Honda CR-V set to grow in its next-generation

An early development mule of the next Honda CR-V shows that the popular crossover is getting ready for a serious growth spurt.

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It’s been accepted that cars grow with each successive generation. Honda looks to be stretching that theory as it conducts testing of the next-generation CR-V. It’s big.

Judging by these images, Honda has essentially taken a CR-V and inserted a big, long door between the B- and C-pillars, stretching the wheelbase by what has to be several inches at the very least. This makes it a virtual certainty that when the new model debuts, it’ll be with both five- and seven-passenger variants. Not only will this give Honda an advantage over basically all of its two-row-only competitors, it’ll also create separation between its new entry level CUV, the HR-V.

Judging by the camouflage, we’re also betting Honda has made some serious changes to the front end while still using the old CR-V’s bones. You can see the engineers have jury-rigged some hefty auxiliary lights on the front fenders, since the entire fascia has been covered. And in back, there are (weirdly for a CR-V) two prominent exhausts.

Judging by these images, the next CR-V is still pretty early in its development cycle. We wouldn’t expect it to debut before early 2017.

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