2012 Honda CR-V Reviews

Remember that old saying: “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” Well, that was Honda’s approach when it released the new 4th generation CR-V in 2012. Honda was an early adopter of the SUV, it was very successful with the earlier generations of the CVR-V, and stuck to its tried and true game plan with the new RM

Honda was already on a winner with the CR-V, but the new RE model that arrived in 2007 was a clear and welcome improvement over earlier models.

Graham Smith reviews the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Honda CR-V as a used buy.

When the Honda CR-V was first sold in Australia in October 1997 it was a considered to be a genuine 4WD, albeit one intended only for mild conditions. That was almost 20 years ago and the SUV situation has changed markedly in the meantime. Today so-called small SUVs are really station wagons, are frequently driven by

Thailand’s devastating 2011 flood waters meant that no Honda CR-V models were available in Australia from October last year till July this year. Now things are really starting to pick up with the launch of an all-new, fourth-generation model.The entry-level CR-V VTi versions come with cruise control, a reversing camera, an AM/FM/CD audio system with MP3 and WMA compatibility and USB connectivity, Bluetooth mobile-phone connectivity, an intelligent multi-information display, halogen headlights with an automatic-off timer, roof rails and remote central locking.Move up to the VTi-S and you add goodies such as dual-zone climate-control, rain-sensing wipers, satellite navigation and foglights. The top-spec VTi-L goes even further with a sunroof, HID headlights with an active-cornering function, leather trim, power lumbar support for the driver, keyless entry, push-button start/stop and powered and heated front seats.The three 4WD versions – the VTi, the VTi-S and the VTi-L – are blessed with a bigger 2.4-litre powerplant – again a DOHC unit but its power-and-torque figures are higher at 140 kW at 7000 rpm and 222 Nm at 4400 rpm.The 2WD Honda CR-V VTi and VTi (with navigation) are powered by a 2.0-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine that’s good for up to 114 kW of maximum power at 6500 rpm and 190 Nm of peak torque that arrives at 4300 rpm.Honda measures the CR-V’s combined fuel consumption figure at 7.8 litres/100km for the manual version and 7.7 litres for the automatic. While on the national media-launch drive program we recorded 8.8 litres in the automatic, so there’s little doubt most drivers will be able to achieve Honda’s figure.Honda’s official combined fuel consumption figure for the 4WD automatic is 8.7 litres, some enthusiastic punting on the launch drive saw this rise to 10.8 litres/100km. Again, owners driving under normal conditions should have little trouble meeting Honda’s figure.To assist drivers achieve economical motoring, the CR-V comes with what Honda calls Econ mode and Eco Assist systems. Press a button and the Econ mode alters the drive-by-wire throttle’s mapping for increased torque and better economy. Transmission for all three 4WD versions is a five-speed automatic with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.Despite being shorter, lower and lighter than its predecessor, the gen-four CR-V is more spacious. Its body is 20 mm shorter, height is down by 30 mm and the windscreen has been moved forward by 60 mm, the latter a design tweak that has helped cut aerodynamic drag by eight per cent.The new CR-V is built on the same platform as its predecessor but Honda engineers have improved front and rear suspension design and tuning and increased the car’s overall structural rigidity. While the six-speed manual VTi 2WD has a lever-type hand brake, all other models have one of those horrible foot-operated parking brakes.Honda engineers have done a lot of work on limiting how much engine and road noise is transmitted into the cabin. Sound insulation material is now fitted to the under-cabin floor pan and additional sound absorption material has been fitted to the rear door, rear wheel arches, door frames, fire wall and bonnet. As well, the wagon’s doors now have a double seal.For the CR-V’s occupants, there five drinkholders, front-and-rear door pockets and there is plenty of space for their luggage. With the rear 60/40 split-fold seats occupied, there is 556 litres of cargo space but drop the seat backs to an almost-flat position with a clever lever and this rises to a pretty impressive 1648 litres.In the safety department, the new CR-V has a five-star ANCAP safety rating and a full suite of electronic safety gismos including ABS brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, stability and traction control and front, side and full-length curtain airbags with rollover sensors. Adding to the car’s safety are front seats incorporating a whiplash-mitigation system designed to limit neck injuries in the event of a rear-ender.Gear changes in the 4WD models are pretty slick and the paddles add to the driving pleasure. One of the key results is that during spirited cornering, the new model turns in more precisely and sits noticeably flatter than previously. While the seats are comfortable enough, they are a bit limited in their thigh bolstering and especially with the top-spec VTi-L’s leather trim, there could be a tad more leg support during hard cornering. For the driver, all-round visibility is excellent and the cockpit has been designed very much with the driver in mind.

