Flavor additive. Testing Honda CR-V, seasoned with a new engine / Honda test drives

This car was missing just one thing — a worthy engine under the hood. The only two-liter engine previously available could hardly meet the needs of all potential buyers. Honda engineers solved this problem by adding a new "spice" to the CR-V — a version with a 2.4-liter engine. What can this modification offer?

It's worth noting that the new K24 "four" is not a novelty. This unit was installed on the American version of the previous-generation CR-V. Why it wasn't available in Russia from the start is a question for the Japanese. What matters now is that for the current CR-V, the engine has been slightly refined: the compression ratio was increased, which allowed power to rise to 166 horsepower.

To check how the dynamics match the looks, we headed to the Moscow region, where a test drive was organized. Keys were handed out, a 53-kilometer route consisting of asphalt and snowy dirt roads was marked, and we were left alone with the car along with other journalists.

First impression — "it worked out." Sure, there's no 190 horsepower here like in the Accord (which also has the K24), but peak power is reached a thousand rpm earlier, and 80% of the 220 Nm maximum torque is available already at 2000 rpm.

The K24 engine is familiar to Russians from the Accord, but here its power is reduced to 166 horsepower. It's a pity that Honda doesn't plan to supply us with the 2.2-liter turbodiesel version (140 hp, 340 Nm).

In practice, this means that the CR-V, weighing 1631 kilograms with five adult passengers on board, accelerates confidently under the brisk sound of the engine, without causing any desire to get out and push the car. The "automatic" also pleases. During active driving, the five-speed gearbox doesn't hesitate, keeps the tachometer needle around the "4" mark, and is always ready for acceleration.

The CR-V's reactions are far from wasabi sharpness — it's not a hatchback with a "Type-R" suffix, but a regular crossover. But with character, it must be admitted. The car handles well, and the "sharp" steering wheel has informative effort. Special thanks for the brake pedal tuning, which doesn't allow mistakes when slowing down.

It's gratifying that with such handling, the CR-V's suspension doesn't require a titanium spine. It's quite stiff, but it elastically absorbs bumps and even on broken roads allows you to pretend that the driver simply doesn't notice potholes. Although with a full load, one of the rear shock absorbers bottomed out a couple of times, overall the chassis deserves a big plus. Unless, of course, you're not planning to turn a country road into "Dakar."

The Real Time 4WD all-wheel drive system adds some "pepper" too, transferring 20% more torque to the rear wheels than in the previous generation CR-V. So if you want, by turning off the VSA stability control, you can have some fun, taking a snowy corner in a drift.

Enthused by the car, I "finished off" the 53-kilometer loop so quickly that in the allotted time I managed to drive the same distance again. Moreover, on the second "lap" I was able to evaluate the car from a passenger's perspective. Due to the compressed format of the event, each Honda had 5 people in it. No problem, but it's worth noting: three in the back fit without issues. But only if no one is overweight. There's enough legroom, but the width is far from rubbery.

The Honda CR-V's interior not only looks good but is also assembled quite well. In the trunk, there's a double shelf. However, there's no data on what weight it can support.

You can, of course, recline the rear seat backrest further, which is adjustable for each passenger, but in that case, there's a risk of hitting your head against the hard plastic cover of the inflatable curtain airbag. So, if among the passengers there's someone of Michelin Bibendum's build, it's better to seat them in the front.

Choosing a car in the Executive and Executive Leather trims (no others are offered for the 2.4), you'll also have to decide on the interior material color — beige (pictured) or black.

The only complaint is not the best sound insulation. The hum of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 SUV studded tires penetrates the "gallery" too intrusively. However, these tires have already repeatedly gained fame for their loud "voice" on asphalt.

By the way, over the past year, Honda not only brought the 2.4-liter engine modification to the Russian market but also refined the headlight washer. The design itself remains unchanged, but now it doesn't activate with every windshield washer activation, but only on the 20th cycle. Additionally, the "headlight washer" has been given a separate button. Trifles, you say? But residents of the Moscow region, accustomed to buying "antifreeze" in industrial quantities, are unlikely to think so.

Another piece of good news — the waiting time for an ordered car should decrease. The plant in the English city of Swindon, where the Honda CR-V is produced, has been modernized, so its production capacity has significantly increased. But whether increased output will be needed, the market will answer.

The most powerful version will be offered only in the Executive trim and with a 5-speed "automatic." The minimum price is 1 million 49 thousand rubles ($42,956). For this money, the buyer gets 18-inch wheels, dual-zone climate control, an MP3 stereo with a six-disc changer, an audio system with a subwoofer, and xenon headlights. Power front seats and leather upholstery will increase the car's cost by another 30 thousand.

It's safe to assume: with the release of the new modification, the Honda CR-V will be bought much more. But will a skillfully added ingredient to a decent dish be enough to claim leadership among the "products" favored by Russians — the Toyota RAV4 and Mitsubishi Outlander? We'll find out soon by arranging a head-to-head comparison.

