Honda adds PHEV option to CR-V range
Honda's CR-V is a solidly built car with a big road presence.
The CR-V is Honda’s largest premium SUV. This compact crossover SUV, manufactured by the Japanese carmaker since 2016 and now in its sixth generation, has added a plug-in hybrid to the range, giving customers a choice of a self-charging e:HEV full hybrid or a PHEV variant. There’s no diesel.
This vehicle measures 4,706mm in length, 2,152mm in width, 1,673mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2,700mm. It’s also a solidly built car with a big road presence.
Exterior features include a sporty grille design, roof rails, body colour trim black gloss detailing, chrome surrounds to side windows, privacy glass, big wheel arches and gorgeous 18-inch black alloys.
CR-V is now offered with just five seats, which means more space for its occupants. This is a high car which makes getting in and out a doddle for tall people.
The cabin is a vast improvement over the previous model and is a really nice place to spend time with a high feel-good factor. The wide dash emphasises the car's width. There’s simply huge head and leg space. Interior features include a lovely honeycomb silver trim, sports pedals and dark-coloured roof lining — but the panoramic sunroof allows lots of extra light into the cabin. That comes as standard as do leather seats which were comfy and supportive all the way up my back. Every seat can now be heated. Front seats can be ventilated and have power adjustments; the driver’s adds lumbar support control and two memory seat settings. The steering wheel can also be heated.
There are knobs for temperature controls, A/C etc, a 12v power socket, two small USBs and a wireless charging pad that fits two mobile phones.
Both versions get a new 10.2-inch digital driver’s display, a 9-inch Honda Connect infotainment system that links you to your favourite apps via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and also features its own navigation system. I found it easy to navigate my way around. A Head-Up Display projects your current speed directly onto the windscreen.
Main storage areas were a lockable glovebox, excellent door bins up front (smaller ones behind), and nine litres of space below the front armrest.
Three adults can sit in the back in comfort with good head and leg room and the very low tunnel won’t interfere with the person in the middle seat. These seats can recline and slide if more leg space is required so they can relax on long trips. Perhaps even snooze. There are two small USB ports here.
Boot capacity is a decent 617 litres with rear seats in use, expandable to a huge 1,710 litres when they are folded down. Loading and unloading items is greatly helped by the wide boot aperture, the high boot floor and power tailgate. You can set the height you want the tailgate to reach.
This PHEV version is the carmaker’s first such powertrain. While the full hybrid has four-wheel drive in its two grades of Elegance and Advance, the PHEV is front-wheel drive only (2WD) and available just in an Advance Tech grade. Both are powered by the same 2.0 194hp petrol engine matched to a CVT automatic gearbox and have the same torque of 335Nm and 0-100km/h time of 9.4 secs.
The PHEV has 17.7kWh battery and has an electric-only driving range of up to 80kms, making it ideal for short commutes. The car switches itself automatically to hybrid mode and the petrol engine when the EV battery is low on longer journeys. The car has a driving range of 950km on a full tank.
Drive modes are Sport, Normal, Econ and Snow which automatically changes the car’s set-up for better performance, traction and efficiency required for the road conditions. My car showed an average fuel return of 6.1 L/100kms, which is very good for a car this size and weight. Annual road tax is €140.
The PHEV also includes a Tow Mode, if you need to pull a trailer of up to 1,500kg.
Honda’s Sensing suite of safety and driver assist technologies, standard on all grades, includes Collision Mitigation Braking System, Cross Traffic Monitor, Adaptive Cruise Control. Honda Sensing 360 shows you to 360 degrees around the car and covers blind spots around the vehicle. Cornering lights provide better visibility in the late evenings when turning into a bend or my driveway.
Honda’s Parking Pilot assist systems help when you are reversing into tight spaces. When you indicate to turn left, the system shows the whole rear view from that side on the central screen, hugely helpful if a cyclist or an electric scooter rider is coming up on that side behind you.
On the road, the CR-V proved to be a quiet, smooth and responsive drive with plenty of acceleration when needed. The steering was on the heavy side which suited me perfectly and the forward design of the side windows helped with visibility when approaching roundabouts. All in all, a hugely enjoyable car to drive, though pricey.
PRICES: the PHEV is from €67,995; the HEV version from €69,995 to €74,995.