Soft-roader was once a term of derision, applied to vehicles for breeders wanting to look like explorers. Then came mass acceptance. SUVs are now the family rule, no apologies required.Along with the Toyota RAV4, Honda's CR-V is the model most credited with creating the species. Now the new CR-V is here. Some 5.5 million CR-Vs have sold since 1995, more than 133,000 of those through Australian showrooms. This is the first generation with a version that drives two wheels only, something increasingly in keeping with entry level soft roaders.The base-model front-driver is available in two versions VTi and VTi Navigation. The all-wheel drive model line-up coming with an uprated version of the enduring 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. The first diesel CR-V comes next year.The new CR-V kicks off at the sharp end of the pricing scale. The front-wheel drive VTi with six-speed manual and 2.0-litre engine is priced from $27,490, the five-speed auto from $29,790. Standard fare across the range includes alloys and a full-size spare, electrically-retractable mirrors, insulated glass, keyless entry, Bluetooth phone link and audio streaming for the four speaker sound system.The VTi fitted with navigation is an auto-only proposition and slips over the hump to $31,790. With all four wheels driven, the VTi auto starts from $32,790. Trainspotters can pick it by the silver roof rails, with the features list also containing variable intermittent wipers, paddleshifters, a mirror-tilt in reverse gear, an alarm.The VTi-S auto is priced from $36,290. For the extra you add automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, fog lights, auto-dimming centre rearvision mirror, rear parking sensors, sat-nav and six speakers. If you must have the flagship, the VTi -L starts from $42,290. That gets you leather trim, auto-levelling HID headlights, active cornering lights, 18in alloy wheels, chrome exterior mirror covers, power-adjustable and heated front seats, front sensors, sunroof, keyless entry and ignition.Small but clever engines have been a Honda hallmark and the CR-V. The smaller engine produces 114kW and 190Nm. The 2.4 delivers 140kW/222Nm. Fuel consumption has dropped from 10l/100km for the auto down to 8.7 l/100km. The engines both run on 91RON and both benefit from the long-serving VTEC valve system, which adjusts the lift and opening time of the valves, as well as the presence of a variable timing control system to control the inlet cam.The new “Econ” alters the throttle mapping for better fuel economy, as well as telling the cruise and climate control systems to lean towards lower energy use. So-called Motion- Adaptive Electric Power Steering (EPS) teams with the stability control system to assist the driver's steering input.The overall look is more aggressive, with more curves in the bodywork and a decent stance on the road. The engineers have endowed it with a flat underbody and paid attention to the wheel arches to help reduce the drag. The wheelbase is unchanged but overall length has been reduced by 20mm; the height has been sliced by 30mm Honda says there has been no change to passenger space. Loadspace is up, however. With rear seats up, its grown a suitcase to 556 litres, or 1648 litres when the back seat is folded.Sound deadening material is on the floorpan below the passenger compartment, as well as in the rear doors, rear wheel arches, door frames, front bulkhead and bonnet; the doors also now have a double seal.Already the recipient of five stars from ANCAP, the new CR-V has stability and traction control, dual front, front-side and full-length curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution. Reversing camera is standard range-wide; optional on the VTi are rear parking sensors but fitted standard on the top two AWD models (as is an auto-dimming centre rear vision mirror), with the flagship VTi-L getting front parking sensors as well.First impressions of the new CR-V are a sharper look and a roomy interior. Despite a smaller footprint, the updated SUV (which sits on the old car's platform) has enough space to sit behind my own driving position, although the lowered rear bench does put the knees a little higher than ideal.Cargo space is ample - aided by one-touch fold-down seats - and it has a full size spare across the range. The console and instrument layout is easier to decipher and use, as well as being informative - two centrestack screens display trip and infotainment info, as well as the satnav display, while a third screen in the instrument binnacle adds to the information on hand for the driver.The first model driven was the flagship Luxury auto, powered by the updated 2.4-litre engine. The interior is let down a little by some hard plastics and overly-firm leather seats, but the cabin is quiet and the ride quality is good. The powerplant is willing but needs revs on board, something the driver can dictate using paddleshifters. Claimed fuel consumption has dropped into the 8s but the launch drive had numbers between 10 and 12L/100km.Press-ahead driving is not this car's forte but up to a point it is comfortable in corners, without excessive bodyroll, but dynamically the CX-5 remains unassailed as the segment leader for on-road dynamics. The electric power steering feels over-assisted and doesn't give much feedback to the driver about what's going on under the nose - it's not as much of an issue in an SUV as it is in a sportscar, but back-to-back drives in the old car displayed the differences in steering, as well as improved ride quality and insulation.Missing? Some of the active safety features that are in the car in other global markets, but also there's no stop-start fuel saver on offer here, something that is also in the CR-V elsewhere, sacrificed (says Honda Australia) for the value-for-money equation, contradicting some of the fuel-saving "green" credos mentioned in the same presentation.Another disappointing discovery was roof-mounted child seat anchor points - as well as the strap for the centre lap-sash seatbelt in the rear seat. A full boot of luggage behind a cargo barrier is not tether-strap friendly in this setup. The switch to the two-litre automatic front-wheel drive model was far less of a step down than the numbers would suggest - given the AWD's lack of off-road intent, the front-driver has plenty about which to like.Tipping the scales at almost 100kg lighter, the smaller engine sings a nicer tune, without being overly intrusive. The lower outputs make climbing hills a little more leisurely but the entry-level automatic should be far from the last choice of the new range.Honda is aiming to sell 1000 a month, rising to 1200 or more when the diesel arrives next year. Ignore the manual pricepoint car and the VTi front-drive auto is $29,790, which is right in the ballpark of its opposition. Comfortable, practical, flexible and useful, the CR-V will continue to find favour in Australia, but getting back to the top of the SUV heap isn't happening with this model generation.