Honda CR-V 2.2 i-DTEC
We welcome the CR-V to our fleet
The fourth generation Honda CR-V is the most refined and upmarket version yet so we're looking forward to running one for six months.
Date: 26 March 2013 | Current mileage: 284 | Claimed economy: 48.7mpg | Actual economy: 36.9mpg
After running the Skoda Superb 4x4 I'm now moving into a more conventional 4x4 - the new Honda CR-V. I was big fan of the previous generation model along with the Civic of the same time. I have to say I'm less enthusiastic about the new Civic so I did have my reservations about the CR-V before it arrived. The old one was so good that I knew this one had a lot to live up to.
The CR-V has certainly changed since the original model was launched in 1997. Back then it was a boxy 4x4 but it has changed beyond recognition to become a stylish and sleek car that's more crossover than traditional SUV. Compare it to rival cars like the Nissan X-Trail and Toyota RAV-4 and it's not only better looking but far more modern too.
The looks have certainly grown on me in the first few weeks. I wasn't sure about the styling to begin with. It looks quite like a Volvo XC60 at the back with its high rear lights on the pillars. It also seems quite short and squat - as if the wheebase could do with being a few inches longer. But I love the front end with its raked windsceen and swept back headlights which have an eagle wing-design to them.
I must admit that despite choosing the Pearlescent White Orchid Paint I wasn't too convinced initially, but like the rest of the car, it's grown on me and I think it looks good. I'd seen so many red ones about that I wanted something different, but tried to avoid silver or grey. It looks like a flat white from a distance but get close up, especially on a sunny day (like the glorious day we had when doing our main picture above) and you can see the pearlescent effect.
We chose the top of the range EX model with the 2.2 i-DTEC engine and the manual gearbox. That's a popular combination according to Honda and we can certainly see why you'd go for the diesel manual. Although the fact there's only one other choice - a 2.0-litre i-VTEC petrol - probably has something to do with it. We've had a brief drive in this version and will be doing a full comparison with our i-DTEC model in the coming weeks.
There are four trims - S, SE, SR and EX - so going for the top EX means we haven't had to choose many optional extras. None in fact aside from the Pearlescent Paint at £500. So although a price tag of £30,995 seems quite high - the base S model starts at £21,165 for a 2.0 i-VTEC with 2WD - the EX does come fully loaded. There's plenty of luxury kit including heated leather seats, a panoramic sunroof, electric seats, a powered tailgate and a comprehensive sat nav/stereo system. You can even hook up your iPod to it. Happy days.
The EX trim (and the SR) also gets neat polished 18-inch alloy wheels with dark grey inserts. They're some of the best alloy wheels I've seen on an SUV this size and really suit the CR-V. Of course the other thing I like about the CR-V is that it's built in Britain. Swindon to be precise, at Honda's huge plant which also makes the Civic and the Jazz.
From motorway to country road
One month in and the CR-V has proved superb on the motorway as we venture to various parts of the UK. So it's a shame it's not as good on country roads.
Date: 9 April 2013 | Current mileage: 1123 | Claimed economy: 48.7mpg | Actual economy: 39.2mpg
The CR-V has been with us for almost a month already and has covered more than 1000 miles in that time. Strangely it seems that most of that has been either motorway - a lot of the M1 and M25 - or country lanes. And from one extreme to the other the CR-V has shown both its strengths and some of its weaknesses.
First off the strengths. On the motorway it's been simply superb. It cruises with such refinement that it reminds of the Jaguar XF I ran for six months - and loved. Get it in sixth and it will cosset you along with minimal fuss while the excellent i-DTEC engine is barely working. The 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel may not be the most powerful diesel around with an output of 150PS - but it's one of the best on the market for refinement and low noise.
