Honda CR-V review (2024)

Read Caroline’s Honda CR-V review and find out everything you need to know about buying Honda’s flagship SUV in Ireland.

The CR-V has been a common 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 lineup with the introduction of the new compact ZR-V, so the CR-V has become larger and more luxurious to make room for it.

The model is priced in Ireland from €67,995 for the plug-in hybrid and €69,995 for the standard hybrid, which puts it in the league of premium SUVs such as the Mazda CX-60 and Volvo XC60.

Let’s take a closer look.

design

The new generation of the CR-V has seen a considerable improvement in design. The new version of Honda’s popular flagship SUV is wider and longer than the model it replaces, with a longer hood to give it a more prominent presence. The upright grille and boxy design give the new CR-V a very American feel. It certainly has more presence than the model it replaces, and it will look good compared to other premium SUVs.

What trim levels are available for the CR-V?

The hybrid is available in two trims – Elegance and Advance. The plug-in hybrid is available in one trim – Advance Tech.

The CR-V Plug-in Hybrid has a sporty look with 18-inch black alloy wheels, a piano black mesh grille and more gloss black trim than other models in the range. LED headlights are standard.

Internal

The CR-V’s interior is impressive, with an elegant cabin that’s a cut above the ZR-V. Fit and finish are excellent, and the car feels very sporty and driver-focused when driving. The full-width air vents are finished in a tiny metallic honeycomb pattern that looks great, and the knobs that adjust the airflow direction are very clever. It has a lot of luxury features, such as a Bose stereo, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, and standard leather upholstery. The plug-in hybrid also comes with heated and ventilated front seats, while the driver’s seat has power adjustment and memory settings. The two outer rear seats are also heated.

Onboard tech is controlled by a 9″ touchscreen. Native graphics aren’t stellar, but that can be bypassed via seamless wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. There’s also an excellent multi-view parking camera, a head-up display and wireless smartphone charging – though I found it difficult to maintain a charge while driving and had to charge it the old-fashioned way with a cable from the conveniently placed USB port.

Practicality

The new CR-V has a longer wheelbase than before. It offers plenty of legroom for rear passengers. A sunroof is standard on the plug-in hybrid, but it does eat into some headroom for taller passengers. It’s a very comfortable seat, though, and the seats offer a reclining function. They also slide fore and aft.

The plug-in hybrid also has the largest boot capacity in the range at 617 litres. It’s really big and perfect for family life. An electric tailgate is standard. The roof can also carry up to 82kg.

Is the Honda CR-V bigger than the HR-V?

Yes, it is a lot bigger. The HR-V is more of a small SUV. The new Honda ZR-V compact SUV has now entered the Honda range, slotting between the HR-V and CR-V.

Is the Honda CR-V a five-seater or a seven-seater?

It is now strictly a five-passenger SUV. The previous model did offer a seven-seat option, but the new model does not have that option.

2024 Honda CR-V Plug-in Hybrid

The previous generation of the CR-V was a standard hybrid, but now Honda has introduced a plug-in hybrid model to the range for the first time. At its heart is a 2.0-litre petrol engine, just like the Civic and ZR-V Hybrid. But it has a larger battery – 17.7kWh – giving it an EV range of up to 82km on a charge. Charging the battery takes around five hours using a 7kW wallbox, and the model is taxed at €140 per year.

drive

The new CR-V is built on the same all-new platform as the latest Civic and ZR-V. It has a lighter, stiffer chassis that makes the driver feel more sporty and dynamic, and improves driving feedback. Like the ZR-V Hybrid, the CR-V Plug-in Hybrid is very good to drive. It develops all 184 horsepower smoothly, and although this SUV uses an eCVT transmission, the engine is never too noisy. It behaves more like a large petrol automatic SUV, but with all the benefits of a hybrid.

Torque is 335Nm, and the 0-100km/h acceleration time is 9.4 seconds. There are also several driving modes – Normal, Sport, Economy, Snow and Towing. In Sport mode, the engine sound is loud when accelerating. It’s a bit thin, but the CR-V is sporty enough to be enjoyable. Overall, it’s more driver-friendly than the ZR-V. The paddle shifters behind the steering wheel also allow you to adjust the intensity of the regenerative braking and provide a nice sense of involvement to the driving experience.

Comfort and refinement are good, though not quite top-tier.

Is the CR-V Plug-in Hybrid fuel efficient?

The good news is that the CR-V Plug-in Hybrid isn’t a big gas guzzler even if you don’t regularly charge the battery. My average fuel consumption was 6.3L/100km, but it’s likely to be higher if you charge it regularly.

The standard hybrid version is all-wheel drive, while the plug-in hybrid is front-wheel drive only, but has more traction – up to 1.5 tonnes! It also comes with hill descent control as standard.

Honda has also introduced a suite of driver-assist features – Honda Sensing.

Price

How much does CR-V cost?

The Honda CR-V Plug-in Hybrid makes a lot of sense for the Irish market as it is the most affordable car in its class at €67,995 and comes with an EV driving discount and a low annual car tax of €140. It is also very well equipped.

The standard hybrid starts at €69,995 for the Elegance version and €74,995 for the Advance version. Both cars come standard with all-wheel drive.

in conclusion

The Honda CR-V has established itself as a large premium SUV, competing against rivals such as the Mazda CX-60 and Volvo XC60 in this market. This new model is big, roomy, practical and has a stronger presence than the previous generation.

However, it’s more expensive than the previous CR-V and no longer has a seven-seat option, which may disappoint family buyers. Still, its interior feels upscale and is loaded with luxury features.

Surprisingly, the plug-in hybrid makes a lot of sense for the Irish market as it is the most affordable and also offers other advantages such as a fairly long EV range and respectable towing capacity. It is also very nice to drive and is quite efficient.

If you’re looking for a luxury SUV that stands out from the crowd, the Honda CR-V is a great choice.

advantage: Sporty styling, spacious interior, premium cabin, efficient hybrid power.

shortcoming: There is no seven-seat version and it is expensive compared to its predecessor.

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By Caroline Kidd

Founder and Editor of Changing Lanes, Irish Car of the Year judge

The post Honda CR-V Review (2024) appeared first on Changing Lanes.