CR-V gets hybrid option

by Alistair Kennedy  Due next month the next Honda CR-V will be offered with a hybrid for the first time. On sale from the start of Septemb...

by Alistair Kennedy 

Due next month the next Honda CR-V will be offered with a hybrid for the first time.

On sale from the start of September the new CR-V will join the Civic, Accord, HR-V and ZR-V in offering the option of a hybrid powertrain -- tagged e:HEV.

The seven variants available from launch will be VTi X, VTi X7, VTi L, VTi L7, VTi L AWD, VTi LX AWD and e:HEV RS. 

New CR-V will come with a larger body as well as safety and technology enhancements but with significant price increases.

e:HEV RS boasts an exclusive sporty design from front to back, including a body-coloured front and rear bumpers, black front grille with RS emblem and black leather appointed seat trim with red stitching. 

As before the new CR-V will come with the choice of five or seven seats and two- or all-wheel drive.

At 4694mm, it’s 59mm longer than the previous model with an increase of 40mm in wheelbase contributing to improved interior space.

The interior of the VTi- comes with premium fabric seats, powered driver seat and dual zone climate control.

VTi-L adds black leather-appointed seat trim, heated front seats, driver’s seat memory, powered front passenger seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shifter, auto dimming rear view mirror, dual-zone climate control and auto rain-sensing wipers.

The Honda Sensing safety system is standard across the new CR-V range and includes 11 airbags, forward collision warning, collision mitigation braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control, low speed follow, low speed braking control, traffic jam assist, traffic sign recognition, high-beam support, and front and rear parking sensors.

VTi-L and above add blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert with e:HEV RS also getting LED active cornering lights and adaptive driving beam.

Infotainment features include a 9.0-inch colour touchscreen, 7.0-inch driver display, eight-speaker audio, wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging pad and connection to the Honda Connect app.

VTi-L adds satellite navigation and a Smart KeyCard.

The Gen Six CR-V comes with the choice of six colours: Platinum White, Lunar Silver, Meteoroid Grey, Ignite Red, Crystal Black, and Canyon River Blue although the latter two are not available for all grades

Honda's Carolyn McMahon said Honda’s e:HEV hybrid powertrain had become increasingly popular across the Accord, Civic, Honda ZR-V and HR-V ranges.

Honda CR-V comes with Honda’s standard five-year unlimited kilometre warranty and five-year roadside assist.

Honda Centres are now taking customer deposits for CR-V orders, ahead of the September 1 on-sale date.

MODEL RANGE

CR-V VTi X 5-seat 2WD 1.5-litre turbo-petrol: $44,500

CR-V VTi L7 7-seat 2WD 1.5-litre turbo-petrol: $46,800

CR-V VTi L 5-seat 2WD 1.5-litre turbo-petrol: $48,800 

CR-V VTi L 5-seat AWD 1.5-litre turbo-petrol: $51,300

CR-V VTi L7 7-seat 2WD 1.5-litre turbo-petrol: $53,000

CR-V VTi LX 5-seat AWD 1.5-litre turbo-petrol: $57,000

CR-V e:HEV RS 5-seat 2WD 2.0-litre petrol/electric hybrid: $59,900

 

CHECKOUT: Honda HR-V: Back to the future

CHECKOUT: Honda Civic Hybrid: More dollars than sense