Now on its third
generation, we come to see how the new CRV lives up to its past heritage.
·
Design &
Engineering:
Clearly. Not love at first
sight. Indeed, though the CRV may appear to be more avantgarde, and ever so
slightly appealing, to many—including myself, I find that the new CRV feels and
looks ever so odd. From the front, a
new face finds itself on the CRV, now standard with bi-xenon headlamps and fog
lamps. Though not exciting, the new face gives the SUV a fresh look, as if
undergone reincarnation. Now with SUV’s, the modern trend seems to be: give
your vehicle a funky and hip look. Unfortunately, Honda seems to have taken
such a statement to literally, thus resulting in the CRV portraying a bloated
person when viewed from the side. Yes, it looks higher. Yes it looks bigger.
But really, in short, the large lift in the CRV’s rear end makes only one word
ever so suitable for it—odd. From the
rear, the CRV has a rather squashed look, such as in the new Audi A6. Despite
having a functional handle to operate the boot, the CRV only manages to grow
away from me, as if being some malignant tumor.
·
Interior
To make up for the quirky
exterior, the interior is where things are quickly made up for. Compared to the
2nd generation CRV, the new CRV sports an entirely new and revised
interior, one clearly much more appealing to the eye. A new steering
multifunction steering wheel allows one to maneuver between ‘tasks’, and makes
driving a pleasure as well. In addition, one also notices the CRV’s take to the
21st Century, with the incorporation of a Start/Stop button, as well
as an Econ button, which supposedly makes the CRV more frugal. While the trim
feels rather plasticky, an intuitive, but unfortunately dated-looking 5-inch
Multi-Information Display noodles itself into the center console, directing
one’s eyes and senses away from the cabin trim. As a supporter of Mother
Nature, Honda has also decided to install an extra colour screen above the
Multi-Information Display, which shows the fuel usage, the time, etc. At the
rear, space is properly comfortable, with extra goodies such as a rear air
conditioning system. On the whole then, the CRV feels well built, and rather
solid, managing to satisfy its customers.
·
Ride & Handlings
Available in both 2.0 and
2.4-liter variants, the latter produces 190 BHP, shooting up towards the
century mark in an average 10.0 seconds—considering the vehicle’s size. Despite
using a four-cylinder engine, surprisingly, the expected din and clatter is
almost non-existent, with smooth changing gears along with no hesitance from
the engine when revved hard. Being a Japanese vehicle, the SUV’s weight is kept
under 1.5 tonnes, thus enforcing the frugalness and ethics of a Japanese
vehicle. In short, though the new CRV may not evoke one’s passion for extreme
sports, it will satisfy you while cruising around town.
·
Verdict
Rather well priced
Japanese SUV, going head to head against the Toyota Rav 4 and the Subaru
Forester. Apart from odd exterior looks, the practical yet comfortable interior
along with the vehicle’s sense of environmental consciousness simply hits the
spot.
o
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