Next-gen Honda CR-V could come with 7-seat option in Australia - Report

08/12/2016 - 13:57 Honda CR-V, Honda Aravind Jayachandran

Will be manufactured and exported from Thailand.

Honda Australia is mulling over introducing an option of third-row seating in the new Honda CR-V, which is unavailable in the U.S-spec model that goes on sale later this month.

2017 Honda CR-V front three quarters right side — An option of third-row seating is unavailable in the U.S-spec model that goes on sale later this month.

Speaking to Car Advice, Honda Australia director Stephen Collins did not outright confirm a 7-seater variant in the works, believing that most of the sales action is in the 5-seater mid-size SUV segment.

This is what Collins said when asked about the 7-seat variant -

We will expand the appeal of the car (CR-V). Our goal really is to get CR-V amongst the top players…very similar to what we’ve done with Civic.

Honda has expressed interest in launching a 7-seater SUV in the past, so a 7-seat Honda CR-V cannot be completely ruled out for markets where the Honda Pilot is not sold.

What Collins did confirm is that the new CR-V will not be offered with a diesel engine. The all petrol lineup is likely to comprise of the 2.4L VTEC naturally aspirated 4-cyl engine with 184 hp and 180 lb.-ft. (244.05 Nm) of torque, and the 1.5L turbocharged engine from the new Civic which outputs 190 hp and 179 lb.-ft. (242.69 Nm) of torque. An Earthdreams CVT unit is fitted as standard across the range.

2017 Honda CR-V rear three quarters left side — Honda has expressed interest in launching a 7-seater SUV, which will serve markets where the Pilot is not sold in.

Also Read: New Honda City (facelift) expected to launch in mid-January in India – Report

The company hopes that the next gen Honda CR-V will emulate the success of the new Honda Civic in Australia, and is targeting to sell 1,000 units per month.

[Source: Car Advice]