Late last year, the fifth-generation Honda CR-V was launched for the American market and soon it will be making its way here. Thailand will be the first in our region to receive the popular SUV, and among the crop is a brand new 1.6-litre turbodiesel variant, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission!
The 1.6L i-DTEC four-banger engine is Honda’s latest addition to their Earth Dreams Technology range. It’s 47 kg lighter than their 2.2-litre lump, and generates less friction as well. First introduced in the European-spec Civic hatchbacks, the engine features a two-stage turbo system which “intelligently creates high torque and acceleration to be the most efficient in all driving conditions”.
The engine will be introduced for the first time in Thailand, outputting 160 hp at 4,000 rpm and 350 Nm of torque from 2,000 rpm. Fuel consumption is rated at 5.3L/100km. Unlike the petrol which uses a seven-speed CVT, the diesel variant will get a nine-speed automatic just like the Odyssey.
As of now there’s no word about the introduction of the petrol versions in Thailand, but there’s a big probability of it coming to Malaysia, as revealed during a recent media event by Honda Malaysia.
