Honda CR-V India pre-launch media activities to begin next month

Honda Cars India is gearing up to launch the all-new fifth generation CR-V. Ahead of its early-October launch, the company will conduct the media reveal and test drive next month, IndianAutosBlog learns.

Highlights of the 2018 Honda CR-V will be its diesel engine and third row of seat, firsts for a CR-V in India. The diesel engine is the 1.6-liter i-DTEC four-cylinder unit, which, Honda currently manufactures at its factory in Tapukara, Rajasthan.

While the European version of the CR-V diesel with this engine develops 160 PS and 350 Nm of torque, thanks to twin turbochargers, the India-spec CR-V diesel will use a single turbo to make 120 PS and 300 Nm of torque. However, it will be mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. The upcoming Honda Civic will also use this engine in the same tune, reportedly.

According to reports, the diesel CR-V will be offered with 2WD and 4WD options. However, the petrol variant will be available with 2WD only and will employ a 2.0-liter four-cylinder i-VTEC naturally aspirated engine. This unit makes 154 PS and 189 Nm of torque and is expected with manual gearbox and CVT.

Also read: Honda WR-V Alive edition launched, priced from INR 8.03 lakh

For the Indian market, the 2018 Honda CR-V will be assembled from Thai-made kits. Prices for the SUV are expected to start at around INR 28 lakhs, ex-Showroom. The CR-V will rival the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour (both feature a ladder-frame chassis) at this price point, not to forget Mahindra will also launch the G4 Rexton in this price bracket before Diwali.

Bookings for the 2018 CR-V are expected to commence in September.