/VTi-L 2WD, and 7.4L/100km on the AWD VTi-S and VTi-LX models. Honda doesn’t list a 0-100km/h time, but overseas publications have managed it in under eight seconds.
The 2017 Honda CR-V range opens with the entry-level VTi 2WD ($30,690), and it is significantly better equipped than before. Aside from the 1.5-litre turbocharged engine, you also receive LED daytime running lights, front foglamps, dual-zone climate control, 17-inch alloy wheels, an electric parking brake, a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an eight-speaker sound system, a reversing camera, keyless entry and start, a full-size alloy spare wheel and a tyre pressure monitor.
Step up to the second-tier CR-V VTi-S (2WD: $33,290, AWD: $35,490) and you get satellite navigation, 18-inch alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors, Honda’s LaneWatch left-hand mirror camera and an electric tailgate.
The only seven-seat grade, the CR-V VTi-L (2WD: $38,990) then earns a panoramic sunroof, leather seating with heated front seats, eight-way driver/four-way passenger electric front seat adjustment and rain-sensing wipers.
For now, the top-spec CR-V is the VTi-LX (AWD: $44,290) and is unfortunately the only CR-V to earn the HondaSensing active safety technology package, comprising of collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control. It also earns LED headlights, LED front foglamps, tinted windows, a DAB+ digital radio and an auto-dimming rear view mirror.
Honda Australia is predicting big sales for the new CR-V ahead of its mid-July arrival in showrooms. Chasing Cars will be in attendance for the local launch of the 2017 Honda CR-V, so stay tuned for our first drive review and any news regarding the car over the coming months.