Technical specifications

Specifications	Honda CR-V 2.4
Body
Number of doors/seats	5/5
Length, mm	4530
Width, mm	1820
Height, mm	1675
Curb weight, kg	1595–1631
Gross weight, kg	2080
Trunk volume, l	442
Engine
Type	Petrol, with distributed injection
Location	Front, transverse
Number and arrangement of cylinders	4, in-line
Number of valves	16
Displacement, cm³	2354
Max power, hp/rpm^-1	166/5800
Max torque, Nm/rpm^-1	220/4200
Transmission
Gearbox	Automatic, five-speed
Drive	Front permanent, rear plug-in
Chassis
Front suspension	Independent, McPherson
Rear suspension	Independent, double wishbone
Front brakes	Disc, ventilated
Rear brakes	Disc
Performance characteristics
Maximum speed, km/h	190
Acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h, s	11
Fuel consumption, l/100 km
Urban cycle	13.1
Extra-urban cycle	7.4
Combined cycle	9.5
Toxicity standard	Euro-4
Fuel tank capacity, l	58
Fuel	AI-95

Equipment of the tested car

Front airbags
Side airbags
Side curtain airbags
ABS
Traction control system
VSA stability control
18-inch alloy wheels
4 electric windows

Honda CR-V: a crossover that knows comfort

When it comes to a versatile car for the city and light off-road, the Honda CR-V always ranks among the top candidates. This Japanese has long won the sympathy of Ukrainian drivers, and I decided to check how justified such love is. The test drive was eventful: there were highways, snowy fields, and even an attempt to beach the car. But let's take it in order.

First acquaintance: exterior and interior

The CR-V is hard to call a handsome car, but it has its own charm. The car looks solid and expensive, though without any special design frills. Inside, it's spacious and comfortable. Quality materials, thoughtful ergonomics, and leather-trimmed seats greet the driver with comfort. I was especially pleased with the power-adjustable front seat — finding a comfortable driving position takes just a couple of seconds. Rear passengers won't have anything to complain about either: the seatback angle is adjustable, and there's plenty of legroom.

The equipment of the tested car is impressive. It includes xenon headlights with washers, front and rear parking sensors, and dual-zone climate control. Power-adjustable and heated mirrors are a nice bonus for our winter. Rain and light sensors add comfort to daily driving. The audio system with a six-disc changer and subwoofer will please music lovers, and cruise control will please those who often drive on highways.

The cost of such pleasure is 1,079,000 rubles (approximately $44,185). The base version will be slightly cheaper — 1,049,000 rubles ($42,956).

Model History

The CR-V debuted in 1996 with a two-liter engine producing 128 horsepower. Just three years later, the engine was boosted to 147 horsepower. The second generation, released in 2002, for the first time received a 2.4-liter engine, but only for the American market. The rest of the world had to make do with a two-liter gasoline engine, to which a turbodiesel was later added.

Competitors: Who Else Is Vying for the Buyer's Wallet

The CR-V's main rival in our market is the Toyota RAV4, the undisputed leader of the segment. With a 170-horsepower 2.4-liter engine, it's available in the Sol trim for 1,102,500 rubles. The equipment almost mirrors the Honda's, but the automatic transmission here is four-speed, and there's no xenon. Nevertheless, 22,856 buyers chose the Toyota, though most of them opted for simpler versions with a two-liter engine.

The Mitsubishi Outlander XL also started confidently — 15,223 cars sold in 2007. Interestingly, most buyers preferred the three-liter versions, which appeared first. The strengths of the Japanese car are its stylish design, sporty character, and attractive price. The base 2.4-liter version (170 hp) with a CVT starts at 974,180 rubles in the Invite trim. The top Intense version with a Rockford Fosgate audio system, leather interior, and sunroof costs 1,055,000 rubles. And for 1,082,000 rubles, you can get a three-liter 220-horsepower car with a six-speed automatic, climate control, and a simple stereo.

The Opel Antara and its twin, the Chevrolet Captiva, with a five-speed automatic, cost even less — from 925,000 rubles for the American and plus 12,000 for the German. But the 2.4-liter engine produces only 140 horsepower. The base includes ESP, climate control, a CD/MP3 stereo, cruise control, parking sensors, and 17-inch wheels. Paying an extra 37,000 rubles for the Captiva gets you wheels an inch larger, a CD changer, and a tow hitch. And for 1,086,000 rubles, a version with a 3.2-liter V6, leather, and heated windshield is available.

The Nissan X-Trail with a 169-horsepower 2.5-liter engine and CVT starts at 988,000 rubles. The SE trim includes climate control, 17-inch alloy wheels, ESP, and a stereo with a CD changer. A version with a panoramic sunroof and xenon will cost 1,069,000 rubles.

Fans of American cars should take a closer look at the Jeep Liberty. The base trim with a 170-horsepower engine and CVT costs 862,000 rubles. It includes 17-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, and cruise control. The top Limited P2 version for 960,400 rubles adds a tire pressure monitoring system, leather, and a Boston Acoustics audio system with nine speakers.

Off the Asphalt: Off-Road Test

Our crew didn't limit itself to calm driving on asphalt — we decided to test the CR-V on Russian off-road. First, a truck got stuck on a narrow incline. An old Land Cruiser simply drove around it through the snowdrifts, but the Honda, being a crossover rather than an SUV, got out differently — it carefully slipped along the snowy shoulder on the other side. A decent result.

But then we did get the car stuck. On a narrow field road, a colleague unsuccessfully attacked a pile of snow, and at speed, the car slid onto the shoulder. The CR-V couldn't get out on its own — it's not an SUV, there are no lockers. But the car honestly spun its wheels, trying to grip something solid. We were ready to push (there were five of us), but a support vehicle came to the rescue — a Land Rover Defender from the Camel Trophy competition. The rescue operation took only five minutes, and we continued on our way.

An interesting fact: our car covered this route twice instead of the planned once, and on the second lap, we noticed exactly the same tracks of a slide-off about fifty meters further than ours. It seems our colleagues also got distracted by something at that moment.

In the end, the Honda CR-V left the impression of a solid, comfortable, and well-equipped crossover that feels confident in the city and on light off-road, but you shouldn't expect feats in the spirit of real SUVs from it.