Filed under: Spy Photos, SUVs, Honda
Next Honda CR-V caught by Aussie mag
The next Honda CR-V due out in Japan later this year has been caught testing on the large isle of Australia with its more expensive sibling, the Acura RDX. And guess what, the darn thing’s bigger than the current model – surprise, surprise. Honda has to keep up with the Joneses, who are now driving a 269-hp Toyota RAV-4 with a third row bench. In addition to the increase in size the CR-V appears to slip through the wind with much less effort and its tailgate now hinges on the top instead of the sides.
[Thanks to all for the tip]
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Sid 7:45AM (4/26/2006)
Look! It's the Mazda CX-7.
Reply
Rob 7:55AM (4/26/2006)
Look! You're jealous of Honda. (just kidding...don't start flaming)
Reply
Rob 7:58AM (4/26/2006)
Look! Every car looks like another car nowadays!
Reply
amp 8:15AM (4/26/2006)
If you look closely at the rear glass, you'll see that it actually slopes down quite a bit. That's a bit of a shame. I think it's looks better with the faux chrome trim that boxes it out.
With these kinds of designs, they won't be calling this the "cute 'ute" segment for long.
Reply
GW 8:31AM (4/26/2006)
Hmmm, I'm surprised Honda is falling into the US automaker trap of bigger is better. I own a CRV and I like the fact it is small and OK (I would have preferred 30 mpg's) on gas. If I wanted bigger I would have stepped up to a Pilot.
Reply
JH 8:38AM (4/26/2006)
Must EVERYTHING always get bigger? Soon they'll just have to add a smaller SUV to pick up that end of the market... wouldn't it just be easier to keep each vehicle in it's respective class?
Third row seats do not make sense for EVERY vehicle. Only some. If the emptiness of the commuter lane this morning is any indication, most people are driving just themselves and no passengers. A lot of these no-passenger cars are big and with a lot of seats. I'm not on an environmental tirade, that's not my thing, I'm just saying it seems silly for all these people to be in a big SUV, when they could just assume be in a Miata.... they'll still have an empty seat, and most likely a bigger smile.
Reply
Tom Design 8:40AM (4/26/2006)
Congratulations to Honda. This is a vast improvement over the horrible styling of the past CRV. Gosh it was a horrible box design, with that nasty tire stuck on the back for so long...who needs to look at that? And all the problems in rear crashes with the steel arm crushing the door/window/wiper and causing major damage. They were awful designs, the RAV4 cleaned up considerably, and forced this lovely design from Honda. Honda has been poor at design for decades now. The new Civic Coupe is just a joy to look at. The Accord is still a morph'd mess, the Element just terrible box, the Pilot heavy and dated, the Ridgeline an Avalanche morph, and a nice looking vehicle was long overdue from this great engineering manufacturer. The Asians need to get creative in the styling department, and this cute little, curvey, attractive shape is an excellent start!
Reply
Richard Warren 8:49AM (4/26/2006)
On the BIGGER issue, went I went to Honda tech school on the Honda 600, the instructor stated: It's Honda's aim to build bigger and bigger cars, he was Japanese, was here for a year. All those years ago, he was correct.
And yes, it a great question. Why do they always have to get Bigger?
Reply
Richard Warren 8:51AM (4/26/2006)
Sorry, that should be when, not 2 wents
Reply
DJ 8:57AM (4/26/2006)
The rear three quarters remind me of pint sized Audi Q7
Reply
GrowUp 9:13AM (4/26/2006)
I don't get the bigger thing either, that's what the Pilot is for. Next, they'll be introducing a "new" smaller suv appeal to the demo that the CR-V used to be aimed at. When I bought my suv, it was mid-size. Now everyone's cute-utes make it look small. It's ridiculous...and who needs a 3rd the size of a Snickers bar anyway? Where are all these American families suddenly toting six kids everywhere? Have they driven our roads lately? Just try to find an suv full of people--it ain't easy find.
