Honda NZ upgrades its popular CR-V crossover lineup

Honda New Zealand is launching upgraded versions of its popular CR-V crossover this week with a refreshed exterior design, new and upgraded features and turbocharged powertrain along with Honda Sensing technology now standard on all grades.

Since launch 23 years ago the CR-V nameplate has amassed over 33,000 registrations locally, making it the third most popular crossover SUV on our roads.

Alongside the Suzuki Vitara, it was one of the first SUVs that was created for city driving, not just off-roading and was popular for its fold out table in the boot, and fold out trays for rear passengers.

Local line up is strengthen with the return of the popular Touring grades with four models available, starting with the front-wheel-drive Touring ($39,990) and Sport 7 at $47,990, then all-wheel-drive Touring ($43,990) and Sport Premium at $51,790.

All vehicles have the 1.5-litre DOHC VTEC turbo engine producing 140Kw of power and  240Nm of torque.

Significant specification improvements have been added on the outgoing S and Active variants included hands-free power tailgate with foot operation, Honda Sensing safety suite, Lanewatch camera, all round parking sensors with parking aid, smart entry & push button start, leather wrapped wheel, advanced display audio with Apple Carplay, Android Auto and in-build Garmin navigation app.

The Sport 7 grade has also received a significant feature lift with the addition of Honda Sensing, Hand-free Power Tailgate, Qi- wireless charging pad, privacy glass, full LED head lights, LED fog lights and active cornering lights. New Sport Premium grade has all this new spec, with the addition of an exclusive wheel & suspension package to provide a more sophisticated driving experience.

The system features GPS-linked solar sensors to calculate the sun's position and automatically adjust the cabin airflow and temperature to compensate.

Inside, the CR-V’s spacious and tech-savvy cabin gets a redesigned centre console, with illuminated USB ports relocated into a more convenient location. The deep storage box between the front seats is retained, with the clever access tray providing three easy ways to use the space.

Best in class space and packaging continues, with five- and seven-seat configurations in the line-up. A near flat floor maximise rear seat passenger comfort in the 2nd row, along with USB Fast charging ports and rear ventilation. On seven seat grades,  the second row seating mechanisms have been revised to make them easier and smoother to operate when accessing the third row.