In and Around Mag Aug19

UK Drive
HONDA CR-V HYBRID
What is it?
Honda’s CR-V SUV has become one of the best-selling SUVs
around the globe, as it’s reliable, practical and well-priced. The
latest CR-V has also upped the ante when it comes to style,
and has adopted a bolder, US-inspired look.
An increased wheelbase also results in a far more practical
cabin, which has a more premium feel, and there is the option
of a seven-seat version on the petrol-powered model.
What’s new?
Honda has done away with its diesel-powered cars, and instead
chosen to offer the CR-V with a 1.5-litre petrol engine – and
this, the Hybrid.
Honda aims for two-thirds of its sales by 2025 to be electrified
in some way, and this CR-V Hybrid is the only electrified new
Honda you can buy today, although the firm has produced
electrified models in the past.
The CR-V is, however, Honda’s first electrified SUV, and aims to
offer a good mix of efficiency and performance.
What’s under the bonnet?
It has a 2.0-litre VTEC petrol engine, which is paired to an
electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack to produce a
total output of 181bhp and 315Nm of torque.
There’s a choice of front- or four-wheel-drive, with both
featuring an e-CVT automatic transmission. However, the
gearbox prohibits maximum power delivery when accelerating
harshly, although it remains smooth. It can accelerate from
0-60mph in 9.0 seconds and offers a top speed of 112mph, but
it never feels as quick as those figures suggest.
The claimed 53.3mpg fuel economy figure also feels a touch
ambitious. Around town, it will easily match and exceed that,
but on motorways and at higher speeds for longer stints, fuel
economy drops below 40mpg, which is disappointing for a
model that claims to be so efficient.
What’s it like to drive?
The CR-V Hybrid firmly sits on
the comfort end of the spectrum,
rather than the sporty.
Supportive seats and a wellcomposed
suspension setup result
in a comfortable ride on long
distances, while even the large 19-
inch alloy wheels fitted to our test
car didn’t seem to upset the ride
too much.
It’s also refined at speed, with a
limited amount of road and wind
noise. In the corners there’s some roll, but that’s a worthy
payoff for a comfortable family SUV – providing buyers aren’t
expecting thrills.
How does it look?
The latest CR-V has adopted an evolutionary look to its styling.
The striking front nose and overuse of chrome undoubtedly
helps make it look more American, but it’s hard to deny that it’s
resulted in a bold-looking SUV.
The new car is also wider and more muscular than past CR-Vs
and it adopts a similar front end to the latest Civic as part of
Honda’s ‘family face’. The CR-V’s angular front end makes it
one of the most aerodynamically efficient cars in its class.
All models also benefit from a full suite of LED lights at the
front and rear, which certainly help to give the CR-V plenty of
presence.
What’s it like inside?
The CR-V’s interior quality is certainly a big improvement. There
are plenty of soft-touch materials, as well as a clean, clutterfree
layout, and wood trim. The absence of a transmission
tunnel also results in a hugely spacious centre console, while a
traditional gearstick is replaced by buttons.
The seven-inch touchscreen is infuriating to use, and though
loaded with features can be difficult to operate.
As for practicality, the CR-V excels, even in slightly more
impractical Hybrid guise. The standard 1.5-litre CR-V has the
option of seven seats, but with the room taken up by the
batteries, it’s not an option here. There’s 491 litres of load
space to play with, while the rear seats offer plenty of legroom
and headroom for adults. You also don’t have a transmission
tunnel eating into legroom.
What’s the spec like?
Go with the entry-level ‘S’ specification and you might feel
rather short-changed, with satellite navigation and parking
sensors both missing. However, our high-spec SR grade car
came with leather upholstery, keyless start and entry, heated
front seats and ambient interior lighting all included.
The Hybrid costs over £2,000 more compared to the standard
petrol model, which is quite a chunk of money to absorb –
particularly when the running costs aren’t exactly revolutionary.
Prices start from £30,130 for the Hybrid, with our test car
coming in at £34,470. This puts it in a similar ballpark to the
Toyota RAV4 – the only direct hybrid rival to the CR-V.
Verdict
The CR-V Hybrid’s punchy, relaxed and refined powertrain
makes it the pick of Honda SUV’s line-up, and it’s ideal for town
driving where the quietness and efficiency of a hybrid come
into their own.
As with Toyota, Honda should
be admired for pushing ahead
with its electrification aims and
abandoning diesel in its CR-V –
especially as the SUV sector is
still dominated by diesel-powered
models.
But is it a few years too early?
Perhaps. For long-distance
efficiency, diesels still make the
most sense, but for urban drivers
wanting a stylish and practical SUV,
the CR-V Hybrid could be ideal.
by James Baggot
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