The CR-V has gone over five million in terms of sales. This figure covers all three of the previous generations. The model’s appeal primarily comes from its 4x4 practicality, segment room, just to name a few. But the CR-V has to face significant competition from brands such as the Hyundai, Kia, and Ford. So how will the CR-V fare against new models in the market? Will it continue to impress and make the right upgrades given the demands of the current industry?

Pros

The changes made to the fourth generation CR-V will readily appeal to UK customers. The new range offers front-wheel drive as an extra to the established four-wheel drive. Fuel economy and reduced CO2 emissions are other marked improvements in the latest CR-V. The 2.0-litre i-VTEC engine’s emissions have gone from 192g/km to 174g/km. The 2.2-litre i-DTEC at 148bhp has also lowered its CO2 emissions at 153g/km from the higher 171g/km. Another major improvement is the diesel’s overhauled 4Wd drivetrain. There’s also the replacement of the hydraulically controlled dual pump system with the electronically controlled multi-plate clutch.

Drag coefficient has also been reduced by 6.5 percent thanks to the longer roof and inclusion of a flat underfloor. Plus damper volumes on the front and multilink rear suspension MacPhersons have been increased by 10 per cent. Repackaging has decreased the height by 5mm and lowered the vehicle by 30mm. These reductions have allowed for more luggage space. The space can also be expanded to 148 litres by folding the rear seats flat.

Function precedes over form in the CR-V, but it’s a plus for a vehicle targeted at families. There’s more than enough space behind the front seats for teenagers. The ones who have to sit in the middle won’t have reason to complain as the transmission tunnel has been removed. The rear passenger’s hip point has also been lowered by 38mm; this has also provided larger rectangular windows that let in improved light levels and gives more headroom.

Power delivery is adequate with the CR-V at 148bhp that’s supported by 258lb ft of torque. Gear shifts are also clean and the respond keen as you pull on the mounted paddles on the steering wheel. Braking performance is also decent in the dry, with the vehicle only requiring 2.51seconds to go from 60mph to 70mph in acceleration. Total distance to arrive at such a speed would be at 45.6 meters.

Cons

Although the CR-V sports 225/60-profile tyres and rides without a particular aplomb, it delivers without any finesse. Expect low-speed ripples and speed humps to be felt and heard in the cabin. Body control is not that balanced and is just bad in terms of performance. Unfortunately the lack of ride finesse is not made up for with a handling panache. There’s not much of an improvement in terms of comparing ride and handling against the old car. The CR-V is basically just an agreeable companion on the road but not much else. This would have been enough back then but against cheaper competition, the CR-V will have to reconsider its next upgrades.

The Honda CR-V is a compact, 4-door SUV that was first manufactured in 1995. The CR-V now comes in four generations, the latest of which was introduced in Europe in 2012. The style of the fourth generation is significantly different from the first three, with a bigger, more aggressive form. Its concept design was introduced back in 2011 at the Orange County International Auto Show, California.

The CR-V has been introduced as the company’s entry level SUV since the production of Element was discontinued in 2011. In Europe, CR-V stands for Compact Recreational Vehicle and is one of Honda’s smallest SUVs in the market.

Over the years, Honda has improved on the model’s engine as a response to the demand for a more powerful engine. An update on the first generation on 1999 to 2001 was made worldwide to address this and other design issues.

The second generation was produced in 2001, and was based on the seventh generation Civic. In 2005, upgrades were made on the interior and exterior of the car, including an improved throttle.

The third generation introduced Honda’s K-series engine. Diesel and petrol engines based on the R-series were also offered in European markets. This model also underwent an update midway production to accommodate equipment upgrades.