SPIED: Has Honda Gotten Its GROOVE Back? All-New CR-V Looks FAR More Mature And Sophisticated Over Previous-Gen Designs

Although there's a select crowd of Honda fanboys that dislike when we're critical of Honda and Acura's products, guess what, boys and girls? We're critical of any one manufacturer not living up to their respective potential.

Get over it!

That said, in the past 12 months, I am really digging what's going on over at Honda. The company that was seemingly lost for a few years spitting out "meh" products appears to have gotten its groove back.

The updated Accord reminds me of the much-loved Acura Legend, the new HR-V has captured consumer's attention and good luck trying to get your hands on an all-new Pilot. Oh, and don't forget about the all-new Civic that has spuky styling and, overall, is more mature.

See, there's a thing going on here at Honda. All of it's products are growing by leaps and bounds while becoming more mature. It appears the next one due is the next-gen CR-V sport-utility vehicle.

From the spy shots we're seeing, this thing has a much more European vibe going on and lacks the goofiness that pervaded several generations of previous CR-Vs. Also, now that the HR-V is out and about, that means the company can make the CR-V a bit more sophisticated, a bit larger and maybe even throw in third-row seating.

It's still very early but check out the FIRST spy shots coming to us from Brian Williams' team in rural Ohio. Click "Read Article" below for MORE CR-V spy shots!

Read Article

cidflekken - 4/23/2016 3:27:22 PM

+2 Boost

The proportions on this one look much better than the current version, primarily the rear end. That rear end has always looked overly bulbous, like an overgrowth. They've done a few nips, tucks, and pinches to give it better aesthetic. However, I do not like how the taillights now breakup the plain and jut out. That's a tacky design element best left to Toyota/Lexus.

MDarringer - 4/23/2016 4:07:06 PM

+1 Boost

The current CRV has an ugly DLO and that's been maintained. The front obviously has the hideous Honda chrome bar grille and the tail lights just look stupidly bad.

TomM - 4/23/2016 5:34:14 PM

+4 Boost

The Japanese manufacturers in general have really gone overboard in their front end designs - with Lexus the ultimate miss.

Sciros - 4/24/2016 9:28:29 PM

+1 Boost

Well, with the Pilot at 95% of the way to basically being a minivan, I suppose that leaves the CR-V to be the bigger SUV.

At this point, however, I don't see anything "Compact" about it so they should probably replace the C in CR-V with something else.

So the CR-V becomes the size of the previous Pilot. The HR-V moves to filling the niche of the old CR-V. I don't know... seems stupid. Is it because people still compare compact cars on big-car metrics like leg room and trunk space and so forth? I mean, what you measure is what you get. Meh.

dumpsty - 4/26/2016 10:45:28 AM

+1 Boost

They're basically doing the same as the other automakers with 3-4 SUVs/CUVs in their lineup. Each MY update gets larger effectively filling the size category of the next vehicle up.