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Tested: The New Honda CR-V

Honda received 3,000 bookings before the car was even launched, its easy to see why. The company has taken the basic recipe of the CR-V and has improved on it.

Price: RM 148,800
Tech Highlights: 4 cyls, 1,997cc, 155bhp, 190Nm, Top Speed N/A.

What is it?
The new Honda CR-V is Honda’s fourth instalment of its highly successful premium SUV vehicle. It has been one of Malaysia's preferred SUVs for some time now. It’s so sort after that before the new CR-V was even launched, Honda Malaysia had already received 3,000 bookings for the car.

What is it like?
With the new car, Honda has decided to take an evolutionary approach rather than a revolutionary one. The new car has a lowered roof and an overall sleeker profile. The front facia has been improved as now it features a more detailed front grille and headlights. The new CR-V's interior is well thought-out too. Everything including the switchgear has been evenly placed and is easy to reach.

What’s most impressive is the space inside the cabin. Despite lowering the roofline, headroom is still more than adequate and the car is able to seat four comfortably. Even if a person who is relatively tall sits in either the driver or front passenger seat, occupants seated behind them will still have ample legroom. Since the car also has air-con vents in the rear, the dreaded Malaysian hot and humid afternoon drive is not something to worry about.

Packing a 2.0-litre four cylinder i-VTEC engine, Honda has improved the new car’s powerplant and as a result it now produces 5bhp more than the one in its predecessor. When cruising, the engine noise is barely noticeable, however when you do decide to mash the accelerator pedal to the floor, it does get a little loud. Weaving in and out of country roads is no sweat for the CR-V as the engine’s 190Nm of torque coupled with the smooth shifting five-speed automatic transmission is able to pull the car out of bends cleanly.

What was even more impressive was how stable the car was for the entire trip. Heading into residential areas with narrow streets and a number of blind corners provided enough room for several head-on collisions with oncoming traffic. However, the CR-V’s VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) system was able to get the car out of some hair-raising situations easily. There was noticeable amount of body-roll in the CR-V, however being an SUV, such characteristics is a given. Honda needs to be commended for developing such a good chassis, as despite the car’s mass, it never really overwhelms you. The steering wheel provides sufficient feedback no matter what the situation and the brakes provide more than enough stopping power.

After spending sometime behind the wheel of Honda’s premium SUV, it’s easy to see why the car has been doing so well over here. It looks good, handles well, seats five while still providing ample room in the boot for your luggage. It is probably one of the best vehicles to have if you’re the type that likes to go on road trips, and being a Honda it will get you from point A to point B without trouble while returning decent gas mileage.

Should I buy one?
If you enjoy an active lifestyle, the Honda CR-V will be more than capable of meeting your needs. Decent cabin space and all-wheel-drive capabilities allow this soft off-roader to be the perfect vehicle for people with families or single adults who enjoy the outdoors. So if you’re such a person, you may find the Honda CR-V as the perfect vehicle for you.