Through the years, Honda’s popular crossover has grown by leaps and bounds from the first model that was sold in the country in the early 90s. With its increasing dimensions and the newest technology that came with each new model, each iteration became a strong contender in the segment and was always an aspirational vehicle to have. Will the sixth-generation CR-V be as strong or stronger than the previous iterations?
“There is no denying that this model is a global icon, and we take pride in it being among pioneer SUVs,” said HCPI President Ms. Rie Miyake appreciating the media partners’ active participation in the event.
From our take-off point in Okada Hotel in Paranaque, we hit the concrete, starting with Skyway 3 and NLEX, before taking on the country roads and mountain passes of Bataan and Subic. For this part of the drive, our group had the 1.5 VX Turbo CVT AWD and found it to be adequately powered. The power-to-weight ratio was just right to keep the crossover nimble and spritely. Shifting was predictable, and steering was effortless. Despite its size, this particular variant was agile, and I dare say it performed a lot better than the previous diesel (ICE) variant. They’ve also brought back the more familiar lever shifter (as opposed to the buttons found in most trims of the previous generation) for this batch, and at least for us old-timers, the cockpit looks and feels more familiar. The CR-V was meant to be owner-driven. Aside from the typical Honda performance and handling, it also has features geared to optimize the driving experience. Proof of that is the physical buttons for changing driving modes, and the physical buttons on the head unit’s touch screen add more functions you can tweak without having to take your eyes off the road (once you’re familiar with the landscape).
The CR-V is also equipped with powered front seats: 8-way power memory for the driver and 4-way power for the passenger. Some of the other niceties found across all trims are wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the new Honda Smart Key (for the VX trim and up), a new digital instrument cluster, a 9-inch touch screen, and all leather seats for all trims. On the drive, we noticed that the sound insulation on this variant was a bit harsh and lacking, despite the Active Noise Control listed on the spec list. Road and engine noise were hardly muffled, but nothing too loud. It is the loudest and most noticeable for the front passenger, for some reason. The seating was very comfortable for the first and second rows. To accommodate more luggage, we had the third row folded down (which is how most Pinoys use the third row anyway), but as with other (oversized) compacts, third-row seating is best reserved for children or undersized adults. The only thing we found odd in the turbo variants was the placement of the additional air conditioning vents on the ceiling, as the airflow directly hits the heads of average-sized second-row occupants.
If we were impressed with the VX Turbo, my carmates and I were highly impressed with the top-of-the-line 2.0 RS e:HEV eCVT. Aside from the slight upgrade in the interior and the expected instantaneous power delivery, it was the smoothness of shifting—both in gears and from gasoline to electric and vice versa—that floored us. Smooth as butter, like a criminal undercover (yes, BTS), you could hardly tell that major things were happening under the hood if you didn’t know any better or weren’t watching the Power Flow Meter option on the head unit, which is, by the way, so trippy to watch. If you enjoy how Honda vehicles perform, the experience with the hybrid CR-V is like Honda driving dynamics on steroids. Unlike the ICE variants, the RS trim only has two-row seating to accommodate the battery that supports Honda’s first full hybrid system. These batteries are heavy, but the additional weight makes for a more planted ride because of the damping.
The RS variant also has better NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) levels due to better insulation and the presence of active noise control (ANC) that helps eliminate nose noise caused by both VCM cylinder deactivation and exhaust noise. The same system also has an amplifier to enhance the sporty notes.
The top trim 2.0 RS e:HEV eCVT also features the new Honda Smart Key entry, a new Heads-Up Display (HUD), a premium Bose Audio system equipped with 12 speakers, and a panoramic sunroof. Honda SENSING and Honda CONNECT are standard.
If you are in the market for a hybrid you plan to drive yourself, you should definitely, definitely include the CR-V in your shortlist.
The all-new CR-V is now available at all Honda Cars dealerships nationwide and is available in the following colors: Canyon River Blue (new color), Meteoroid Gray Metallic, Lunar Silver Metallic (for the Turbo variants), Ignite Red Metallic (exclusive to the e:HEV variant), and Platinum White Pearl (for an additional P 20,000).
The suggested retail prices of the all-new Honda CR-V are as follows:
2.0 RS e:HEV E-CVT – P 2,590,000
1.5 VX Turbo CVT AWD – P 2,280,000
1.5 V Turbo CVT – P 2,100,000