Read Caroline’s Honda CR-V review for everything you need to know about buying Honda’s flagship SUV in Ireland.
The CR-V has been a familiar sight on Irish roads for many years. Now Honda Ireland has introduced an all-new CR-V to the market – and it’s bigger and better than before!
That’s because Honda has been expanding its SUV line-up with the arrival of the new compact ZR-V. So the CR-V has gotten bigger and more luxurious to make space for it.
It goes on sale in Ireland priced from €67,995 for a plug-in hybrid or from €69,995 for a standard hybrid, which puts it in the territory of high-end SUVs like the Mazda CX-60 and the Volvo XC60.
Let’s take a closer look.
Design
The CR-V has quite dramatically evolved in design for this new generation model. The new version of Honda’s popular flagship SUV is wider and longer than the model it replaces, with a longer bonnet that gives it real presence. The upright grille and boxy design give the new CR-V more than a whiff of Americana. It certainly has more presence than the model it replaces and will look good next to other high-end SUVs.
What are the trim levels for the CR-V?
There is a choice of two trims for the hybrid – Elegance and Advance. There’s one trim for the plug-in hybrid – Advance Tech.
The CR-V plug-in hybrid has quite a sporty look with 18-inch black alloy wheels, a piano black mesh grille and more glossy black trim than other models in the range. LED headlights come as standard.
Honda CR-V Interior
Inside the CR-V impresses with a classy cabin that’s another step up from the ZR-V. The fit and finish is excellent and it feels quite sporty and driver-focused from behind the wheel. The full-width air vent looks great with its tiny metal honeycomb pattern finish and the knobs to adjust the direction of air flow are a neat touch. There’s lots of luxury features like a Bose stereo, heated leather-wrapped steering wheel and leather upholstery as standard. The plug-in hybrid also has heated and ventilated front seats, while the driver’s seat has power adjustment and a memory setting. The outer two seats in the back are also heated.
On-board technology is looked after by a 9-inch touchscreen. The native graphics are not amazing but can be bypassed with seamless wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. There’s also a brilliant multi-view parking camera, head-up display and wireless smartphone charging – though I found it difficult to sustain a charge while driving and had to charge the old-fashioned way with a cable from conveniently positioned USB ports.
Practicality
The new CR-V has a longer wheelbase than before. It offers a huge amount of legroom for passengers in the back. The sunroof is standard on the plug-in hybrid but does eat into headroom a little for taller passengers. Still, it’s a very comfortable place to sit with the seats also offering a reclining function. They can also slide forward and back.
The plug-in hybrid also gets the biggest boot of the entire range at 617 litres. It’s truly enormous so brilliant for family life. A powered tailgate comes as standard. It’s also possible to carry up to 82kg on the roof.
Is the Honda CR-V bigger than the HR-V?
Yes, it’s substantially bigger. The HR-V is classed more of a small SUV. The new Honda ZR-V compact SUV slots into the Honda range now between the HR-V and CR-V.
Is the Honda CR-V a five seater or seven seater?
It’s now strictly a five-seat SUV. The previous model did offer the option of seven seats but that’s not an option for the new model.
2024 Honda CR-V plug-in hybrid
The previous version of the CR-V was available as a standard hybrid but now Honda has introduced a plug-in hybrid to the range for the very first time. The CR-V plug-in hybrid uses a 2.0-litre petrol engine at its heart just like the Civic and ZR-V hybrid. But it has a larger capacity battery – 17.7kWh – which you can charge to give an EV driving range of up to 82 kilometres. It takes about five hours to charge the battery from a 7kW wallbox and this model costs €140 per year to tax.
Driving
The new CR-V is built on a new platform just like the latest Civic and ZR-V. It has a lighter and more rigid chassis to make it feel sportier and more dynamic from behind the wheel and increase driver feedback. Just like the ZR-V hybrid, the drivability of the CR-V plug-in hybrid is brilliant. It delivers all of its 184hp smoothly and the engine never gets too noisy despite this SUV using an eCVT transmission. It behaves more like a large petrol automatic SUV but with all the benefits of a hybrid.
There is 335Nm of torque and 0-100km/h is 9.4 seconds. There are also a few drive modes – normal, sport, economy, snow and tow. In sport mode, the engine sounds brilliant as you accelerate. There is a bit of lean but the CR-V is athletic enough to entertain. Altogether it feels a bit more of a driver’s car than the ZR-V. Paddle shifters behind the steering wheel also allow you to adjust the strength of regenerative braking and offer a nice bit of involvement to the driving experience.
Comfort and refinement levels are good, though not quite at premium levels.
Is the CR-V plug-in hybrid good on fuel?
The good news is even without regular charging of the battery, the CR-V plug-in hybrid never gets too thirsty on fuel. My average fuel consumption was 6.3 litres per 100 kilometres, though with regular charging it could do even better.
The standard hybrid versions are four wheel drive, while the plug-in hybrid is front wheel drive only but can tow more – up to 1.5 tonnes! A hill descent control is also included as standard.
There’s also the Honda Sensing suite of driver assistance features.
Pricing
How much does a CR-V cost?
The Honda CR-V plug-in hybrid makes a lot of sense for the Irish market because it is the best priced of the range at €67,995 and offers the benefit of EV driving and low motor tax of €140 per year. It’s also exceptionally well-equipped.
The standard hybrid is available from €69,995 in the Elegance trim and from €74,995 in the Advance. Both come with four wheel drive as standard.
Verdict
The Honda CR-V has found its feet as a large, high-end SUV and competes well at this end of the market against rivals like the Mazda CX-60 and the Volvo XC60. It’s big, spacious and practical, and this new model has so much more presence than the last.
However it’s pricier than the previous CR-V and there’s no longer a seven seat option, which may disappoint family buyers. Still, it feels premium inside and is packed with luxury features.
The plug-in hybrid surprisingly makes a lot of sense for the Irish market because it’s the best priced, but also brings other benefits such as a considerable EV driving range and respectable towing capacity. It’s also good to drive and efficient.
If you’re looking for a prestigious SUV that’s a bit different to the usual suspects, the Honda CR-V is a great buy.
Pros: Sporty styling, space, cabin quality, efficient hybrid.
Cons: No seven seat version, pricey compared to previous version.
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Written by Caroline Kidd
Founder and Editor of Changing Lanes, Juror for Irish Car of the Year
Honda CR-V Video Review
Watch my video review of the new Honda CR-V plug-in hybrid to check out its space, practicality, performance and efficiency on Irish roads.
The post Honda CR-V Review (2024) | Excellent Plug-in Hybrid appeared first on Changing Lanes.