Compared to the 2.0 TDI 170S in the Skoda Superb 4x4 I ran previously, the i-DTEC engine seems so much quieter, especially on start up. I'm sure the neighbours appreciate that when I have a 4am start for an early flight from Heathrow. Even when you rev it hard - which there's no real need to do - it doesn't stray into coarse territory. Like the i-CDTi engine it replaced, it's one of the best diesels on the market. For my money it's the best four-cylinder diesel around with maybe the exception of the Volkswagen Group 2.0 TDI 150PS which is in our Audi A3.
CR-V - good at speed, not so good on the twisty stuff
This refinement flows through to the rest of the CR-V. At speed there's very little noise either from the road or from wind around the pillars. It's a very relaxing car for long journeys. And that's been good noise for my trips down the M4 to Wales and round the M25 to Reigate, plus of course my regular journey to South London and Selhurst Park. While the football hasn't been great lately at least I have the comfort of the CR-V on the way home.
But it's when you get the CR-V away from main roads that the shine beguns to dull. On the rural roads around my home, the Honda doesn't feel as accomplished or as nimble as the old one. This is the case with the new Civic and unfortunately the same has happened to the CR-V. While Honda has succeeded in making it more refined, the CR-V has lost the sharpness it once had.
That's mainly down to the steering. The suspension set-up is pretty good and there's not too much body roll in corners, but the steering is very light and not especially responsive, especially compared to the old CR-V. It needs more lock in corners than you'd expect and feels a little slack. Rivals like the new Hyundai Santa Fe are better.
Some people might point out that SUVs like the Honda aren't meant to be thrown around country lanes and I quite agree, but if some manufacturer's can succeed in making a 4x4 that handles well and is still comfortable, then why can't Honda. After all, the old CR-V managed both.
Temperamental touchscreen
The sat nav system is our CR-V is excellent - one of the best we've come across in fact - but other parts of the system can be frustrating to use.
Date: 23 April 2013 | Current mileage: 1876 | Claimed economy: 48.7mpg | Actual economy: 39.8mpg
As I spend more time in the CR-V, especially on long journeys, the more I've had time to play with all the various on board systems. Like most drivers, my main interaction with a car - aside from the steering wheel - is with the sat nav and stereo. It's probably the thing I use the most on a journey and when you're on a long drive, especially if it's to a new destination, having a clear and easy to use system makes all the difference.
As our CR-V is the top of the range EX model it not only gets the premium audio system with DAB+ (which comes as standard on the SR) but you also get the integrated hard drive based sat nav system. This is by far one of the best system I've come across on any car - and that includes the Audi and BMW systems. It's easy to add a destination, it takes full seven digit postcodes (something my father's 2011 BMW 520d with the optional £2000 Professional Sat Nav system doesn't manage) and the map is clear and easy to follow.
It all sounds like obvious stuff but it's amazing how many sat nav systems are still difficult to use. It even gives you three routes to choose from - the shortest, the fastest and the one with the most motorway. The little switch in the bottom right corner even lets you move about the map easily plus zooming in and out is a doodle thanks to a proper button rather than icons on the touchscreen - they're never easy to use on the move.
The CR-V actually has two screens (well three if you count the one between the dials but I'm leaving that out for now). Aswell as the main screen there's a second screen on top of the dash that shows your trip computer, sat nav directions at junctions, what music you're playing or can be left blank. It looks nice but I don't really find it that useful, although I do like that fact that you can set it to show album artwork from your iPod - a modern touch, even if the music I'm listening to isn't.
Second display looks good but isn't especially useful
The problem's aren't with that screen though - it's the main screen that can be frustrating. First off is the angle it's at. As there's no cowling (like the smaller top screen) and it's angled upwards, as soon as there's a bit of sun the light bounces straight off it and it's hard to see. Factor in the fact our CR-V has a panoramic sunroof and this soon becomes annoying.
The touchscreen doesn't seem quite calibrated either. If you go to press a button, you often find that you've inadvertantly selected the button below. It means you have to, very deliberately, press the top of the button you want in order to make it work properly. There are plenty of things I like though. The DAB radio is fantastic and really easy to use. The main screen for the radio is nice and clear too - not cluttered up with too many functions - so it's easy to switch stations although for the majority of the time I've got BBC 6Music on.
