India-Spec CR-V Revealed — Has Honda Finally Cracked The Indian SUV Code?

As per the revealed information, the ASEAN-spec CR-V will come with a seven-seater configuration rather than the five-seat variant offered in the North American markets. The new CR-V is likely to debut in Thailand soon.

The petrol variant of the fifth-gen CR-V will draw power from an existing 2.4-litre engine. The engine will be mated to a CVT gearbox. But the big news is the diesel variant of the SUV for the ASEAN market.

The Honda CR-V diesel will be powered by a 1.6-litre oil burner producing 158bhp and 350Nm of torque. The engine will be coupled to a ZF 9-speed gearbox. The CR-V will be offered in two-wheel-drive and optional all-wheel-drive setup.

On the design front, the new CR-V will be similar design cues for all the markets. The exterior design is more angular and modern compared to the outgoing model.

In the Indian market, the CR-V is sold as a petrol-only model. And the lack of diesel engine has hampered the sales of the vehicle. Honda is yet to update the fourth-gen model in India.

But according to reports, the Japanese car maker will not launch the facelifted fourth-gen model. Instead, the company will directly introduce the new fifth-gen CR-V in India.