Honda has given its popular compact sport-utility vehicle a mid-life refresh including new grille, bumpers and wheels, along with some mild alteration inside to the centre console.
The minor-change CR-V - to be launched in November this year shortly before the Motor Expo - will also see more sound-deadening materials to reduce road noise inside.
Since virtually all SUVs in the B1-1.5m range offer a navigation system in top models, Honda will do the same with the CR-V. This will also give Honda the chance to up prices.
The engines are carried over unchanged: 150hp/190Nm 2.0-litre and 170hp/220Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol heads matched to five-speed auto. For the first time, there will also be FWD-only in 2.4 form, taking the choice of drivetrain to four.
The 150hp/350Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel sold in Europe now comes with a five-speed automatic. Even though Thai marketers at Honda once requested a diesel engine for the CR-V from its parent firm in Japan to match the Chevrolet Captiva and all the pickup-based SUVs, it is not coming to Thailand in this generation form.
Since European diesel engines have particulate filter (PF) to comply with Euro 4 emissions standards, the PF must be removed if it comes to Thailand where Euro 3 is still in force.
Sources at Honda said it was "against the corporate philosophy of the brand" to tamper engines to suit the needs of another market or region. Mitsubishi is also said to uphold such values.
This means the diesel CR-V will hit Thai shores in 2012 at the earliest when Euro 4 standards come into effect. So far Honda is the only mass-market brand not to offer a diesel variation in the Thai SUV market.
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