And decently-specced despite the entry-level positioning.
For the 2019 model year, Honda has introduced a new 7-seater variant of its well-received CR-V, something that quite a number of people have asked for. The new variant, dubbed the VTi-E, reduces the buy-in price for a three-row CR-V from $38,990 for the VTi-L (previously the only 7-seater CR-V variant) to just $34,490. For those interested in the math, that’s a $4500 reduction.
The new VTi-E might be the ‘entry-level’ 7-seater, but it’s not exactly spartan. It rides on 18-inch alloy wheels, and gets front fog lights, keyless entry and go, a leather interior (with an electrically-adjustable drivers seat), a 7.0-inch infotainment screen (with smartphone mirroring), reversing camera, dual-zone climate control, and USB ports for front and rear passengers.
Safety kit comes in the form of tyre pressure monitoring & driver drowsiness alert, in addition to the existing array of airbags. There’s also a full-size spare wheel, which is nice. What isn’t so nice is the exclusion of Honda’s Sensing suite of active driver assist features, which removes the availability of autonomous emergency braking, intelligent cruise control, and lane departure warning in one fell swoop.
Under the bonnet of the CR-V VTi-E you’ll find the familiar 1.5-litre turbocharged iVTEC engine as found in the majority of the CR-V range (and the best engine to have in our opinion), providing as much as 140kW and 240Nm. That power goes to the front wheels exclusively through a CVT automatic gearbox.
| Model | Price (before ORCs) |
| CR-V Vi | $28,290 |
| CR-V VTi | $30,690 |
| CR-V VTi-S | $33,290 |
| CR-V VTi-E (New Model) | $34,490 |
| CR-V VTi-S (AWD) | $35,490 |
| CR-V VTi-L | $38,990 |
| CR-V VTi-LX | $44,290 |
For the best deals on a new Honda, check out our Showroom.
