We received a Honda CR-V for the editorial test, which she has already appeared with us a few times. A new 16 -liter diesel engine was once again beating under its hood, which replaced the older 2.2-liter engine.
Appearance
I have already presented the basic idea of the appearance of the CR-V here, so let's summarize it briefly: the fourth generation differs from the previous one in its lower ground clearance , but higher overall height. The shape of the side glazing is also new, especially in its rear part. The rear part is also relatively flat without bulges and has a fairly small rear window. After the facelift, Honda got new front lights, grille and bumper. And in my opinion, the facelift was very successful, the car has become younger and looks better.
Interior
A cozy interior and excellent seats with good support, plus all controls at hand, this is the basis of excellent ergonomics. There is also a multifunctional steering wheel , very pleasant to look at and touch, round with a rim of the right thickness. Behind it are alarm clocks with clear graphics and a hand attached to a movable bezel. There is plenty of storage space here. For example, in the door, in addition to the large pocket and the small box in the handle, another box was added under the armrest, which is quite hidden from the eyes of intruders when viewed from the outside. The rear doors again open practically vertically, that is, if you have enough space around the car, so access there is exemplary.
The huge trunk eliminated the shortcomings of the previous model. Thank God, another "floor" is missing here, which practically never stayed in the raised form and constantly fell on your hands. The boot floor is wider and it's much easier to fold the rear seatbacks – with just one pull of the lever on each side of the boot. In addition, the cost margin is also lower. The backrests do not fold completely flat, but they do not create an unpleasant step, they are only slightly tilted. There is no longer a camping table under the boot floor that the first two generations had. The question is whether anyone misses it at all.
Drive
Under the hood resides the new 1.6 i-DTEC engine, a diesel four-cylinder with two turbochargers , a larger and a smaller one, which is supposed to eliminate the later onset of power and torque. The six-cylinder does not seem as lively as the previous 2.2, but it is a good engine. It is very quiet and also much more ecological and economical . Still, the CR-V isn't perfect with it. While the second generation was heavy and understeer, the third was wonderfully manoeuvrable. The current generation still behaves well, but somehow you enjoy driving less. It is more withdrawn and less sensitive , especially around the middle position. It's a shame, because there are more good, if somewhat boring, transporters from point A to B on the market. To deviate from the average, Honda has previously offered above-average driving experiences. A strong point is practicality, a view from the car, large mirrors and rich interior equipment, especially the top Executive equipment. Blind spot warning, traffic sign recognition and great fuel economy will still be among the reasons to buy the CR-V.
Conclusion
I have to say that after three tests, the new CR-V won me over. It's still a good, competitive car that outperforms many competitors in its class. But it can be expected that the next generation will arrive soon and I hope that Honda will once again demonstrate its perfection and precision and bring back to us the great driving experiences that the last generation offered. Compromises are not what would attract customers to showrooms.
Compare the parameters of the Honda C-RV with the competition
