Honda CR-V 7 seats will be launched to Vietnamese customers in mid-November

The new generation crossover has three rows of seats, imported from Thailand, uses a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine and is expected to have three versions.

The Japanese car company said that the new generation CR-V will be launched to Vietnamese customers on November 13 and will start accepting orders. In this version, Honda will switch from assembling to importing from Thailand, with a tax rate of 0% from 2018. However, the price of the CR-V has not been disclosed yet.

The new CR-V has three rows of seats. With the size of a C-size crossover, the car's seat structure will be 5 + 2. This layout gives the car more options when carrying two more children or folding it flat for storage space. It is not a true 7-seater, so adults who want to sit in the third row will not be as comfortable as children.

Honda CR-V 7 seats on sale from November 13 in Vietnam.

The CR-V is expected to have 3 versions, equipped with a 1.5-liter turbo VTEC engine, similar to the engine used for the Civic, also imported from Thailand. The car has a capacity of 188 horsepower at 5,600 rpm. On the Civic, this engine only has 177 horsepower.

Besides the two changes in engine and number of seats, CR-V is also notable for its adjusted design. The headlights, grille, front bumper are all refined, but especially the rear of the car. The controversial humpback tail of the previous generation is gone, replaced by neat, elegant lines and new taillights.

The new CR-V is also upgraded with an anti-drowsiness warning system, panoramic sunroof, automatic brake hold, electric trunk, and active steering system.

The new version of CR-V is awaited by Vietnamese customers because it has a third row of seats and is imported from Thailand, enjoying 0% import tax from 2018, bringing hope of a price reduction compared to the current assembled version.

Previously, to "clear the way" for the new version, in early September, Honda made a shocking discount for the CR-V and sold it to even Head Motorcycles. This move helped the company sell more than 1,000 CR-Vs in about a week, bringing the total sales for September to more than 1,300 vehicles. In previous months, sales were around 300 vehicles.

The biggest competitor of CR-V in Vietnam is Mazda CX-5. Truong Hai's model has higher sales thanks to its smooth, eye-catching design, many features and continuously decreasing price. CR-V is highly appreciated for its sporty appearance, dynamic performance and spacious interior, however, the price is significantly higher than its competitors.

In Thailand, the new Honda CR-V costs $40,400-$49,000.

According to VNE