The biggest annoyance comes when you plug in an iPod or iPhone. The fact the Honda comes with a compatible USB port as standard is a big plus point, you don't need a specific cable like you do on an Audi, instead you just plug in your iPod cable and it works through the stereo.
The problem comes when you want to listen to a specific song or album. The search function is fine if you have a few songs, but with around 12,000 songs on my iPod and hundreds of artists, getting to something begginning with T or V can take an age. The quickest way is to repeatedly press the double arrow symbol but even that takes ages and it's not very easy to do when driving. Miss hit it and you select 'back to current song' which then means you have to start again. From the letter A.
In fact whenever you've finished listening to a song, if you want to select a different artists, or even a different album by the same artists, you have to go right back to the beginning of choosing 'artist' and then once again searching through starting from A. It soon gets very frustrating.
The CR-V's luxury touches
Our top of the range CR-V has some luxury car features but do they just look good on paper or are they actual useful?
Date: 13 May 2013 | Current mileage: 2588 | Claimed economy: 48.7mpg | Actual economy: 39.2mpg
While Honda doesn't have the biggest model range around - in fact compared to a manufacturer like Ford it only has a handful of different models - the brand has focussed on the quality of what it offers. It's certainly the most upmarket of the mainstream Japanese brands, with a more premium feel to its cars then Nissan and Toyota.
Quality certainly runs through the CR-V. When Honda launched this generation CR-V - and the Civic - it was keen to point out a key focus was improving refinement. That's immediately evident when you start the engine. It's incredibly smooth and quiet, especially compared to something like Nissan's dCi engine. Then there's the superb ride quality. While the Honda isn't as sharp in corners as you'd want, it rides incredibly well for an SUV, even with the big 18-inch alloys that are fitted to our EX model.
But what's impressed me on our CR- V is the luxury touches it features. Like the electric boot (pictured in action above). It's great when you have hands full of shopping (especially if it's raining) and it's a pretty fast system compared to some. When the car is mucky it saves you getting your hands dirty when closing the boot, instead you can just press the button and let it close in a far more civilised fashion.
My only issue with is that sometimes it doesn't want to open. It's usually okay from the key but if you touch the boot handle, it will sometimes open electrically and sometimes won't. When you're in a rush it can be frustrating and I don't want to keep overriding the motor as it's unlikely to do it any good.
Big mirrors are useful but don't fold automatically
And while we're on the topic of electrically operated things my other gripe is with the electrically folding mirrors. Unlike most cars, they don't fold automatically when you lock the car. Instead you have to press a button by the mirrors control. But annoyingly they only fold when the engine is running, not just when the ignition is on. I usually realise I haven't folded the mirrors just as I'm getting out, so I then have to restart the car, fold the mirrors, and then turn it all off again.
They're quite big mirrors too and where I park the CR-V on a narrow road, it's useful to fold the mirrors to stop anything, like the council dustcart, from knocking them.
There are no such problems with the glass roof though. The CR-V has a huge panoramic glass roof. It's great when you're parked up and want some extra light in the cabin while on sunny days it's just nice to be able to enjoy a rare bit of sunshine. Of course there's a full length blind so that at night or on grey days, it looks like a normal roof from inside.
Panoramic roof comes as standard on our EX model
Improving economy
The CR-V certainly goes well but it's been off the pace when it comes to fuel economy, so some recent motorway journeys have been very welcome.
Date: 30 May 2013 | Current mileage: 3203 | Claimed economy: 48.7mpg | Actual economy: 40.4mpg
The last two weeks have seen the CR-V continue to perform faultlessly as it takes me round the country. That superb 2.2-litre i-DTEC engine is getting better and better as it covers more miles and is ideally suited to motorway driving. You can leave it in sixth gear and it will happily pull, even from low revs, with plenty of poke in the mid range.