Reply
And 9:25AM (4/26/2006)
I don't understand the biggening either. The CRV occupied a certain segment of the industry. Now that they've made it bigger, it no longer competes with the mini-Utes. It is now rolling with the Pathfinders and Pilots and Pacificas and Highlanders. Does Honda even have a vehicle left in the mini-Ute segment? The Element? Why the 3rd row? Unless the 3rd row is in a full-sized SUV, I'm talking Expedition/Navigator sized, you get a ridiculously small bench seat with leg space unfit for a toddler. Why? Junk the 3rd row and leave it as storage. Even SUVs need some trunk space.
Is this RDX ever going to come out? I was looking for a vehicle to replace our utility car, and I liked the RDX. I've been waiting for it since January/February. The dealer told me it would be out in March. If they're still testing the darn thing, I'm just going to buy the Infiniti.
Reply
Optimus Prime 9:45AM (4/26/2006)
With RDX coming out and MDX moving upmarket, the Pilot will most likely move upmarket as well .. and so the CRV needs to move too. Although, Im glad they kept the 4 cylinder rather than plopping in the Accord V6 .. so, its still more of a cute-ute than the RAV4 which is now more Murano than CRV competitor.
Toyota is going to have a problem with Highlander and RAV4 so close in size now. They'll need to move Highlander up the food chain. Then again, Toyota is Number One ... so, who am i to argue their logic.
Reply
Mike Homeniuk 9:46AM (4/26/2006)
I, for one, welcome the "occasional use" 3rd rows. It would be wasteful for a small family like ours to be driving around in a minivan or large SUV all of the time when we only need extra seat duty occasionally.
Vehicles like the Mazda5, new Rav4 and Outlander and upcoming Kia Carens (Rondo?) make perfect sense for us.
Beats having to take 2 cars some of the time. As far as I know, there has been no mention yet of a third row for the CR-V, and it's dimensions haven't grown by that much, so who knows. Great that the spare is off the door finally (about the only fault with the new RAV4) and that it's a proper hatch. Hope the fuel economy is impressive.
Reply
Ian 10:11AM (4/26/2006)
It lloks like a more stylish and upated crossover which replaces the Pilot. The pilot is excellent, but the shape is rather "mundane" and boxy. Down the road I will be looking for a replacement of my ML320. I want better performance,(power and gas mileage) and I want more style. This combined with Honda quality, which is now way above MB quality and I think Honda could have a huge crossover winner.
Reply
Mike Homeniuk 10:27AM (4/26/2006)
According to Autoweek, it will continue to seat 5 in 2 rows, it's marginally longer, a bit wider, and lower than the current version. Also, just a small hp bump to 170. I guess, with no third row, it's off our "shortlist".
Reply
JH 10:28AM (4/26/2006)
What's wrong with a spair on the hatch? Seems perfectly reasonable to me.
Reply
CoffeeJedi 10:43AM (4/26/2006)
"What's wrong with a spair on the hatch? Seems perfectly reasonable to me."
wow, yeah, i just about to say the same thing... weird
I thought that the older "real" suv's of the 80's and early 90's like the Montero, Pathfinder, Land Rover Defender, Bronco, etc. looked great with a spare tire hanging off the back. (although a spare tire on the roof rack like many Cherokee owners add, looks even better imho)
Reply
MikeW 10:54AM (4/26/2006)
Honda should add the 3 liter V6 with cylinder shutoff standard.(and make it standard on all honda V6's)
Keep the 2.4 I4 & 5 speed auto standard with front drive.
Seeing as the MDX now has the SH drivetrain, the CR-v should now get the electromagnetically controlled clutch packs, in place of the crappy pump based system.
Reply
Can you believe it?!?!?!? 11:21AM (4/26/2006)
Where are you guys getting the spec information? I keep getting an error message when I click "Read". Is it just the picture or does it have more information.
Thanks in advance...
Reply