2024 Honda CR-V VTi L7 evaluate

The Honda CR-V is again, greater and higher.

With a pointy new look, extra trendy inside, and a hybrid possibility for the primary time in Australia, so much has modified. However for all that’s modified, the pitch for the 2024 Honda CR-V VTi L7 on check right here is identical.

It’s designed to supply all of the luxuries and comforts of a mid-range CR-V, with the added flexibility of two further seats for days while you’re the designated mum or dad on the varsity run carpool. Not everybody who wants seven seats desires to drive a bus, in spite of everything.

Right here’s the way it stacks up in the true world.

How does the Honda CR-V fare vs its opponents?

View an in depth breakdown of the Honda CR-V in opposition to equally sized autos.

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CR-V

How a lot does the Honda CR-V VTi L7 value?

The CR-V VTi L7 is the costliest seven-seat mannequin within the line-up, with a drive-away worth of $53,000.

It’s $6200 costlier than the bottom VTi X7, though it’s nonetheless comfortably cheaper than the five-seat vary toppers in the identical vary.

Rivals embody the Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire seven-seater ($47,340), the Nissan X-Path ST-L AWD seven-seater ($46,790 earlier than on-roads). The Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Life 132TSI ($49,990) can also be a rival.

Honda CR-V pricing:

• 2024 Honda CR-V VTi X: $44,500
• 2024 Honda CR-V VTi X7: $46,800
• 2024 Honda CR-V VTi L: $48,800
• 2024 Honda CR-V VTi L AWD: $51,300
• 2024 Honda CR-V VTi L7: $53,000
• 2024 Honda CR-V VTi LX AWD: $57,000
• 2024 Honda CR-V e:HEV RS: $59,900

All costs are drive-away

What’s the Honda CR-V VTi L7 like on the within?

The brand new CR-V has taken an enormous leap ahead relative to its predecessor.

It’s higher to have a look at, has considerably higher expertise, and is extra spacious than earlier than, consistent with the brand new HR-V, Civic, and ZR-V.

The dashboard is easy, however manages to nonetheless look fascinating thanks largely to the hexagonal latticework operating its width, and protecting the air vents. It’s not completed in silver like on the Civic, however it’s nonetheless a pleasant contact.

There are correct local weather controls as a substitute of the hybrid dial and touchscreen system that featured earlier than.

Not solely is it simpler to make use of, the knurled dials make a beautiful little click on as you regulate the temperature, enjoying into the sensation it is a extra premium automobile than earlier than.

The transmission selector can also be the proper top to make use of as a wrist relaxation while you’re working them, which isn’t any accident.

The CR-V has a 9.0-inch show operating in-house software program, and it’s a large leap ahead. It’s trendy to have a look at, with crisp graphics and easy, slick menus.

The maps lastly seem like an OEM product relatively than an aftermarket system, though the wi-fi smartphone mirroring means you’ll be able to simply sidestep the inbuilt software program anyway.

The entrance seats are all-day snug, with pretty gentle cushions and simply sufficient bolstering. The view out of the tall home windows is palatial, and all of the ergonomics are glorious – every part it’s essential contact is inside simple attain.

There’s loads of storage within the giant, central storage bin, together with the twin cupholders and under-dashboard tray.

Rear seat area was a blended bag within the final CR-V. Legroom was all the time a powerful go well with, however fashions with a sunroof all the time struggled for headroom again there.

The brand new mannequin fixes that drawback, however maintains helpful touches like a low sill and enormous doorways that open 90 levels.

The rear bench is broad sufficient to comfortably seat three children, and the low, flat ground is a optimistic. Air vents, USB ports, and a fold-down central armrest additionally function. The bench slides to release extra rear legroom.

Entry to the third row is straightforward sufficient, due to the tumbling and sliding second row of seats. It’s nonetheless extra geared toward occasional use than full-time service, however when you’re again there the third row is an enchancment over the past automobile.

The roof-mounted air vents are welcome in summer season, and each leg- and headroom are acceptable for youngsters or small youngsters.

Adults will really feel very cramped again there, however there’s sufficient area to get you from bar-to-bar when the CR-V inevitably hits Uber XL fleets.

Boot area behind the third row is proscribed to 150 litres. You’ll get a few purchasing baggage in there, however not way more – and Honda has persevered with the annoying dual-level boot insert panel that provides you a flat ground, however is difficult to retailer or conceal.

On the plus aspect, the 1457 litres of boot area on supply with each the third and second rows folded is a correctly flat area.

What’s below the bonnet?

CR-V VTi fashions use a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine shared with the smaller ZR-V and Civic.

Within the CR-V, the four-cylinder turbocharged engine generates 140kW (6000rpm) and 240Nm (1700-5000rpm).

Drive is distributed to the entrance wheels as customary by way of a continuously-variable transmission (CVT), with on-demand all-wheel drive (AWD) obtainable as a value possibility for the VTi L and as customary for the high-grade VTi LX.