Not that I'm surprised of course. I ran an old shape Civic 2.2 i-CDTi for a year which I absolutely loved. That had a great 2.2-litre diesel engine in it which so Honda clearly has the knack when it comes to making good diesels. The six-speed manual gearbox with its precise gear change and a nicely weighted clutch mean the CR-V is easy to drive, even in central London traffic which it recently had to contend with, providing the transport for all the gear required for our annual awards.
But aside from that trip to the capital, the CR-V has been pottering along motorways as I've attempted to increase the fuel economy. For the past couple of months, consumption has been hovering around the 38mpg to 39mpg mark which isn't too bad considering the claimed average for our EX model is 48.7mpg (the lower specification S and SE models have a claimed figure of 50.4mpg).
So over the last few weeks I've made a concerted effort to improve economy with a lighter right foot in the hope it will get nearer 40mpg. Considering that other new CR-V owners on Real MPG are seeing 43mpg for the same 2.2 i-DTEC manual model, that's a fairly conservative aim.
It's not taken too much to get the economy to increase to 40.4mpg over the past two weeks. I've not done any special 'economy' driving, just a bit more looking ahead and coasting up to roundabouts or junctions. Being a bit more gentle on the accelerator has helped too and made for a very relaxed atmosphere in the CR-V. Of course it has helped that I've not been carrying any real weight (or other passengers) in the Honda and the absence of any real warm weather has meant I've not had to use the air conditioning either. Not that I'd mind a bit of summer any time soon...
Compared to the competition the CR-V's economy looks good too. The Hyundai Sante Fe (one of our other favourite SUVs) is a close rival for the Honda and also has a 2.2-litre diesel engine and four-wheel drive. According to the Real MPG figures owners are seeing 37.7mpg against a claimed 46.3mpg. The Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TDI 140PS 4Motion is better returning 41.6mpg on Real MPG.
I'll be hoping to improve the economy on our CR-V further in the next few weeks to try and get it to 43mpg. That includes turning the ECON mode on to see if it makes a noticeable difference. The green ECON button controls the air conditioning compressor and decreases the voltage of the fan drive to reduce the load on the engine. In the petrol CR-V it also alters the mapping of the drive by wire throttle system for a smoother delivery in torqu, but there are no such changes in our diesel version.
CR-V practicality
The CR-V is being used to carry around my trusty and often dirty mountain bike. It's an awkward thing to load but the CR-V's large boot really helps.
Date: 14 June 2013 | Current mileage: 3644 | Claimed economy: 48.7mpg | Actual economy: 39.4mpg
Like all the cars I run on Our Cars, the CR-V has had to deal with carrying my mountain bike. The trusty Trek may not exactly be cutting edge any longer - and it's anything but lightweight - but I still love it. The only problem is trying to transport it. Without a proper bike rack it invariable goes in the boot of whatever car I have. That's not easy in many vehicles - especially as my bike has a big 19-inch frame.
Having the Skoda Superb over the winter meant I had plenty of room for the bike and although the CR-V is a big car, I did have reservations that it wouldn't be as spacious as the Superb Estate when it came to outright boot space. The Skoda has 633 litres of boot space whereas the Honda is slightly smaller with 598 litres.
Thankfully the taller shape of the CR-V and the wide opening of the boot means loading my bike in is actually easier than it was in the Skoda. I still have to take off the front wheel but I can now have the bike more upright and still put the tonneau cover in place, which is useful as it means the bike is less obviously on show, helped by the rear privacy glass.
But what makes the biggest difference is that you can have one of the rears seats down (admittedly the 40 part of the 60/40 split) so you can carry three people if need be. You have to be gently in corners though otherwise whoever is sitting in the back will get a bit of tyre or pedal jabbed in them.
Loading and unloading the bike is easier than a standard estate too thanks to the higher ride height. There is a slight load lip which can be a hinderance when lifting the bike in - other SUVs fit a false floor to rise the base to the same height as the bumper. The plus of having the load lip means the bike is secure on the move and won't scratch the inside of the boot lid.
