Honda's new CR-V has just landed in South Africa and it follows the same basic recipe as its predecessor by offering a roomy cabin and softer, more car-like styling.
If we're to analyse the dimensions, the new softroader is actually 5mm shorter and 30mm lower, yet Honda claims that it offers the same amount of interior space as before. And that's a lot of space if our experiences with the previous CR-V are anything to go by.
The new range also marks the introduction of a front-wheel drive model as part of an effort to keep the base price lower. This two-wheel drive derivative will be available in 2.0 Comfort guise only, as the rest of the eight-model range uses Honda's permanent all-wheel drive system.
Thus the 2-litre petrol engine is the only one available in FWD and AWD guise, the former linked to a six-speed manual gearbox and the latter to a five-speed autobox.
The 1997cc i-VTEC 16-valve motor pushes 114kW at 6500rpm and 192Nm at 4300rpm.
The range-topping petrol engine is a 2.4-litre i-VTEC linked to a five-speed automatic gearbox and good for 140kW at 7000rpm and 220Nm at 4300rpm.
Diesel-heads have the option of Honda's latest 2.2-litre i-DTEC common rail turbo motor, which can be mated to either a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission. This engine produces 110kW at 4000rpm and 350Nm from 2000.
The 2.0 is only available in Comfort trim while the 2.4 and 2.2 can be had with either Elegance or Executive trim.
Comfort offers the basic 'comfort' and safety features while Elegance adds black leather seats, among other things, and Exclusive offers niceties like an electrically adjustable driver's seat, keyless start and a premium audio system.
THE BILL
2.0 Comfort FWD (petrol) - R299 900
2.0 Comfort AWD (petrol) - R339 900
2.4 Elegance AWD (petrol) - R399 900
2.4 Executive AWD (petrol) - R444 900
2.2 Elegance AWD (diesel) - R405 900
2.2 Elegance AWD (diesel) AT - R418 900
2.2 Exclusive AWD (diesel) - R486 900
2.2 Exclusive AWD (diesel) AT - R499 900