Honda CR-V Fourth Generation 2.0L MT - User Experience Review
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User Experience Review of Honda CR-V Fourth Generation 2.0L MT
Last Updated at 11:44 am, May 20, 2013
Rating :The new CR-V's cabin space can make the similarly-priced German crossovers seem like mere hatchbacks.
Contributing to this cause further is the beige upholstery on the seats. The colour goes very well with the tan coloured plastics used in the dashboard and the centre console. Creating a contrast against the brown shade are the black cladding around the audio unit and a marble- finish insert that runs across the length of the dashboard. The latter reminds me of the texture you see on a steak of Kobe beef!
The centre console on all but the top end variant of the CR-V feature a conventional audio head unit which is compatible with compact discs, MP3 and WMA formats. It supports USB, Auxiliary and iPod / iPhone connectivity. The layout of the audio unit is similar to the one seen in the other Honda cars of recent times. Sitting atop the audio unit is a 5-inch colour LCD display which reads out audio and vehicle information. The screen also allows you to set custom wallpapers much like your cellular device and that is only novelty that this system has to offer.
Moving on to the seating comfort, getting in and out of the car is very easy, thanks to its large dimensions and ergonomically placed floorboard. The driver's seats has electronic adjustments while the passenger seat retains the conventional lever-mechanism. The second row can easily seat three adults in comfort. The seat is wide and flat and so is the floor. The knee-room and foot space is adequate - don't expect an Accord rivalling rear seat even you are paying the same price. Honda has also improved the headroom on the new model. The CR-V doesn't add any jump seats in the boot and remains a conventional five seater - even if the hunchback would suggest otherwise. What you get instead is a fairly large boot that can accommodate an entire family's luggage or a sufficiently large CNG / LPG cylinder if you please.
Coming back to the overall user experience of the CR-V, I have mixed reactions. The fit and finish of the plastics is excellent and something that you can vouch for in a Rs 20+ lakh Honda. However, the scratchy texture of the plastics is a downer and dents the feel-good factor. Minor additions like soft plastics and perforated leather could have added a more premium feel to the well designed interiors - which currently feel too plasticky. However, the roomy cabin and the comfortable ride quality manage to justify the price tag of this crossover.
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First Published on 12:56 pm, February 12, 2013