Later this year i'll be taking my bike and another to Wales for a week and for that I'm going to invest in a proper bicycle rack as there's no way I'll get two bikes and a week's worth of gear in the Honda. Well, not without a lot of hard work and swearing. Instead i'm going to get a bike rack for the back or possible investigate the cost of a roof mounted carrier.
The CR-V fits the bike in the back and still leaves room for a rear passenger
CR-V: Petrol or diesel
While most people will by default choose a diesel CR-V, there is a petrol option in the shape of a 2.0 i-VTEC. So how does it compare?
Date: 28 June 2013 | Current mileage: 4016 | Claimed economy: 48.7mpg | Actual economy: 39.1mpg
When I specified our car, like the majority of CR-V owners I chose a diesel. It was pretty much a no brainer given how good the Honda i-DTEC diesel is and the kind of car the CR-V is. It was designed for long distance cruising rather than tearing along country lanes so the refined and relaxed diesel engine suits it perfectly.
I didn't even consider the petrol engine - a 2.0 i-VTEC - even though I was a big fan of the 1.8 i-VTEC engine in the previous shape Civic, which is in my opinion one of the best cars of recent years. That i-VTEC engine was great fun in the Civic, but you did have to work it and it had a buzzy nature. It wasn't the ideal choice for long motorway trips and could be quite frantic at times.
So in a large car like the CR-V I didn't think an i-VTEC would really work if it was like the 1.8-litre version. Fortunately I was able to test one and compare it to our i-DTEC version. This 2.0 i-VTEC model is an EX - so an identical trim to our car - and opting for the petrol saves you £2000. This particular model has an automatic gearbox rather than the standard six-speed manual and that's an extra £1500, so as they stand, there's little between them in price.
It also comes in a very nice shade of Twilight Blue Metallic. It really suits the CR-V well and makes it appear smaller than the white paintwork of our car. I'm not soo sure on the cream leather interior though.
Start up the i-VTEC and the first you you notice is how quiet it is. Not that the diesel is exactly noisy, but the smooth petrol is near silent. And once you're on the move it remains that way. In fact round town it's really impressive and the five-speed automatic gearbox suits it well. It makes for a relaxed and refined driving experience.
Five-speed automatic is smooth but not especially responsive
However, the i-VTEC does have its shortcomings which are exposed when you get onto an open road. To be fair, it's as much down to the combination of the petrol engine with the automatic gearbox. The engine has 155PS - so a smidge more than the i-DTEC, but that peaks up at 6500rpm. In terms of torque it only has 192Nm compared to 350Nm.
What that means is a real lack of pulling power, which is especially noticeable on the motorway in fifth gear. If you want acceleration you often have to force the gearbox to kick down - it often seems reluctant to - and although the engine doesn't feel strained at high revs it's not a particularly pleasant experience compared to the relaxed nature of the diesel which will pull and pull in sixth.
Like the i-DTEC, the petrol comes with an Eco Button. With a manual this mode merely alters things like the air conditioning but when you have an automatic gearbox it alters the way it shifts gear. This helps economy and discourages hard acceleration by making the throttle less responsive. It may sound frustrating but when you're just pottering about you really don't notice too much difference and it helps you to drive more economically.
So what of fuel economy? Well the claimed figure for the 2.0 i-VTEC 4WD is 37.2mpg while adding in the automatic gearbox sees this fall to 36.7mpg. Over our week with the petrol CR-V we saw around 31mpg which if you're only doing small miles, is not a bad figure. There is a 2WD i-VTEC which averages a claimed 39.2mpg.
The petrol version of the CR-V isn't my choice - i'm very happy with the i-DTEC diesel - but I can see the merits of the cheaper i-VTEC version if you're only doing low miles and mainly drive in town. For an older driver who doesn't need too much in the way of performance, the refinement of the petrol and the ease of the automatic gearbox would be very appealing.
My long distance companion
More long distance driving in the CR-V has given me time to appreciate how refined the Honda is and how good the seats are.
