Honda CR-V SUV (2012-2018) - Interior & comfort
The Honda CR-V dashboard is well built, but some features are a little dated
Honda CR-V dashboard
From behind the wheel, the Honda CR-V feels very well built, although the actual materials used aren’t all from the top drawer, with some of the plastics feeling a little cheap. The swoopy dashboard is subtly appealing, though. While overall it falls behind classier rivals such as the Audi Q3 and BMW X1, some buyers will prefer the Honda’s less showy interior.
The upmarket feel is helped no end by the car’s comfortable suspension and quiet interior, both of which are a big improvement on the old model. Ride quality does suffer if you go for a model fitted with the huge 19-inch alloy wheels, however.
With a raised ride height, the Honda gives you an excellent view of the road ahead. Height adjustment for the driver’s seat is fitted to all CR-Vs to give an even better view and the steering wheel adjusts for height and reach to make getting comfortable easy. SE Plus models and above come with front and rear parking sensors, which take the stress out of parking the big SUV, while all trims from SE Plus upwards come with a rear parking camera, which is even more helpful.
Equipment
Even the basic CR-V comes with alloy wheels, climate control, cruise control, DAB digital radio, an alarm and a dashboard multifunction display. For an extra £2,000, the SE Plus model looks like good value, adding parking sensors, a reversing camera, Bluetooth phone connectivity, automatic lights and wipers, power-folding mirrors, front foglights and leather trim for the steering wheel and gearknob.
The Navi versions add satellite navigation (above) to the standard equipment list. But it’s a bought-in system that's simply connected to the dashboard, so it looks and feels cheap. The SR model adds automatic dipping headlights that follow the direction of the steering wheel, plus roof rails, while the range-topping EX model is fully loaded, featuring kit like heated leather seats, a panoramic roof, a powered tailgate and keyless entry.
Options
Honda offers a range of styling features to customise the look of your CR-V. These include a roof spoiler (£400), a revised front grille (£300) and side skirts (£300). The optional SENSING Pack, available on the range-topping EX trim for £1,500, adds a collision-mitigation braking system, lane-keeping assistance, forward collision warning, traffic-sign recognition, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring and auto-dipping headlights. It also adds Honda's adaptive cruise control, which can predict when a car is about to cut in front of you and brake accordingly.
