Honda returns to the SUV market with its feature loaded CR-V. Let’s see how it fares against its rivals.
Honda has finally launched the diesel version of the CR-V in India. The Honda CR-V competes with soft off-roaders like the Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan, but it can stretch its legs and can take on full-fledged SUVs like the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour.
Exteriors – All of these cars look great in their own way. The Volkswagen Tiguan and Skoda Kodiaq look very upmarket with their elegant design lines. On the other hand, there are two huge boxy SUVs like the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour. You surely can’t ignore these SUVs due to their sheer size. These robust SUVs can take-on any terrain all day long without breaking a sweat. The Honda CR-V is the perfect combination of both worlds. The sharp and angular lines of the CR-V make it a sophisticated looking car.
Interior – The Kodiaq, Fortuner and Endeavour are 7-seater vehicles while the Tiguan is a 5-seater. However, the CR-V is offered in a 5+2-seater option in the diesel variant but the petrol variant misses the third row of seats. The fit and finish levels of the interiors on these vehicles are top-notch. All these cars come equipped with loads of features.
Engines – All these SUVs come with diesel engine option. Ford’s Endeavour comes with the highest displacement 3.2-litre engine, this unit is mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox, it produces 200 PS and 470 Nm of twisting force. The Endeavour also comes with a smaller 2.2-litre engine which produces 160 PS and 385 Nm. The Kodiaq and Tiguan are powered by the same 2.0-litre engine but they are tuned differently.
The Kodiaq churns out 150 PS of power and 320 Nm of torque whereas, the Tiguan’s power output is slightly less at 143 PS, but the torque is 340 Nm which is more than the sibling Kodiaq. The 2.8-litre motor of the Fortuner gives 177 PS of power and a torque of 420 Nm (MT) and 450 Nm (AT) depending upon the transmission. Lastly, the CR-V comes with the lowest displacement diesel engine in the bunch. The 1.6-litre i-DTEC motor is mated with a 9-speed automatic gearbox that produces an output of 120 PS of power and 300 Nm of torque.
However, the Honda CR-V and Toyota Fortuner also come with a petrol engine option. The CR-V is powered by a 2.0-litre i-VTEC motor which is mated to a CVT gearbox that produces an output of 154 PS and 189 Nm of torque. The petrol CR-V comes with front-wheel drive option. Whereas in case of the petrol Fortuner, power is channeled to the rear wheels only. The 2.7-litre VVT-i petrol engine churns out 166 PS and 245 Nm of torque. The diesel variants of all these SUVs come with an option of 4×4 but the Kodiaq and Tiguan are available only with a 4×4 drivetrain.
Safety – The safest car of the lot is the Skoda Kodiaq which gets nine airbags while the Toyota Fortuner comes with seven airbags. The CR-V and Tiguan get six airbags each. The 2.2-litre Endeavour has got only two airbags while the 3.2-litre engine variant has got 6 airbags and the top trim get 7 airbags. Apart from airbags, there are hosts of safety features and driver assists in all these cars.
Pricing – The Honda CR-V starts from Rs. 28.15 lakhs and goes all the up to Rs. 32.75 lakhs. The Toyota Fortuner is also available in the similar price range of Rs. 27.23 – Rs. 32.93 lakhs. The cheapest of all is the Ford Endeavour which starts at Rs. 26.31 lakhs and the top trim Titanium is priced at Rs. 33.02 lakhs. The Skoda Kodiaq is available in two variants, priced at Rs. 33.84 lakhs for the Style variant (a Rs. 1 lakh price cut for a limited period of time) and Rs. 35.99 lakhs for the L&K variant. The Kodiaq is the most expensive vehicle of the lot. The other European car, Tiguan, whose base variant will cost you Rs. 27.49 lakhs and the Highline variant is available for Rs. 30.87 lakhs.
Verdict – The Honda CR-V is the best of both worlds, it provides comfort during daily on-road driving while it can do a certain amount of off-roading also. The diesel variant of the CR-V is the most practical one, as it has got seating space for seven and the highest fuel economy of 19.5 km/l. However, the CR-V is priced at a premium and lacks the presence of the two body-on-frame vehicles here. Due to the festive season, all cars except the newly launched CR-V can be had with a good discount and thus choosing one SUV in this price range isn’t an easy task.