Date: 12 July 2013 | Current mileage: 4233 | Claimed economy: 48.7mpg | Actual economy: 40.7mpg
It's been back on the motorway of late for our CR-V. I've once again been darting around the country visiting such exotic locations as Lincoln, Sussex and mid Wales. So there's been plenty of long and dull motorway journeys, although with the DAB digital radio in our car - and the iPod connector - i've not been short of things to listen to.
The motorway is certainly where the CR-V is at its best. It effortlessly covers miles with little noise or fuss and I've actually started to really like it of late. Here, the bouncy ride and wooly steering aren't an issue, instead you get to appreciate the refinement and its ability to glide over cats eyes and uneven bits of motorway without transmitting all the noise in the cabin.
Given its size the CR-V is also very quiet in terms of wind noise. Even those big mirrors don't create any buffeting, making for a serene and relaxed driving experience, even at higher speeds. The fact the i-DTEC engine will pull from sixth gear at pretty much any speed helps too. As does the cruise control.
But one of the best features of our CR-V is the excellent leather seats. Previously I ran a Skoda Superb Estate and was mightily impressed by the seats in that, but the CR-V is even better. They managed to blend comfort with support and you really do like you're sitting in them rather than on them which can be the case with some 4x4s like this.
The Honda's leather seats are some of the most comfortable I've experienced
The leather seats have a real quality feel to them and the electric adjustment gives plenty of scope to get the right driving position. There's also a memory function although I've yet to fathom quite how it works. I'll often save my seat position but if someone else moves it, pressing the memory 1 function doesn't seem to get me back to where it should be. If I get a chance to look through the tome-like owner's handbook maybe I'll find the answer.
Next up for the CR-V is another trip to mid-Wales, only this time it will be working hard. I'll be helping a friend who is filming a couple of new cars and the quiet roads of Wales are the ideal place. It means the CR-V will be used as the support vehicle, transporting all the kit there and then being used as a tracking car once we're there. Basically a general dogsbody.
I'm hoping the bouncy ride won't be too much of an issue for filming and that the CR-V will smooth out those often poor quality rural roads. I know it won't have any problems transporting all the camera gear - we've already dropped the rear seats and made sure everything fits in. It's amazing the amount it can carry.
The trip will also give me a chance to see what fuel economy is like when the CR-V is fully laden. There will be some heavy equipment in the back and as well as motorway, lots of rural lanes to contend with. It'll be a good test of the CR-V's all round abilities.
CR-V turns camera car
The CR-V has been working hard of late as it's pressed into action as a camera crew car on a film shoot in mid Wales.
Date: 26 July 2013 | Current mileage: 4777 | Claimed economy: 48.7mpg | Actual economy: 38.2mpg
I'm a big fan of picturesque mid Wales - the Elan valley in particular. It's one of the most beautiful places in the UK and certainly one of my favourite, especially in the summer when it's a great place to explore on foot or a bike. Even when it's busy, the fact it's such a big area means you can find plenty of quiet parts and after a day walking round the dams, it's very rewarding to get a beer at the end of the day.
It's also a great place for photographing or filming cars. Many magazines and websites use the quiet roads in the area giving great shots with great backdrops. It's this very thing that attracted a good friend of mine who was filiming a couple of cars and wanted some quality locations. With all the kit and the need to film one car from another, the CR-V seemed the perfect choice as a support and camera car. So we kitted up and headed off.
It was another good test of the practicality of the Honda. While my mountain bike fits in, this time we had plenty of big and heavy boxes full of camera and sound gear. Videoing rather than stills photography involves a lot more equipment including a dolly rail for moving shots. This is made up of two metre long plastic tubes that link together - not easy to transport.
Luckily with the front passenger seat slid forward, the dolly rail sections fitted in (as you can see below) along with all the cleaning gear, tripods plus of course our own bags and waterproofs (this is Wales after all...). With it fully loaded up, the CR-V did look quite low down on its suspension and the extra weight did the Honda few favours in corners. But on the motorway, the i-DTEC engine felt as strong as always.
