2017 Honda CR-V launched in Malaysia – three 1.5L Turbo, one 2.0L NA, priced from RM142k to RM168k

Honda Malaysia has officially introduced the 2017 Honda CR-V in the country, and the fifth-generation RW arrives here in four variant forms, three of which are turbocharged. The three turbo versions are led by the range-topping 1.5L Turbo Premium 2WD, which is equipped with Honda Sensing and LaneWatch, and this is followed by the the 1.5L Turbo in 2WD and 4WD guise.

All the turbo variants are equipped with a 1.5 litre direct injection turbocharged VTEC engine, the same seen on the Civic, but output of the L15B7 has been bumped up in this application to 193 PS at 5,600 rpm and 243 Nm of torque from 2,000 to 5,000 rpm, or 20 PS and 23 Nm more than that on the sedan. Performance numbers include a 0-100 km/h time of 8.8 seconds for the Turbo 2WD and Turbo Premium 2WD, and 9.2 seconds for the Turbo 4WD, with all having the same 200 km/h top speed.

The fourth CR-V is a normally-aspirated version, and the 2.0L i-VTEC 2WD is the entry-level offering in the new CR-V range. The base model retains the previously-seen R20 naturally-aspirated 2.0 litre i-VTEC motor with 154 PS at 6,500 rpm and 189 Nm at 4,300 rpm, good enough for a 0-100 km/h time of 11.3 seconds and a 193 km/h top speed. All four CR-V models feature Honda’s Earth Dreams CVT transmission, which replaces the five-speed auto seen in the outgoing model.

Measuring 4,584 mm long, 1,855 mm wide and 1,689 mm tall, the new CR-V is six millimetres shorter but 35 mm wider and four millimetres higher than the previous-gen, while the wheelbase has seen an increase of 40 mm, now measuring 2,660 mm.

Some other relevant numbers. Ground clearance is 198 mm, except for the 4WD model, which has an additional 10 mm (208 mm) of clearance. Kerb weight is 1,520 kg for the 2.0L NA, while the Turbo 2WD is 1,543 kg. The Turbo 4WD, meanwhile, tips the scales at 1,595 kg, while the top-of-the-line Turbo Premium 2WD weighs in at 1,549 kg.

The automaker says that the new car offers best-in-class space, and interior volume has been bumped up to around the 4,100 litre mark, roughly around 100 litres more than the old car. Boot space with the second-row rear seats up is 522 litres, and 1,084 litres with the seats folded flat – in this particular configuration, 1,830 mm of flat floor cargo space is available.

As already highlighted previously, the complete CR-V range sold in Malaysia are all five-seat versions, which is along the lines the SUV was designed on. According to Honda Malaysia, a survey showed buyers in the target market don’t really look at extra seating as a primary point of consideration, instead placing space and features ahead of the additional seats, and so the decision was made to retain the familiar five-seat layout.

The CR-V is pretty comprehensively equipped, even at base model level. Standard equipment across the entire range includes auto LED headlights and LED DRLs and fog lamps, black combination leather seats, walk-away auto door locking, smart keyless entry with push-start ignition, paddle shifters, dual-zone air-conditioning and rear AC vents.

Also on, cruise control, an auto dimming rear view mirror, eight-way driver powered seat with lumbar support and four-way passenger powered seat, four-way rear parking sensors, two rear USB charging ports, a three-spoke leather wrapped steering wheel and one-touch folding seats.

All the CR-V variants also come equipped with an eight-speaker, seven-inch Advanced Display Audio system with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and hands-free telephone connectivity along with two front USB and HDMI ports.

There’s also a full colour LCD TFT instrument meter panel, which can display a number of functions, the readouts including telephone calls, music and FM station selection. On the 4WD model, the instrument panel can also display torque distribution.

Away from the 2.0L i-VTEC 2WD, the turbo models come with auto wipers and four-corner front parking sensors. The normally-aspirated 2.0 litre also gets silver interior trim accents and rides on 17-inch alloys wrapped with 235/65 rubbers, while all the turbo variants get a wood finish and are equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels and 235/60 tyres.

The 1.5L Turbo Premium 2WD adds on auto high beam, active cornering lights and a height-adjustable powered tailgate, which can be programmed to open to a certain height for ease of use.

It’s also the only variant equipped with the Honda Sensing suite of driver assistance systems, which we have already detailed in our preview drive with the car.

The range-topping CR-V 1.5L Turbo Premium 2WD is the first Honda to be sold here with the package, which utilises a millimetre wave radar in the grille and a monocular camera positioned at the top of the windscreen to provide a number of new active safety features.

It groups seven items under its umbrella, these being Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM). Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), the last working together with a Low Speed Follow (LSF) function.

In terms of safety, the ASEAN NCAP five-star rated CR-V features six airbags (dual front, side and side curtain) across the entire model range, which is up from the four on the outgoing 2.0 2WD and 4WD variants (only the range-topping 2.4 4WD model had six) as well as rear Isofix mounting points.

