2023 Honda CR-V makes ASEAN debut with no diesel engine option

Updated Mar 21, 2023 | Same topic: Automotive Industry Updates

The crossover SUV instead gets a hybrid powertrain.

Honda has officially brought the 2023 CR-V to the ASEAN region at the 44th Bangkok International Motor Show (BIMS).

Honda CR-V front view

The next-gen Honda CR-V arrives in Thailand [Photo: BIMS]

While the design remains fairly familiar, the all-new Honda CR-V comes with significant technological and mechanical updates that should shake up the compact crossover segment. With the arrival of the new CR-V in our neighboring country, let’s see what this vehicle can offer.

Exterior

Let’s start with the exterior, which received a more contemporary appearance. This appears to be the design direction of the Japanese automaker as shown by the next-gen iterations of the Civic and HR-V. Honda Thailand is offering the vehicle with LED headlights, taillights, daytime running lights (DRLs), and front fog lamps as standard.

Honda CR-V front view

The crossover gets a more contemporary design [Photo: BIMS]

What’s not standard is the addition of a panoramic sunroof, which is made available on four out of five variants of the Thai-spec CR-V. Also, only the top-of-the-line e:HEV RS 4WD gets a set of 19-inch alloy wheels, while the rest of the range (E, ES 4WD, EL 4WD, e:HEV ES) uses 18-inch alloys.

The six exterior colors made available are Ignite Red Metallic, Canyon River Blue Metallic, Platinum White Pearl, Meteoroid Gray Metallic, and Crystal Black Pearl.

Interior

Moving into the interior, the cabin hosts a layout similar to the 11th-generation Honda Civic. The entry-level CR-V E comes with silver and piano black trims, while the mid-spec ES 4WD, EL 4WD, e:HEV ES get those in wood and piano black finish. As for the flagship model, brush aluminum and piano black trims are the go-to. Only the EL 4WD is fitted with seven seats as the rest are equipped with a 5-seater configuration.

Honda CR-V interior view

The standard interior color is black

Among the standard interior amenities include an eight-way driver power seat with four-way lumbar support with a memory function, a four-way front passenger power seat, and a wireless charger. The use of leather for the seats and steering wheel is also standard but the top-spec model is added with red stitching.

Tech & Safety

The Thai-spec Honda CR-V is installed with a nine-inch infotainment screen as standard, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Honda Connect is available on the ES 4WD, EL 4WD, e:HEV ES, and e:HEV RS 4WD.  Moreover, the infotainment is connected to eight speakers except for the top-spec variant that uses a 12-speaker Bose sound system.

Honda CR-V panoramic sunroof

A panoramic sunroof is made available

In terms of safety, the car brand’s advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) called Honda Sensing is standard across the range. It comes with the following functions:

  • Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow (ACC with LSF)
  • Auto High Beam (AHB)
  • Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)
  • Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
  • Lead Car Departure Notification System (LCDN)
  • Road Departure Mitigation System with Lane Departure Warning (RDM with LDW)

Meanwhile, only the top-of-the-line CR-V e:HEV RS 4WD benefits from Adaptive Driving Beam (ABD).

Engine & Powertrain

As mentioned in our previous report, the diesel option has been discontinued. The Honda CR-V E, ES, and EL are powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 gasoline engine capable of generating 187 horsepower and 240 Nm of torque. It is connected to a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Honda CR-V at Bangkok International Motor Show

A hybrid engine powers the crossover [Photo: BIMS]

The Honda CR-V e:HEV ES and e:HEV RS 4WD come with a larger 2.0-liter inline-4 engine that delivers 146 hp and 183 Nm of torque. It is then paired with electric motors that can produce 182 hp and 335 Nm of torque. With this setup, Honda Thailand states that the CR-V hybrid can produce a combined output of 204 hp. As for the transmission, the hybridized power unit is connected to an E-CVT (Electrical Continuously Variable Transmission). Variants with the 4WD moniker get the brand’s Real Time AWD system. 

Price

For your reference, see the list of the Thai-spec Honda CR-V prices below:

  • CR-V E – THB 1,419,000 (or around Php 2.262 million)
  • CR-V ES 4WD – THB 1,599,000 (Php 2.549 million)
  • CR-V EL 4WD – THB 1,649,000 (Php 2.629 million)
  • CR-V e:HEV ES – THB 1,589,000 (Php 2.533 million)
  • CR-V e:HEV RS 4WD – THB 1,729,000 (Php 2.757 million)

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Know more about Honda CR-V 2024

Honda CR-V

The 2024 Honda CR-V is a midsize crossover SUV. For the Philippine market, it has three variants: the V Turbo CVT, VX Turbo CVT, and the RS e:HEV (hybrid) e-CVT. 

The latest version of this Honda model has two different engine options. For the top-spec hybrid trim, it uses a 2.0-liter gasoline four-banger paired with a dual motor and lithium-ion battery. The combustion component alone produces up to 145 horsepower and 183 Nm of torque. The electric-powered component meanwhile, can churn out 181 horsepower and 335 Nm of torque. 

Aboard the V and VX trims meanwhile is a 1.5-liter inline-4 engine that can churn out 187 horsepower and 240 Nm of torque. 

Only the VX gets all-wheel-drive, while the rest are front-wheel-drive. All trims then use a continuously variable transmission (CVT), but the one on the hybrid trim is an electronic CVT (e-CVT). 

In terms of dimensions, the all-new CR-V is 4,691mm long, 1,866mm wide, and 1,681mm (1,691mm for VX) in height. Both the hybrid and the V’s wheelbase then spans 2,701mm (2,700mm for VX). 

Locally, the Honda CR-V competes against the likes of the Mazda CX-9, Cherry Tiggo 8 Pro, Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe, Peugeot 5008, etc. 
 

₱ 2,100,000 - ₱ 2,590,000

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Rex Sanchez

Rex Sanchez

Author

Rex Sanchez grew up in Saudi Arabia where he saw and got into the automotive scene. He started his career for an aviation company in the said region, writing about turbines and rotors which are later distributed for educational purposes. And now, he joined Philkotse.com as a staff writer. Currently, he is the youngest on the team and is more than ready to grow in the field.

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