What's new in the 7-seat Honda CR-V?

The 7-seat CR-V operates more dynamically and seamlessly thanks to its turbocharged engine and CVT transmission.

The new generation CR-V with 7 seats, turbocharged engine, new design is a car model expected in Vietnam because of its additional utilities but imported from Thailand, enjoying 0% import tax incentives in 2018. When appearing on November 13, Honda did not give the official selling price for all 3 versions but only the expected price of nearly 1.1 billion for the highest version.

This price is nearly 60 million cheaper than the previous 1.158 billion of CR-V 2.4, but 200 million more expensive than the price that has been reduced in recent months. The change brings different reactions from customers. Honda Vietnam hopes that the advantages in operation can overshadow the price that is currently the highest in the segment.

The car is better balanced than the old version when going through sharp corners.

After the launch ceremony, the new CR-V was arranged for a media test drive. Similar to the Civic a year ago, the company arranged two identical test tracks, for the old CR-V and the new CR-V, to clearly feel the difference. The three tests were acceleration, steering through corners and slowing down over speed bumps.

In the first lesson, acceleration. If you only drive the old CR-V to compare with competitors like the Mazda CX-5, the Honda model operates more dynamically and sportily with a 5-speed automatic transmission, 2.4 engine. But driving two old and new CR-Vs side by side, you can see the optimization of the new CVT transmission.

On the same road, the 5-seat CR-V can reach 90 km/h when pedaling hard, but when switching to the 7-seat version, the speed can reach 100 km/h. The delay in shifting gears on the old car is obvious, it hesitates under the accelerator. The new version is different, the CVT gearbox seamlessly moves from low to high speeds, the 7-seat CR-V slowly moves forward without any pause to gain momentum to change gears. Of course, those who like the feeling of shifting gears will feel something is missing when stepping on the accelerator of a 7-seat car.

The 1.5 turbo engine is superior to the previous 2.4. The capacity is similar to 188 horsepower but reaches the engine speed earlier (5,600 compared to 7,000 rpm). Torque 240 Nm at 2,000-5,000 rpm, while the old version is only 222 Nm at 4,400 rpm. The advantage of the turbocharger helps the car achieve high torque at low rpm, improving the ability to accelerate at the beginning.

At the end of the straight road, the driver had to brake hard to reduce the speed to 45 km/h, turn the wheel to the left to avoid a marker, then immediately jerk right very quickly to enter the big turn, continue to shake the wheel to the left to keep the car through the turn. At the speed range of 40-45 km/h in the turn, the old car's rear end showed signs of swinging, and steering control was also a bit more difficult. On the contrary, the new car's body was more solid, without fishtail or side jerks.

The most obvious feeling is when sitting in the second row, the body will lose control when being thrown to both sides continuously. The new generation solves this well, passengers will feel more stable and the car is straighter. With the terrain of continuous hilly turns, passengers with a history of motion sickness are more suitable for the new CR-V.

The new CR-V is more powerful thanks to a turbocharged engine.

To keep the car body balanced through the corner, the new CR-V needs the support of VSC electronic balance and AHA active steering support (Agile Handling Assist), a technology also equipped on the Civic. AHA will brake the inside wheel when the car turns, then when the steering wheel is returned, it will brake the outside wheel, to ensure the car enters the correct corner line that the driver wants. AHA works "silently", so the driver can hardly notice it like ESP.

After the curve, things are much simpler, let the car slowly drive back to the starting point, at a speed of about 30 km/h, over the high speed bump. The difference between the old and new versions is not obvious because of the slow speed, but the 7-seat CR-V proves to be sturdy, the shock absorbers are smooth enough and not too soft to lose the sportiness.

The short run is not enough to verify all the new features of the 7-seat crossover, but the CR-V is showing off its valuable changes. Not many car models in Vietnam have upgraded their interior and exterior design, engine, transmission, safety technology and amenities like the CR-V.

Honda expects the CR-V to sell better than its predecessor. In the 2018 race, an extra row of seats is an advantage over its rivals. In addition to its everyday utility, the CR-V has the same sporty DNA as the Civic, a factor that will appeal to young customers who love driving.

According to VNE