Honda CR-V

A fearless Car and Driver reader in Washington, D.C., snapped a picture of the next-generation Honda CR-V crossover, which will debut this fall. Wearing less camo than in the spy-snapper photos also published here, the vehicle looks ready for production, wearing its own sheetmetal (rather than the modified body of an existing Honda model) with the badge buried in tape on the tailgate.

Like other Japanese auto companies, Honda is as tight-lipped as can be about its future products. We’re left to use recent history and these photos to determine that the next CR-V will represent a gentle update to the current car, rather than a radical redo. Excepting, maybe, the hind end.

The exterior styling of the next CR-V looks to be a bit more cohesive than that of its predecessor. From these spy photos, we can see a three-bar grille poking through the front camo, so expect its nose to resemble the look of the Crosstour and the latest Odyssey. Moving to the side, the small ute appears to adopt a more sleek and tailored approach. The upper body crease appears to rake upwards as it heads rearward and bisects both door handles, with a window line to match. The look is more aggressive than the current model’s, which was styled to unabashedly appeal more to female shoppers. The new CR-V’s taillights continue to rise up the rearmost pillars, although they now look a lot like those found on a Volvo XC60, partly due to a similarly Volvo-esque shape to the hatch and rear glass.

As to the powertrain, figure on a naturally aspirated four-cylinder being the only engine available. It should displace 2.4 liters like today’s CR-V engine, and we expect it to make between 180 and 200 hp—although the number may be closer to the bottom end of that range. Fuel economy also should improve slightly; in front-drive spec, the current model is rated for 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. (All-wheel-drivers are rated for 21/27.)

If there are any major changes to the upcoming CR-V, it could be in the seating layout. Until now, every CR-V has been a strictly five-seat affair. Given the long rear overhang of the car in this photo, however, it looks like there just might be room for a small third row of seats for short-legged passengers. Toyota sells a three-row RAV4, but most others in the segment serve a maximum of five.

Few would call the CR-V in its present form a pulse-raising vehicle, but it’s a staple for Honda, offers good driving dynamics, and is a sensible choice for more than 200,000 Americans per year. Even without concrete details on the next-generation CR-V, we feel confident saying it will maintain the current car’s sales success. We expect the 2012 CR-V to debut at the Los Angeles auto show this November. View Photo Gallery