Honda Australia has finally locked in launch timing for the sixth-generation CR-V, while also revealing pricing for the sprawling mid-sized SUV range.
It goes on sale on September 1, with Honda now taking deposits for orders. It’s priced from $44,500 drive-away.
The seven-strong model line-up will continue to offer both five- and seven-seat options and a choice of front- or all-wheel drive, but new to the local line-up is a hybrid powertrain.
Available solely in front-wheel drive RS guise, the hybrid is the priciest member of the CR-V line-up at $59,900 drive-away.
The base price has climbed considerably, with the recently discontinued Vi model having been priced from $35,900 drive-away.
However, all models now offer a suite of active safety and driver assist features under the Honda Sensing banner.
All-wheel drive models will continue to exclusively come with a five-seat configuration in Australia, while the new e:HEV hybrid is also set to miss out on the option of a third row of seating.
Detailed specifications have yet to be revealed, but we have pricing for the entire range which closely mirrors the outgoing model’s, if with higher stickers.
Front-wheel drive, five-seat models comprise the VTi X ($44,500 drive-away) and VTi L ($48,800 drive-away). Both are up $2600 on their equivalents in the outgoing range.
Adding a third row turns those into the VTi L7 and VTi X7, priced from $46,800 and $53,000 drive-away.
All-wheel drive models comprise the VTi L AWD ($51,300 drive-away) and VTi LX AWD ($57,000 drive-away), the latter costing $3400 more than its equivalent in the outgoing model line-up.
Finally, there’s the aforementioned e:HEV RS hybrid at $59,900 drive-away. It has a unique appearance, with its own front and rear bumper designs, a black grille, and black leather upholstery with red stitching.
All models come standard with Honda Connect, allowing you to use a smartphone app to remotely check your fuel level, see your vehicle’s location, and turn the lights on and off, among other actions.
Honda Australia has confirmed the CR-V will continue to be sourced from Thailand.
After all, the CR-V has been discontinued in Japan, Honda doesn’t currently produce vehicles in right-hand drive in Canada and the US, and Honda Australia has specifically ruled out sourcing vehicles for our market from China.
It’s the first time a hybrid has been offered here, although such a powertrain was offered in other markets with the outgoing model.
In the Thai market, this powertrain – which comprises a 109kW/183Nm naturally aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and a 135kW/335Nm electric motor – boasts a total system output of 152kW.
A 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine continues to be offered across most of the range, mated with a continuously variable transmission. In Thai-produced CR-Vs, this produces 140kW and 240Nm – down 2kW and 3Nm on North American vehicles.
Six colours will be available. Platinum White, Lunar Silver, Meteoroid Grey and Ignite Red will be offered on all trim levels, while Crystal Black and Canyon River Blue will only be on particular variants.
The CR-V will also offer five years of capped-price servicing and premium roadside assist, plus Honda’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
The new crossover is 4694mm long, 1864mm wide, 1692mm tall, and rides on a 2700mm wheelbase, meaning the sixth-generation car is 69mm longer, 10mm wider, 2mm taller, and has a 41mm longer wheelbase than the outgoing model.
That puts it at the larger end of the mid-sized SUV segment among models like the Mitsubishi Outlander and Nissan X-Trail, which also offer an available third row of seating, while the recently introduced ZR-V is at the smaller end with other two-row models like the Mazda CX-5.
For context, the ZR-V measures 4567mm long, 1839mm wide and 1621mm tall on a 2654mm wheelbase.
There are some odd discrepancies between the local line-up and that in Thailand. The e:HEV RS is all-wheel drive in Thailand, where you can also get a seven-seat model with all-wheel drive.
Thai-market cabin
One quirk of Thai production is the absence of a conventional blind-spot monitoring system, with Thai CR-Vs instead sticking with Honda’s older LaneWatch side camera system.
Nevertheless, all CR-Vs from Thailand feature: autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection; lane-keep assist and Road Departure Mitigation systems; adaptive cruise control; and a lead vehicle departure alert function.
There’s standard automatic high-beam, while LED headlights with adaptive high-beam and a surround-view camera are available on some variants.
Rounding out the tech highlights are an available new head-up display, 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, 10.2-inch TFT digital instrument cluster, and a 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
We’ll publish local specifications when these become available.
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 prices are drive-away
MORE: Everything Honda CR-V
