New Honda CR-V.Evolution, not the Honda CR-V revolution

We do not know prices yet, but we have already had the opportunity to check how a Japanese new one works on the roads.Specifically - German, because journalistic tests were organized in Bavaria.

The CR-V model debuted in 1995.First in Japan, and a year later in the USA.He met with a good reception.In 2001.CR-V II appeared, and in 2006-CR-V III.The changes introduced at that time were to emphasize the larger versatility of the car, so that both those who used to ride in worn jeans and people traveling in elegant suits feel good in it..This purpose was served by M.in.Removing the spare wheel from the trunk door, thanks to which CR-V has become similar to classic passenger cars.

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Produced since 2000.In Great Britain, SUV has sold in 160 countries of the world so far in 5 million copies, winning 142 various types of awards.Honda boasts that 97 percent in Iceland.The first generation CR-V is still used (I wonder what this indicator looks like in Poland, but it is probably not worse).So - success.

Will the latest incarnation of the Japanese hit make him continue?There is a great chance for this, because CR-V designers knowing that better is the most dangerous enemy of a good, instead of a risky revolution, they focused on safe evolution.Of course, they made changes, in accordance with the requirements of the regulations, the expectations of the market and the spirit of the times, but thinking about acquiring new customers, at the same time they made sure that in the "four" the fans of "one", "two" and "three" would also feel familiar in "two" fans.Particular hopes for widening the circle of buyers are associated with the introduction of a variety with one front -wheel drive, which will probably be clearly cheaper than the 4WD version.Honda expects the CR-V share in the SUV segment in Europe will increase due to 40 percent.up to 78 percent.

What is the new CR-V?With an identical wheelbase (2630 mm) slightly shorter (now measures 4570 mm) and lower (1650 mm, less 30 mm) than its predecessor.It looks more dynamically.At the front, the air intake with three horizontal slats, as if entering the headlights.A heavily outlined wheel arches are striking on the side, at the back - the lamp overlapping to the roof.

By lowering the roof line, more streamlined styling and changes in the chassis structure (covers under the engine and floor), the car aerodynamics were improved, reducing by 6.5 percent.frontal air resistance factor.

It looks very decently subdued (for Japanese canons of aesthetics), spacious (the dimensions of the cabin in different directions are slightly larger than in CR-V III) the interior of the car.Good quality materials, a board lined where you need soft, pleasant to the touch materials, impeccable finish, accurate fit of individual elements.Covered with leather (in some versions combined with Alcantara) the front seats are soft, but also in distant routes should not cause back pain.Importantly, for the lack of space - on the legs and heads - certainly will not complain about passengers sitting in the back, even those with substantial dimensions.

You also need to praise, as for contemporary standards, visibility from inside the car.Ergonomics is also flawless, there is also no, as it happens in other vehicles, dozens of hard to embrace buttons and knobs.

The multifunctional steering wheel is well in the hands, the gear lever is conveniently operated on.Increased in comparison with CR-V III, the scope of the steering wheel and the chair will allow everyone to take the appropriate position behind the wheel.The comfort of driving a car is additionally improved by a large, sliding compartment in the middle console, covering storage space with space for drinks and sockets to connect electrical devices (12 V) and e.g..music players.

Nowa honda CR-V. Ewolucja a nie rewolucja Honda CR-V

The central place in front of the driver's eyes is taken by a huge speedometer.On its sides there are tachometer discs, a coolant temperature indicator and fuel level in the tank.Information is also provided by two screens: smaller (on -board computer) and, optional, larger (factory navigation; at important moments of its indications, they also appear on a smaller display).

The new CR-V has a huge trunk with a lowered floor.589 liters is 65 more than in the current version of the model.According to the manufacturer, after folding the seat and shared in a ratio of 60:40 backrest of the rear seat (we admit, it is child's play), a flat surface with a capacity of 1669 liters is to be created, allowing to transport objects up to 1570 mm long.Here, however, we could discuss, which means the term "flat".In our opinion, it is impossible to speak of a perfectly equal plane in this case.

The buyer of the new CR-V will have only two engines to choose from.The same as in the previous model, however, as the manufacturer claims, modified with M.in.on reducing carbon dioxide emissions.It is an i-VTEC gasoline unit with a capacity of 1997 ccm, 155 hp and maximum torque of 192 Nm, achieved at 4300 revs./min and i-DTEC diesel with a capacity of 2199 ccm, 150 HP and a maximum moment of 350 Nm, obtained at 2000 rpm./min.Both engines can work with six -speed manual or five -speed automatic transmission.

Honda CR-V with all-wheel drive was received by the "Real Time AWD" system, electronically controlled, and thus ensuring a faster reaction to the loss of front wheels and a better distribution of the moment between the two axles.

As we mentioned, the novelty in the offer will be the "budget" CR-V variety with gasoline engine 2.0 IVTEC, driving the front axle.

According to current trends, the fourth generation of CR-V is to be more friendly to the natural environment, and therefore more economical in fuel consumption, which means at the same time lower emissions of sulfur dioxide.Better aerodynamics, engine modifications (M.in.reduced internal friction resistance), replacement of hydraulic power steering or START/STOP system, standard in vehicles with hand transmission.The nod in the direction of ecologists is also placing a green button with the inscription ECON.Pressing it changes to pressing the accelerator pedal and introduces air conditioning into a mode minimizing fuel consumption.

According to the announcement of the diesel manufacturer with a "manual", it is expected to smoke in a mixed cycle 5.6 liters per 100 km (with automatic - a liter more), and a 4WD gasoline car - 7.4 l/100 km (hand gearbox; automatic - 7.5l/100 km).How does this relate to reality?Well, during our tests in Bavaria with quite quiet driving extra -urban diesel with a manual transmission used an average of 7.4 l/100 km, and gasoline with a machine - about 10 l/100 km (according to the on -board computer).We leave these results without comment...

The new CR-V smokes more than the factory promises, fortunately it runs very pleasantly and confidently, also on sharp turns (stiffer than in the previous version of the body structure; suspension: at the front of McPherson, rear multi-link).The interior of the cabin is very well muted.The driver at work is supported by modern systems to improve safety and comfort.

In the vicinity of Munich we drove a car with a diesel engine and a manual transmission and a gasoline with an automatic transmission.Both were equally well -applied, but the first one made a better impression.Thanks to the much larger torque, it is more dynamic at a much lower speed.A car powered by a gasoline unit not only clearly smokes, but also "collects" more slowly, which bothers especially when overtaking.Stress is smaller when we switch the drive to "sport" mode, but if we were to choose, we would bet on diesel.These differences in the performance can already be seen in the factory data: diesel 6mt - 9.7 s from zero to hundreds, maximum speed 190 km/h, gasoline 5AT respectively - 12.3 seconds and 182 km/hour.

To sum up.Produced, like its predecessors at the Swindon plants in Great Britain (apparently in this factory, many Poles work and its boss is our compatriot) new Honda CR -V is a correct car, let's add - at a very high level of correctness.However, he lacks at least one distinguishing feature, a styling game or technical innovation (such as, for example, an originally opened door in Ford B-Max, we tested recently on the same routes), which could be won marketing and encouraged it with customers, so far shuning from JapaneseSUVs.On the other hand, this conservation combined with the universality of the vehicle strongly emphasized by the manufacturer ("Aimbuoyance efficiency, minivan functionality, safety and SUV certainty"-we read in Honda materials) can be a source of successes where CR-V JE now nowrefers.

A total of 12,857 CR-V of the third generation model has been sold in Poland so far.