Lots to like: Honda

Cast your mind back to the first Honda CR-V. It was some time ago, wasn’t it? Fast forward to today and the warrior is still battling on in the medium SUV segment which is figuratively bursting at the seams.

The latest CR-V is still a strong seller, especially when you consider the entry level Touring featured here. Despite being the base model and kicking off the range at $41,000 plus ORC, the Touring 2WD doesn’t feel like a cut price product.

Inside, the switchgear feels well put together and features like the 7-inch infotainment system are easy to operate. The driving position leaves you looking down on the LCD instruments ahead of you rather than directly ahead, but visibility is good all around. Oh, and the boot is a most capacious one.

Honda’s Sensing Safety Suite is also on hand along with a blind spot camera which displays the image of your blind spot on the infotainment screen when signalling a left turn. Another feature standard for 2022 is a power tailgate.

On the move, I was pleasantly surprised at just how well the CR-V Touring shifts. That 1.5L VTEC four at 50km/h sits comfortably at 1200rpm and ride comfort is refined and supple. CVT auto boxes can be ponderous at times but the CR-V’s manages quite well.

All in all, there is plenty to like here.

In brief:

Price: $41,000 plus ORC
Engine: 1.5L Four Cylinder VTEC Turbo
Transmission: CVT Auto
Drivetrain: 2WD
Power: 140kW
Torque: 240Nm
Combined Fuel Economy: 7.3L/100km
C02 Emissions: 166g/km
Boot Space: 522L
Towing Capacity: 1500kg