Elsewhere, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) is standard across the range, now supplanted with Agile Handle Assist (AHA). The CR-V also comes with hill-start assist, auto brake hold, ABS/EBD a multi-angle rear view camera

As for overall performance, the automaker says that the new CR-V – in its 1.5L Turbo guise – offers improvements over the fourth-gen in all relevant areas across the board. These include improved dynamics and stability, better steering precision and feedback as well as less delay in vehicle movement in response to input. Needless to say, it’s also faster off the mark and correspondingly, sportier in nature.

Noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) performance has also been improved on, with a number of revisions helping to achieve the necessary. Items in the rework include the incorporation of additional sound insulation materials and a new floating rear sub-frame.

Also on, a re-optimised arm configuration for the the multi-link rear suspension and the introduction of liquid-filled compliance bushings and mountings. It’s all good enough to bring the NVH levels to European SUV levels, according to the automaker.

Five colours are available for the CR-V, these being Obsidian Blue Pearl, White Orchid Pearl, Modern Steel Metallic, Lunar Silver Metallic and a new shade called Dark Olive Metallic. There’s a RM400 premium for the White Orchid Pearl

The 2017 Honda CR-V range is priced as follows:
Honda CR-V 1.5L Turbo Premium 2WD – RM167,700
Honda CR-V 1.5L Turbo 4WD – RM161,600
Honda CR-V 1.5L Turbo 2WD – RM155,700
Honda CR-V 2.0L i-VTEC 2WD – RM142,400

All prices are on-the-road without insurance, and the car marks the first time Honda Malaysia is announcing OTR prices without insurance in light of the country’s liberalisation of comprehensive motor insurance on July 1, 2017.

In a nutshell, here are the specifications of the new fifth-gen CR-V variants for the Malaysian market.

    Honda CR-V 2.0L i-VTEC 2WD

  • 2.0 litre i-VTEC naturally-aspirated engine
  • 154 PS at 6,500 rpm and 189 Nm at 4,300 rpm
  • Earth Dreams CVT
  • 1,520 kg kerb weight
  • 0-100 km/h in 11.3 seconds, 193 km/h top speed
  • 17-inch alloy wheels, 235/65 profile tyres
  • Auto LED headlights
  • LED daytime running lights
  • LED fog lamps
  • Black combination leather upholstery
  • Silver finish interior accent trim
  • Smart keyless entry with push-start ignition
  • Full colour LCD TFT instrument meter panel
  • Paddle shifters
  • Three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel
  • Dual-zone air-conditioning, rear AC vents
  • Auto dimming rear view mirror
  • Eight-way driver powered seat with lumbar support
  • Four-way passenger powered seat
  • Cruise control
  • Four-way rear parking sensors
  • Eight-speaker, seven-inch Advanced Display Audio system
  • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support
  • Hands-free telephone connectivity
  • Two front, two rear USB charging ports; front HDMI port
  • Walk-away auto door locking function
  • Six airbags (dual front, side, side curtain)
  • Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and Agile Handle Assist (AHA)
  • Hill-start assist
  • Auto brake hold
  • Rear Isofix mounting points
  • Multi-angle rear view camera
    CR-V 1.5L Turbo 2WD adds on:

  • 1.5 litre direct injection turbocharged VTEC engine
  • 193 PS at 5,600 rpm and 243 Nm from 2,000 to 5,000 rpm
  • 1,543 kg kerb weight
  • 0-100 km/h in 8.8 seconds, 200 km/h top speed
  • 18-inch alloy wheels, 235/60 profile tyres
  • Auto wipers
  • Four-corner front parking sensors
  • Wood finish interior accent trim
    CR-V 1.5L Turbo 4WD adds on:

  • Four-wheel drive system
  • Torque distribution monitor (displayed via instrument panel)
  • 1,595 kg kerb weight
  • 0-100 km/h in 9.2 seconds, 200 km/h top speed
    CR-V 1.5L Turbo Premium 2WD adds on:

  • Auto high beam
  • Active cornering lights
  • Height-adjustable, programmable powered tailgate
  • 1,549 kg kerb weight
  • 0-100 km/h in 8.8 seconds, 200 km/h top speed
  • Honda LaneWatch
  • Honda Sensing safety suite, comprising
    – Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
    – Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
    – Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)
    – Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)
    – Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
    – Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
    – Low Speed Follow (LSF)

Honda Malaysia is also making a number of add-on packages available for the car, and the list is led by an Urban Package (RM1,790), which adds on door visors, rear bumper protector and illuminated side steps.

Next, an Aero Package (RM5.700), which introduces a front aero bumper, running boards and a rear aero bumper. The Aero Package is also available for the 2.0L, but adds on an exhaust pipe finisher and RM200 to the price (RM5,900).

Finally, there’s an Utility Package (RM1,165), and items in this are a trunk organiser, sun shades, door protector film, a cargo net and a cargo tray. To complete things, there are a number of window film tint options available for the SUV.

You can compare the specifications of all the 2017 Honda CR-V variants on CarBase.my.

GALLERY: 2017 Honda CR-V 1.5L Turbo Premium 2WD

GALLERY: 2017 Honda CR-V 1.5L Turbo 2WD

GALLERY: 2017 Honda CR-V 2.0L i-VTEC 2WD with Modulo kit

GALLERY: 2017 Honda CR-V slide showcase, technical presentation