Once in Wales we had three days of filming and it was the CR-V that did much of the hard work. Its high ride height and big tailgate meant it was ideal as a tracking car. Given the size of the camera and tripod, a conventional estate wouldn't have been big enough. The extra height makes front tracking shots look much better too. The only annoyance was the constant warning beep caused by driving with the tailgate open. It takes an age to cease.
The Honda certainly took plenty of abuse. Throughout the day it was constantly unloaded and reloaded with camera cases and all the other kit. Yet even after that the carpet in the boot and on the back of the seats (which were permanently folded down) didn't wear at all. In fact afterwards, with it all cleaned, it looked as good as new.
The soft ride of the CR-V also really helped, especially as we were doing filming rather than stills. Being able to iron out some of the poor road surfaces meant much smoother shots and a much easier and more comfortable for the camera operator. We also were able to set up a clamp on the side of the CR-V for rear tracking shots and the flat sides of the Honda really worked in our favour for the suction clamps.
All this extra weight and lots of short bursts of accelerating and braking haven't done economy any good though. It has dropped to 38.2mpg although on the way back, some gentle motorway driving was already seeing this start to improve. The real proof of the how good the CR-V is comes from my friend who is now so impressed with it as a car for filming that he's going to buy one.
A tale of two i-DTEC diesels
Honda has launched a new more efficient 1.6 i-DTEC in the CR-V so how does it compare to the 2.2 i-DTEC in our car?
Date: 9 August 2013 | Current mileage: 4905 | Claimed economy: 48.7mpg | Actual economy: 39.0mpg
Honda has often been hamstrung by its limited engine range. Compared to other mainstream rivals like Ford or Volkswagen, the firm's engine line-up looks decidedly meagre. Take the new Civic for example, at launch there were just three engine options with only a single diesel. The Focus on the other hand has eight different engine choices and that's not including the performance ST.
So the launch of Honda's latest engine is big news. The 1.6 i-DTEC was first introduced in the Civic to much acclaim and now it's made its way into the CR-V range. So how does it compare to the exisiting 2.2 i-DTEC - a very highly rated engine?
Well on paper there's not a great deal of difference in terms of power. The 2.2 i-DTEC has 150PS and 350Nm of torque compared to 120PS and 300Nm in the 1.6 i-DTEC plus the lower powered model is front wheel drive only so doesn't have the extra weight of the four-wheel drive system. In fact it is 116kg lighter in total which is the equivalent of two adults.
But what's on paper and what's reality are two different things and despite only have slightly less power, the 1.6 i-DTEC doesn't feel as strong as the 2.2-litre engine. It pulls reasonably well if you keep it around the 2500rpm mark and in gentle driving there's little to choose between the two, but when you want that extra bit of poke, the 1.6 i-DTEC needs to be worked whereas the 2.2 i-DTEC will pull with less fuss.
The real place you notice the difference is on the motorway. You can't just leave the 1.6 i-DTEC in sixth gear and let it do all the work like you can with the 2.2-litre. More often than not you need to change down if you want meaningful acceleration, which doesn't do the fuel economy any good. It's also noisier at high revs and on a long incline with a full load on board, the 1.6-litre does feel somewhat strained.
Of course the big advantage of the 1.6 i-DTEC engine is economy. As it is front wheel drive and considerably lighter, it means better fuel consumption - up from 50.4mpg in the 2.2 i-DTEC to 62.8mpg in the 1.6 i-DTEC. CO2 is much lower too meaning cheaper annual car tax while it's a much more attractive choice for company car drivers.
There are more differences between the two engines too. Honda has made some significant changes to the handling and suspension with softer springs at the front and stiffer damper settings. The result is that it's more agile than the 2.2 i-DTEC and far better in corners with less body roll and a sharper feel to the steering. That does address the criticisms I've had of our 2.2 i-DTEC model but it seems strange to us that the lower powered model is now the better and more focussed to drive.
