Honda CR-V adding front-wheel drive

The new-look CR-V will go on sale here during the last quarter, sporting front or all-wheel drive but no diesel.

The oil-burner destined for the European and UK markets - under the bonnet of the UK-built version - is absent from the Thai-sourced vehicle of similar look that will come to Australia.

The overhauled Honda SUV has been updated with a more aggressive look, including a 30mm cut to overall height and a front grille flared out to the front headlights, front LED running lights, LED tail lights and more than a bit of Volvo SUV when looking from the rear.

Engineers have also given the new CR-V a flat underfloor section and wheel-arches that have been made-over for better air flow, as have the front bumper and rear lip spoiler, all of which has given the CR-V a 6.5 per cent improvement in wind resistance.

Hip points are lower and there's also been more sound insulation and double-seals added to the doors for better sound insulation - the boffins are claiming a 3dB reduction in cabin noise. The powerplant in Europe is a two-litre i-VTEC engine but if that heads for Australia outputs would be reduced on the current car.

The European-spec machine will get an "Econ" mode (which tailors throttle and climate control for better fuel economy) and driving behaviour is rated by white-to-green colour changes in the "Eco Assist" display. European buyers ticking the box for a manual transmission will also have access to the stop-start fuel-saving system.

Honda is the latest SUV manufacturer to join a growing list of SUV makers putting front-drivers into their model mix - the company says two-wheel drive SUV models now account for 51 per cent of the petrol-engined compact-SUVs sold in Europe last year and the balance is similar in Australia.

The UK-built CR-V going to European buyers will also get as standard a hill-start assist system and automatic models will also benefit from the debut of hill descent control in the new model, which controls a descent at speeds up to 8km/h.

Boot capacity is 589 litres (up from 556 litres) and when the seats are folded flat there's 1648 litres of space (up by 148 litres, says Honda). Euro-spec cars get an automated electric tailgate and keyless entry and ignition, but other markets look like having to do the rear tailgate manually.

Honda has sold more than five million CR-Vs in 160 countries since the model was introduced in 1995 - Honda Australia's Lindsay Smalley says the fourth generation of the important SUV model would be launched toward the end of the year.

"The all-new CR-V will be launched in Australia in the last quarter of 2012 with two petrol variants; a four-wheel drive and two-wheel drive, the CR-V is a very important model for Honda Australia and we are excited about its launch."

"Our CR-V will share some of the styling characteristics of the European model and will be manufactured at our plant in Thailand ... full specifications and pricing will be released closer to its Australian launch date," he says.