2007 Honda CR-V: First Look

By Motoring Channel Staff - 1/Sep/2006

London, England — In anticipation of its Paris Motor Show debut later this month, Honda has taken the wraps off its 2007 model CR-V. The attractive new model replaces Honda's current CR-V compact AWD, whose body shape was first seen in 2002, giving the popular vehicle a new lease on life thanks to this sophisticated new style. 

On top of the dynamic new look, Honda's new CR-V also brings an impressive number of advanced features to the table, which will force its competitors, such as the Toyota RAV4 and Nissan X-Trail, to lift their game.

Honda has revealed that buyers of the new CR-V, which is due to go on sale in early 2007 in Europe, will be able to option two features which have so far been the sole domain of luxury cars: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS).

The first, ACC, is a radar-controlled cruise control function which maintains a set distance to the vehicle in front without driver intervention, while the second, CMBS, predicts collisions and warns the driver, before applying strong braking and retracting the front seatbelts if the situation becomes critical explains Honda.

The Japanese car maker announced that passive safety measures are up to luxury car levels as well, including dual stage SRS front airbags, side airbags for front seat passengers, full length curtain airbags, front and rear seatbelt reminders and active front headrests, all of which are fitted as standard features.

Honda anticipates that it's modern-looking compact SUV will attain a class-leading Euro NCAP 5-star rating for occupant protection due to its enhanced active and passive safety systems, with 4-stars for child protection and a 3-star pedestrian rating.

And if that's not enough to whet your compact AWD appetite, the new CR-V also includes Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) as standard, which together with Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) ensures that towing safety is continuously monitored and corrected. Though unlikely to makes it way to Australia during the first shipments in 2007, the towing capacity on the diesel-engined CR-V is increased from 1500kg to a very competitive 2000kg none the less.

Other advanced features for the new luxury-laden CR-V include Active Front Lighting (AFS). This system makes the headlights turn to illuminate the road in the direction the vehicle is heading and uses High-intensity discharge (HID) lamps.

The exterior styling on the CR-V is all new, and it gives Honda's baby 4WD a much sportier appearance on the road. With a coupe-like tapering side window profile and a lower stance, the CR-V's attitude has changed completely compared to the outgoing model.

If you look at the front end, it too has been given a more sporty style, with a distinctive dual layer grille as the focal point, which is flanked by projector-style headlights and a large bumper section. Honda says that it all makes for a muscular front end, and you'll find no arguments here, which is emphasised by the car's wider track and tasteful 17- or 18-inch wheels.

Honda's innovative new CR-V is 30mm wider than its forebear and has a lower centre of gravity, reduced by 35mm. These changes to the to steering and suspension geometry have all helped to enhance the CR-V's handling characteristics claims Honda, and that steering response is faster and feels more direct, while directional stability is also improved thanks to the larger wheels and chassis upgrades.

At the rear, a vertically-opening tailgate is the dominant design feature, and the spare wheel has been removed from the rear door, and replaced under the load compartment floor. The vertical brake light strips that straddle the large rear tailgate retain some of the old model's style, and with all the changes to the car's sheet metal, aerodynamic efficiency has been improved by 12 per cent, which also benefits fuel economy.

The all-new CR-V will first go on sale in the UK in January 2007, and as is evidenced from the changes to the chassis, the new compact AWD is now more suited to the road, with a reduced emphasis on getting off-road.

As Honda explains, the on-road capabilities of the CR-V are much-improved, and though it says the vehicle's off-road skills have been tweaked as well, the lowered height and larger 17- and 18-inch wheels indicate where the vehicles forte lies.

Making use of the same 'Real Time 4WD' system that powered the previous CR-V models - albeit with minor revisions - the vehicle is essentially front-wheel driven like a Toyota Camry until it's electronic sensors detect front wheel slip, and then torque is sent to the rear wheels to compensate. The revisions to the Real Time 4WD system can transfer 20 per cent more torque to the rear when compared to the existing unit explains Honda, and it also points out that this 4WD set-up helps maintain stability on the road during rain or snow, and allows light off-road driving.

With all the CR-V's advanced features, such as the adaptive adaptive cruise control and headlight, the collision mitigation braking system and the trailer stability assist program, one would be forgiven for thinking that not much else could be advanced with the model, but Honda has also seen to it that the interior of the vehicle has improved.

With the increase in body width, there's slightly more interior room for occupants, and according to Honda load space has been extended backwards to take up the space left by the former tailgate-mounted spare wheel. It adds that the interior is of a higher quality than before, featuring metallic elements on the dash and doors that contrast with soft textured black trim. The front seats are larger and more comfortable and the steering column is adjustable for reach as well as rake and access to the vehicle has been improved by larger doors that open wider, and with lower sills.

Depending on model/grade, all the best premium equipment is available. This includes an 8-way adjustable power seat for the driver, leather upholstery, 19-inch alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors and the quintessential SUV tool: a rear view camera. Range-topping models also come with a panoramic glass roof that can be closed off by two electric blinds, while all models get multi-split rear seats, which is fast becoming a Honda trademark.

While the base of the rear bench seats split in the traditional 60:40 ratio, the seat backs can be lowered in a 40:20:40 ratio, allowing for a range of configurations to suit different sized cargo. The rear seats can also be slid forward and reclined to better suit rear seat passengers. Honda mentions that it also incorporated a ‘Double Deck’ luggage area, created by a shelf that sits at a height of 330mm above the load floor, which means luggage can be subdivided, with that on the lower level more easily accessible, and when not in use the shelf can stored in a recess in the floor.

Current Australian specification CR-Vs are powered by a 2.4-litre VTEC engine, and it is unknown whether this will still be the case when the vehicle arrives in Australia later in 2007. For the European launch at the Paris Motor Show however, a pair of 4-cylinder engines will be offered - a 2.0-litre petrol or a 2.2 diesel.

Honda says the petrol engine is an all-new unit based on the 1.8-litre SOHC i-VTEC from the Civic range, and generates 110kW (150hp) @ 6200rpm and 190Nm @ 4200rpm. With the 6-speed manual gearbox that ships as standard, it takes the vehicle 10.2 seconds to reach 100km/h from standstill.

The 2.2-litre i-CTDi diesel engine makes 103 kilowatts (140hp) and both engines can be specified with the 6-speed manual or the 5-speed automatic transmissions.

Honda's next generation CR-V compact AWD will make it's international debut at the Paris Motor Show, which begins on the September 28.