The romance of reliability

Meet the all-new Honda CR-V that sports a millennial design, and retains its convenience USP

The Honda CR-V is amongst the best-selling vehicles in the world. Backed by Honda's reputation for reliability and good residual value, it's been the one to beat in the highly-competitive crossover segment. But now, there is a new one in town. For 2017, it's been redesigned and re-engineered. and can be had in one of several variants with a price tag that starts at Dh89,900 and goes all the way up to Dh125,900 for the top-spec Touring model we drove. Here is what's nice and what may not suffice about the 5th generation crossover from Japan.

DESIGN & AESTHETICS
The Honda CR-V, over the years, has transformed from a basic high-riding econo-box in the 1990s and early 2000s to a more stylised form with curvier bits in recent times. But even the last generation didn't quite cut it. The front seemed too pointy and the rear reminded one of the hunchback of Notre Dame. Good news is that Honda has cleaned it all up for 2017. The new design language seen here, following the footsteps of the current Civic, is sportier, more sophisticated and successfully translates visual balance through its skin and silhouette. The sloping nose has been borrowed from its predecessor, but given a stronger jaw line, thanks to rectangular front fenders. It gets wing-shaped LED daytime running lights on all grades and very chic Accord/Civic-style LED headlamps on higher trims that make it very appealing.
From the sides, the subtly flared wheel arches and slight chrome treatment adds some panache too. Connecting the ride and road are 17-inch wheels on the DX and LX grades; and 18-inch alloys on the EX and Touring grades. Initially, these 18-inch rims looked Hot Wheels-inspired, but they've grown on me since. The longer wheelbase and short rear overhangs give it an athletic stance.
At the rear, the slight roundness of the surface has been made edgier thanks to angular tailgate panels, and slimmer and sharper LED tail lamps that up the premium look. Exhaust tips have doubled from one to two, accentuating the sportiness.
Once you enter the cabin, you get a feeling that, despite its compact design, it is surprisingly roomy. And the ambience is such that it hits the sweet spot between being functional and flamboyant, with the added benefit of quality fixtures. The leather-upholstered seats have 4-way power adjustment for the front passenger; the driver's seat has 8-way power adjustment and a 4-way power lumbar. The chunky steering wheel is likable too and it's adjustable for rake and reach. However, I'm not a big fan of the steering-mounted switchgear; they don't offer as much tactility as you'd expect. The clunky feel of the shift lever is in line with
CR-Vs of the past but is not my favourite piece of kit - though, operationally, it works fine.
As a front occupant, you can also enjoy the sliding central armrest, but the one on the door could use more padding, As for the rear cabin, the near 90-degree door opening allows ingress/egress and placing child seats rather easy. You'll find no dearth of legroom or headroom. and having an almost-flat transmission tunnel helps. Throughout the cabin, there are plenty of storage facilities - like large cup holders and bottle holders in the doors, non-slip trays and configurable central storage area.
Long gone are the analogue instrument gauges; they are now replaced by a colour TFT screen that also displays average fuel consumption, AWD torque split, turn-by-turn navigation and Driver Attention Monitor. The highlight, however, is the physical volume knob, which replaces the virtual slider. It sits on the newly-designed 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, which runs on an Android operating system on the EX and Touring. Lower grades get a 5-inch colour screen; it is kind of smudge-proof also - which is a big plus.
In terms of personalisation, you have a choice of nine exterior colours to choose from while interiors are limited to black or ivory.

POWERTRAIN & PERFORMANCE
Unlike most other markets, we don't get the turbocharged 1.5-litre engine from the Honda Civic; instead, we get the tried-and-tested 2.4-litre DOHC, direct injected i-VTEC engine which is mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). In this configuration, it produces 184 horsepower at 6,400rpm and 244Nm of torque at 3,900rpm. As an everyday vehicle, the CR-V will run perfectly. Power is adequate, but it can feel a little strained under full acceleration, when fully loaded.
It is mated to a CVT, and CVTs are 'geared' towards fuel economy and usually associated with engine drone, simply because they tend to hold on to preset high rpms during acceleration. But Honda has tried to negate that effect by giving it a gradual rise, mimicking a traditional automatic. And I must say they have been successful to some extent.
As per the spec sheet, the CR-V can achieve 15.5km/L for the DX and LX grades, and 14.7km/L for the EX and Touring grades. In our test duration, we managed 9 km/L, which is pretty good considering that it's a compact crossover and that I had my right foot planted firmly most of the time.
On the road, the CR-V feels surprisingly nimble and confident. The combination of the front MacPherson strut and rear multi-link suspension, with tuned low-friction dampers, and tubular front and solid rear stabiliser bars, do elevate its drivability for quicker turn-ins and flatter cornering than any of its predecessors. I'm sure the reconfigured all-wheel system has something to do with it too. Ride and cabin sound levels aren't intrusive in any way.

FEATURES & FUNCTIONALITY
The infotainment unit is compatible with Apple CarPlay and AndroidAuto platforms, giving customers seamless integration of key smartphone features including Google Maps and voice controlled search. You get a 4-speaker audio system on lower trims, while the rest get 8 speakers; nothing to write home about. They combine nicely with Bluetooth streaming and a couple of charging USB ports to give you a convenient musical arrangement.
As a family person, you'll be glad to know that the CR-V received an NCAP 5-star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Other active-safety features that help this Honda earn its stars are VSA, TCS, ABS, EBD, Agile Handling Assist, Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS), Brake Over Ride System and Hill Start Assist (HSA). Rear Parking Sensors are present in the LX, EX and Touring grades.
The CR-V offers class-leading cargo space - in excess of 500 litres, with an almost 10-inch extension in trunk depth from its predecessor. It also helps that there is a low lift over the rear bumper and that the floor remains flat even when the easy fold 60:40 split rear seats are down. The floor tray can be dropped a couple of inches in order to accommodate taller items. And the tailgate, besides being height-adjustable, can also be foot-activated from under the bumper. Besides the base DX, all other grades get smart entry and remote engine start - a must for the summers - and dual-zone climate controls.

VERDICT
It matters less what you call it (the Comfortable Runabout Vehicle or the Compact Recreational Vehicle); the all-new CR-V checks all the right boxes in terms of space, features and, of course, resale and reliability. It has finally come of age in terms of design and turned from a boring family mover to a fancy one. It still isn't meant for the sands, but it makes up for it with competent on-road dynamics. Yes, some of that CVT drone remains: the shift lever is clunky, the infotainment isn't perfect and pretty much everyone in your circle may own one. But it's one of the better-wheeled investments you can make in the current scenario.
FUN FACT
The CR-V is assembled in as many as 10 or more countries.

SPECIFICATIONS
Body type: 5-seater; 5-door compact crossover SUV
Engine: Front-engine; 2.5-litre inline 4-cylinder; all-wheel drive
Transmission: CVT (automatic)
Peak output: 184bhp @ 6,400rpm; 244Nm @ 3,900rpm
0 to 100km/h: sub-10.0 seconds (estimated)
Top speed: 200 km/h (drag limited; estimated)
Price: Starting at Dh89,900
Good: Distinct new looks; reliability and resale; overall space and practicality; improved infotainment and dynamics
Bad: Finicky shift lever; tad underpowered when fully loaded
Author's rating: 8/10
wknd@khaleejtimes.com

• On The Road