Honda Boosts The CR-V Range

Honda Australia is set to give the CR-V SUV range a major boost with the introduction of the 2021 Year Model, sporting freshened styling, new equipment and features, along with the inclusion of Honda Sensing as standard on all variants powered by the 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo engine.

Other key upgrades to the 2021 Year Model (21YM) CR-V include a hands-free function for the power tailgate and wireless phone charging on specific grades, as well as dual zone climate control and the 7-inch Advanced Display Audio system with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ as standard across the range.

All CR-V grades fitted with the 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo engine – from VTi to VTi LX AWD, both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations, as well as five-seat and seven-seat layouts – are now equipped with the Honda Sensing package of advanced safety and driver-assist technologies.

“The inclusion of Honda Sensing as standard equipment on all CR-V grades with the 1.5-litre turbo engine, represents another step in our plan to introduce the latest intelligent driver-assist and active safety technologies right across the Honda vehicle range,” said Honda Australia Director, Stephen Collins.

“By early next year, almost 70 per cent of our vehicles will feature Honda Sensing, reflecting our ongoing commitment to support the safe and comfortable driving of our customers.”

New Grade Line-up

The 21YM CR-V is the first nameplate in the Honda range to debut a new ‘Model Grade’ naming convention, which will simplify the terminology used, while at the same time making it easier for customers to understand key differentiators when stepping up through the range.

The new naming convention will also create consistency of grade names across the broader Honda line-up when it is applied to other models over time.

The new grade names will distinguish between naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines, as well as between two-wheel drive and all-wheel drive driveline configurations, while also clearly defining trim levels and seating capacities.

The new grade names for the updated CR-V range are:

The ‘T’ in VTi represents a Turbocharged engine, while ‘7’ and ‘AWD’ are both part of the official grade name to signify the 7-position seating capacity (versus the standard 5-seat capacity) and all-wheel drive driveline (versus the standard two-wheel/front-wheel drive).

“In recent years we’ve seen the emergence of a new ‘top affordable’ sub-set of the Medium SUV segment, where customers are wanting a higher level of specification, but at what is still considered to be an affordable price point. Plus we’ve also seen an increased demand for an entry point to the seven-seater package that comes with fabric seat trim,” Collins said.

“To cater for those shifts in buyer preferences, we’ve added additional equipment and features to what was previously the mid-range VTi-S AWD, to create the affordable luxury VTi L AWD, while at the same time moving the VTi L7 further upmarket and repositioning the previous VTi-E7 grade to become the new VTi 7.”

Bold Design – Modern Sophistication

In addition to the wider availability of Honda Sensing, the new CR-V also introduces a number of design and equipment upgrades across the range.

The exterior styling of the new 21YM CR-V creates a more upscale and distinctive presence courtesy of new bumper designs front and rear – with silver or grey lower accent treatments detailing depending on the grade – a new blackout grille, dark-tinted tail light lenses and a dark chrome tailgate garnish.

A new 18-inch alloy wheel is fitted to VTi X, VTi L AWD and VTi L7 grades, while the high-series VTi LX AWD now has its own unique 19-inch alloy wheel, in a striking Y-spoke design with a light grey finish.

Two new paint colours have been added to the colour palette for new CR-V – Ignite Red metallic, which is the hero colour for the 2021 Year Model range, and Cosmic Blue metallic.

The five existing colours carried across to the new model are: Platinum White pearlescent, Lunar Silver metallic, Brilliant Sporty Blue metallic, Modern Steel metallic and Crystal Black pearlescent.

There is no additional charge for metallic or pearlescent paint on CR-V.

Inside, all grades of the new CR-V benefit from a redesigned centre console with improved storage and convenience, enabling easier access to phone and USB ports, while the VTi L7 and VTi LX AWD grades are equipped with a wireless charging pad for compatible mobile phones.

The new affordable luxury VTi L AWD grade is equipped with leather-appointed seat trim, heated front seats and 8-way power adjustment for the driver’s seat.

On top of Honda Sensing, hands-free power tailgate and wireless charging, the high series seven-seat VTi L7 grade also gains LED headlights, LED fog lights and privacy glass.

“The CR-V remains one of the top choices for private buyers in the Medium SUV segment. When you factor in the additional safety equipment, connectivity and technology features, the new CR-V offers the complete package to suit any lifestyle,” added Collins.

“From its customer-centric design, superior versatility, long list of creature comforts and affordable advanced safety, it continues to deliver on all the key touchpoints important to family SUV buyers.”

Pricing

The first examples of new Honda CR-V will start arriving at Honda dealerships around Australia during August, ahead of the official on sale date of September 1, 2020.

Initial vehicle arrivals will include a mix of key 1.5L Turbo grades – VTi X, VTi L AWD, VTi L7 and VTi LX AWD – while the Vi, VTi and VTi 7 grades will start arriving progressively from late September/early October.

In line with the significant increase to standard equipment and specification levels across the range for the new 21YM CR-V, prices have also increased for the first time since the current generation CR-V was launched in July 2017.

“Despite challenging conditions with the Australian dollar over the past three years, we’ve maintained stable pricing right across the CR-V range since it first arrived in mid-2017,” Collins said.

“So with that consideration in mind, we’ve made sure the value proposition on offer with the new CR-V remains strong, with the affordable advanced safety of Honda Sensing now available from $33,490 with the VTi grade, while the competitiveness of the high series grades has been strengthened by the inclusion of more equipment and premium features.”

CR-V 21YM pricing

^* Manufacturer’s List Price (MLP) excludes Dealer Delivery and statutory charges