A recent survey by a global consumer think tank placed Honda as one of the top five most reliable brands in the world. And among all the models under the Japanese marque’s wing, the CRV was hailed as one of the most practical on a global level.
There is no surprise there though as the CRV is one of the most popular Honda’s not only on Malaysian roads, but around the world as well.
The Honda CRV has been locally assembled since 2003 and close to 130,000 units have found a home. And with the launch of the sixth-generation model just around the corner, we think more homes will be welcoming the CRV.
We recently drove the new model prior to its highly anticipated local launch and can say that owners of the current model will not recognize the new CRV except for the badge. Nothing except its practicality has been carried over to the new model.
There are two models that will be on offer – a 1.5 Turbo and a 2.0 Hybrid. We recently published our review on the Hybrid model where we preferred the hybrid over the Turbo since it had lesser moving parts and thus offered a smoother and more refined ride quality.
While the Hybrid model was a front-wheel-drive model with no gearbox in between (power is sent directly to the motors which in turn drive the front wheels), the 1.5 Turbo offers a conventional powertrain and is an all-wheel-drive unit (AWD).
Being an AWD, there is a drive shaft underneath the car which sends power to the rear wheels. And while technology has progressed immensely and has reduced the noise and vibrations from the said shaft, you can still feel it when compared to the Hybrid CRV. But that is only if you drive both cars back-to-back, like we did.
That is not exactly a deal breaker because the Turbo variant is every bit as loveable as the hybrid since both cars share just about the same features.
Just as a refresher, the one thing that truly stands out about the new CRV is its sheer size. It has grown by leaps and bounds and that is putting it lightly. For reference, the new CRV is 10mm wider, 80mm longer with a 40mm longer wheelbase as compared to the model it replaces. It may be difficult to imagine how big it is by words alone, but it is most apparent when you see it in the metal.
The increase in dimensions results in more legroom at the front and the back seats and a bigger boot.
The design too is all-new and is similar to the new Honda Accord as far as the front fascia is concerned. But the new Accord is not going to be offered in the local market, so for Malaysians, it is a fresh new design.
Between the Hybrid and Turbo models, there is not much to distinguish one over another from the outside, except for badging. Both cars run on 18-inch wheels and the same overall design but have a special function called Noise Resonators that absorb noise and vibrations, read about that here.
All hybrid Hondas have a blue hue around the outside of the badge while non-hybrid models have the regular H badge which we are all familiar with.
The Hybrid model also gets an Active Shutter Grille that is placed behind the front bumper. This opens at certain speeds to keep the engine cool, and shuts again to aid aerodynamics, making the CRV more aero-efficient as it cuts through the air. The Turbo model does not have this.
Besides the all-new fascia, the most obvious design update is the elongated bonnet. The longer and lower bonnet is achieved by placing the a-pillar further backwards and raising it dramatically rather than gradually as before.
Towards the rear of the car, the vertically placed taillights are still there, just as they were from the first generation CRV but just slightly redesigned this time to emphasize the width of the car. This has become a topic of conversation for some netizens who argue that it was inspired by Volvo. But since it always has been there, perhaps it is Volvo that was inspired by Honda? It is a chicken and egg situation that is up for debate.
Current Honda Civic owners will recognize the interior of the new CRV. In fact, just as we mentioned in our review of the Hybrid variant, the new dashboard looks like an elongated version of the Civic’s with the exact same air-condition vents, triple dials and even the same steering wheel and gear knob.
Quality is up a couple of notches, and the overall ambiance feels like you’re sitting in something very expensive. The seats too have been updated and are more comfortable than the previous model with thicker bolstering, good support at the back and around the sides.
The real difference between the two cars though is what lays underneath the bonnet. Malaysians are already familiar with both powertrains with the 2.0 e:HEV (Hybrid) first making an appearance in the current generation Civic, and the 1.5-Turbo making its debut a few years ago in the fifth-generation CRV. Both are tried and tested powertrains that have stood well against the test of time.
Not much has changed for the powertrain, it is still the same robust 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged engine producing 190PS and 240Nm of torque. This model does have a regular CVT gearbox though and you can hear it working with the usual whine that is common of such transmissions.
At 1,749kg, the AWD model sits in between what can be considered light or heavy; it is neither here nor there. But you can feel (and hear) the powertrain working overtime to put down power and this is where the drive difference between the Hybrid and Turbo model lays.
The Hybrid delivers power effortlessly and does not complain when you nudge the accelerator. The Turbo variant has almost no-lag and reacts the moment you tickle the pedal, but it takes time to get up to speed. However, that is to be expected considering there is a torque difference of about 100Nm.
Besides that, the two cars are about the same. Even the overall features are the same, but the Hybrid variant gets multiple drive modes while the Turbo model makes do with an Economy mode that is meant to make it more efficient by reducing power consumption and desensitizing the accelerator pedal to avoid fuel wastage.
We generally preferred the Hybrid over the Turbo variant because of the difference in refinement and the way power is delivered. But besides that, the Turbo is also significantly cheaper than the Hybrid though that is just speculation for now since the price of the hybrid has not been revealed. So if you don’t mind a little bit of noise from the CVT transmission, the Turbo variant is also great. But if you like a great sound system, you may be happy to know that the Hybrid will be the first Honda in Malaysia to come with a 12-speaker Bose sound system.
The CRV has always been about space, comfort, safety, and technology, and whether you prefer the Turbo or the Hybrid, you still get all of those practical features, and with its bigger size, the new CRV is going to be the best one yet.
Specifications
Engine: 1.5-litre, turbocharged, 4-cylinder
Transmission: CVT
Power: 190PS @ 6000rpm
Torque: 240Nm @ 1700rpm
Suspension: Independent MacPherson (Front) Independent Multi-link (Rear)
We like: Fresh new design, spaciousness.
We don’t like: CVT transmissions can be noisy.
