2017 Honda CR-V Reviews

There was a time when Honda was considered by some (and itself) to be the Japanese version of BMW. Sporty, prestige cars that were distinctive and high-end. How things changed.Frankly, Honda lost its mojo somewhere around the turn of the century, and while there have been glimpses of that former aspirational brand, many of Honda’s products in the meantime have been cannon-fodder stuff. And into that mix, you could probably toss the CR-V.It’s not that the CR-V was a bad car, just that it lacked the old sparkle. The fifth generation of the CR-V SUV failed to change that perception or Honda’s unenviable sales trajectory.A shift to Thailand production didn’t help, either, and somehow the CR-V has struggled along. Which is not to say it isn’t worth a look as a used-car buy, because in terms of ride quality, cabin fit and finish and interior space relative to its exterior dimensions it’s still a Honda. In other areas, not so much…Dubbed internally the 'RW' series CR-V, this car was available in Australia in a bewildering range of models and driveline layouts. That started with the entry-level VTi which was a five-seater, front-wheel drive variant. The range then moved up to the better equipped VTi-S, still with five seats, but a choice of front- or all-wheel drive. The range-topper was the VTi-LX which was a five-seater and AWD only and then, just to confuse us, Honda also dropped the VTi-L into showrooms with its FWD platform but seven seats.Which ever variant you bought you got the same powertrain; a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine driving through a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). Unless, of course, you bought the most affordable model which Honda quietly slipped into showrooms in 2019. Called the Vi, this was a stripped-out version designed to get a car on to the market at under $30,000, As a result, the turbo engine was dropped in favour of a gutless, low-tech SOHC 2.0-litre, four-cylinder with but 113kW. Add the same CVT auto and you had a recipe for humdrum.

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

The fifth generation CR-V lines up against a wide array of contenders in an incredibly competitive space that includes category leaders like Mazda's CX-5, and new players like the Peugeot 5008.

The fifth-generation CR-V continues the Honda renaissance; yet another excellently appointed, practical and good-value vehicle from a Japanese brand that has taken its boring clothes off, at last.

The Honda CR-V VTi-LX sits at the very top of the range, and it's also the most expensive. But in a world in which you get what you pay for, it's also the one that makes the most sense.

The Honda CR-V's popularity may have been usurped by younger competitors from many corners, but it's an old, experienced hand in this segment, and its latest iteration shows it's still got talent.

Honda's CR-V is one of the original compact SUVs when it appeared in Australia in 1997, but has recently fallen out of favour. All that could change with the arrival of the fifth generation model.

The $38,990 VTi-L is the grade below the top of the range VTi-LX in the CR-V range.

The VTi-LX is the king of the CR-V range and lists for $44,290.