Claimed gas economic system on the mixed cycle is 7.3 litres per 100km, however we noticed 8.5 litres per 100km on a blended metropolis and freeway loop. It’s extremely economical on the open highway, with the onboard journey laptop dropping into the 6.0L/100km vary at occasions, however that determine shortly creeps up on the town.

The gas tank holds 57 litres and drinks 91 RON common unleaded petrol.

How does the Honda CR-V VTi L7 drive?

Longer and wider than earlier than, the brand new CR-V appears like a extra grown up step on from its predecessor.

The turbocharged petrol engine fires quietly while you prod the beginning button, and customarily does its work within the background. Should you’re simply maintaining with site visitors it’s quiet, buzzing away between 1500 and 3000rpm and providing a good shove within the again.

Actually put your foot down and it must work a bit more durable, making extra noise because the revs flare. Honda’s transmission is a great CVT, mimicking a standard automated while you bury the accelerator by revving all the way in which to redline after which faking an upshift, however it might’t conceal the very fact it is a small engine powering an enormous automobile at occasions.

With seven folks on board it’ll be working onerous, particularly at 100km/h. With 4 up and their baggage it will get the job executed – and it’s a punchier performer than the naturally aspirated engines on supply within the rival Nissan X-Path or Mitsubishi Outlander.

With gentle steering and glorious all-round visibility, the CR-V is straightforward to drive within the metropolis.

The 18-inch wheels on this mannequin don’t wreck the journey, as a substitute permitting the automobile to drift alongside pockmarked city roads.

There’s no sporting pretence about it, which is an efficient factor – however Honda hasn’t turned the CR-V right into a floaty barge. It nonetheless feels properly tied down, controlling its mass in a single clear motion over huge pace bumps or crests.

It’s impressively polished at freeway speeds. The journey stays glorious, though there’s a bit extra highway noise than is good on something lower than good tarmac. It’s a typical criticism we now have about Honda merchandise, and is the one actual knock on its refinement.

Honda’s driver assists are neatly tuned. The adaptive cruise management neatly maintains a niche to the automobile in entrance, and the energetic lane-centring system is clean when it does resolve to nudge you again into line.

Shifting away from the outdated LaneWatch digicam system and becoming a blind-spot monitoring gentle is a step ahead as properly.

As for the dealing with? The CR-V is definitely cheap enjoyable to throw round, if that’s a precedence in your loved ones automobile. It nonetheless has loads of physique roll, however it doesn’t wish to fall over in corners like a few of its rivals.

What do you get?

CR-V VTi X highlights:

• LED headlights
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Full-size alloy spare wheel
• Fingers-free energy tailgate
• 90-degree rear doorways
• Premium Cloth seat upholstery
• 8-way energy driver seat
• Twin-zone local weather management
• Dialog Mirror
• 7.0-inch driver show
• 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Honda Join
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay
• Wired Android Auto
• 8-speaker audio system
• Wi-fi telephone charger

CR-V VTi X7 provides:

• 7 seats
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Area saver spare wheel
• Tri-zone local weather management

CR-V VTi L7 provides (over VTi X7):

• Panoramic sunroof
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Privateness glass
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• Good Key Card
• i-Twin + tri-zone local weather management
• Leather-based-appointed seats, black
• Heated entrance seats
• Driver reminiscence perform (2 positions)
• 4-way energy passenger seat
• Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
• Leather-based-wrapped shifter
• Rain-sensing wipers

Is the Honda CR-V VTi L7 protected?

The brand new Honda CR-V is but to be examined by ANCAP and Euro NCAP.

Normal security options embody:

• 11 airbags
• Honda Sensing
  • Ahead collision warning
  • Collision mitigation braking system (AEB)
  • Lane departure warning
  • Lane preserve help
  • Highway Departure Mitigation System
  • Adaptive cruise management
    • Low Pace Comply with
    • Visitors Jam Help
  • Low Pace Braking Management
  • Visitors signal recognition
  • Auto high-beam
• Parking sensors entrance, rear

CR-V VTi X7 + VTi L add:

• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert

CR-V e:HEV RS provides:

• LED energetic cornering lights
• Adaptive Driving Beam (headlights)

How a lot does the Honda CR-V VTi L7 value to run?

Honda Australia covers its vary with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.

There’s additionally premium roadside help for a similar interval, in addition to 5 years of capped-price servicing.

Honda is at the moment capping scheduled upkeep at $199 per go to for the primary 5 scheduled providers for brand spanking new fashions. Intervals are 12 months or 10,000 kilometres – whichever comes first.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Honda CR-V VTi L7

Honda has fastened most of what was unsuitable with the final CR-V, and constructed on its strengths within the course of.

The brand new inside is extra spacious and splendid than earlier than, and it lastly has an up-to-date expertise suite in keeping with what its huge rivals can supply.

We’ve additionally been onerous on Honda for its pricing, however the VTi L7 represents glorious worth.

The one caveat? Should you want all-wheel drive, there’s no skill to mix a seven-seat inside with something however front-wheel drive.

Should you can stay with front-wheel drive although, the CR-V is up there with the category leaders.

Click on the photographs for the complete gallery

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