These are really interesting times for the SUV buyer. The war of the SUVs is just hotting up. Tata came up with a 2.2l Dicor, Mahindra & Mahindra came up with a 2.2l mHawk engine, the recently introduced Chevrolet Captiva is powered by a 2.0l engine and now it is Japanese giant Honda's turn. With Hyundai's Santa Fe, Volkswagen Tiguan and the automatic Scorpio poised to enter the Indian SUV market very soon, the customer is pleased as punch. Never before was the buyer so spoilt for choice as he is now.
Having established itself in the premium league of SUVs, Honda CR-V recently unveiled its globally popular 2.0l model after introducing India to its 2.4l predecessor five years back. Agile, lighter and offering decent fuel economy, it makes for a great city and even weekend soft-roader.
One look at the new Honda CR-V and it is difficult to tell the new 2.0l model from its predecessor. There is no evidence on the new 2.0l CR-V that declares it to be the latest 2.0l entrant. With its chubby looks and dimpled chin the CR-V looks every bit inviting, imploring you to take it for a spin.
A smaller looking 2.0l engine powers this model of the CR-V. This 1997cc, 4-cylinder, 16 valve DOHC engine in the CR-V delivers maximum power of 143 ps@6000rpm and torque of 190 Nm@4200rpm . The only complaint that many CR-V lovers will have is that there is no automatic variant on this model and it only comes with a 6-speed manual gearbox. This model's engine is a whopping 70kg lighter than the 2.4l CR-V on account of not having a 4WD system (this model comes with a 2WD) and a lighter motor.
Although it is less powerful than its 2.4l predecessor, it still is loads of fun to drive especially at top speeds where its exceptional handling and performance are actually meant to be experienced.
On the inside, the CR-V gets an electric steering that is precise and like all Honda cars very comfortable to grip with the Honda logo beaming at you in sparkling chrome. The 6CD changer also isn't available on this model, instead what you get is a single CD player which does a neat job in terms of meeting your acoustic needs. Also, the handbrake is very different from the 2.4l model. Here, what you get is a contemporary looking lever, much like what you'd see on a flight simulator along with an additional power socket to power your gadgets and gizmos. Beige coloured leather seats, dash mounted gearbox and most other frills remain the same on this model.
So with the new CR-V all set to take on its competitors, the big question is will the price cut be incentive enough for CR-V lovers to turn their attention towards this smaller capacity unit? Well, the new engine is definitely frugal and the improved fuel figures from the previous 2.4l model should steer many towards this 2.0l engine. However, coughing up Rs. 21.41 lakh, although at that price, it is still Rs 1.54 lakh cheaper than its 2.4l sibling, does seem a tad steep for a Honda badge.