Personally I'd choose the 2.2 i-DTEC over the 1.6 i-DTEC model as the extra power makes it more relaxed to drive. Also having regularly driven our CR-V with a full load on board I appreciate the stronger in-gear performance and while fuel economy hasn't been outstanding in our car, it's kind of what I expected from a 4x4 this size.
| Model | CR-V 2.2 i-DTEC | CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC |
| Power | 150PS | 120PS |
| Torque | 350Nm | 300Nm |
| Fuel Economy | 50.4mpg* | 62.8mpg |
| CO2 | 149g/km* | 119g/km |
| Annual VED | £140 | £30 |
| 0-62mph | 9.7 seconds | 11.2 seconds |
| Drive | 4WD | 2WD |
| *figures for S, S-T and SE models |
Visually there are no differences between the 1.6 i-DTEC and the 2.2 i-DTEC
It's farewell to our trusty Honda
After six fuss-free months we're saying goodbye to our ever reliable and practical CR-V. And it's a car that will be missed.
Date: 13 September 2013 | Current mileage: 4777 | Claimed economy: 48.7mpg | Actual economy: 38.2mpg
So after six months our Honda CR-V is departing and I'm going to really miss it. It's been faultless during its time with us proving to be a great all-rounder. Practical, comfortable and with a quality finish it's also impressed others - so much so that one of my friends is now buying one having spent time in RK13 OPP. And he's coming out of an Audi to do so.
He was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the interior and felt the Honda had a premium feel to it lacking in other similar mainstream makes. I have to say I agree that the CR-V does feel a cut above many other SUVs. There's just a bit more refinement and finesse to the cabin. Plus it's very practical. Of course you'd expect that from an SUV this size but it's not always the case with some of the competition. Luckily Honda is a company that's always been able to build practical but stylish cars.
It's the small touches that sometimes make a big difference. Like the easy fold rear seats. All you have to do is pull one handle and the base of the seat flips up before the rear bit folds down flat. It's so simple but so useful. The electric opening tailgate is another handy feature although considering our car is a top of the range EX model costing £31k you'd expect some decent extras. It can be a bit temperamental too - sometimes it works from the handle on the tailgate and sometimes it doesn't. I never did work it out.
Where the CR-V has really impressed me is on long journeys. The ride quality is excellent and it's great on the motorway which is where it has spent much of its time with me. It's quiet, comfortable and the impressive 2.2 i-DTEC - for my money the most refined diesel of its size around - doesn't have to be worked hard. In fact you can leave it in sixth gear and it will happily pull with zero stress.
The Honda has been less impressive when it comes to dealing with corners. It's had several trips to mid-Wales where there are some epic driving roads. Unfortunately the CR-V is not the ideal car for it. It doesn't fill you with confidence in corners and lacks the responsive steering and body control of the previous CR-V. Yes it's more comfortable than the old model but that's come at a price. On the plus side it is easy to drive in town and thanks to the light steering and reversing camera, easy to park in tight spaces.
The multi media system was a bit hit and miss though. Some things were excellent - the sat nav is easy to use and finds routes quickly. It never gave me a duff route in the whole time I had it. The standard DAB was great too especially as I listen to 6Music and I got so used to it that getting into a car without DAB - even if it was a Porsche - felt like a step backward.
But the location of the screen and the way it's angled mean it's difficult to read in bright sunlight and the sensitivity of the screen was slightly awry too. It was if it needed to be recalibrated as you'd often go to touch a button and end up pressing the one below. Very frustrating when you want to quickly enter a destination or choose a track on your iPod.
And what of economy? Well we never did manage to achieve the claimed average of 48.7mpg. The closest we got was around 40mpg although it seems I needed to try harder. The latest check on Real MPG shows owners of the same 2.2 i-DTEC manual are averaging 44.2mpg.
This may sound like a lot of negatives, but they're all really quite minor. It goes to show how good the CR-V is that the only criticisms I have are relatively small issues. Overall I was massively impressed by the Honda SUV in the six months we had it and I'm sad to see it go.
