Filipino car buyers who want seven seats and a Honda badge right now can turn to the highly competent Honda BR-V.

That’s because the current-generation Honda CR-V will officially be replaced on Sept. 13, 2023. AutoFun Philippines was the first to report that the latest version of the venerable crossover would arrive this year with an all-new hybrid engine.

However, this means that the top-spec CR-V’s economical turbodiesel engine and (rather tight) third-row seat will also bid farewell.

But it seems that the 2024 Honda CR-V won’t just be available with a hybrid powertrain when it arrives in the Philippines – all non-hybrid variants will be able to seat seven.

This is according to a source with intimate knowledge of the upcoming CR-V, but asked not to be identified because of lack of authority to speak on the matter.

Return of the 7-seater

The source told AutoFun Philippines that although the CR-V e:HEV hybrid variant will be a strict five-seater because of its battery pack, all non-electrified models will be fitted with a third-row seat.

Honda Cars Philippines Inc. announced on August 2023 that it would launch three CR-V models:

• 1.5 V Turbo CVT – ₱2,150,000

• 1.5 VX Turbo CVT AWD – ₱2,300,000

• 2.0 RS e:HEV E-CVT – ₱2,600,000

This would be similar to the CR-V EL AWD variant that was launched in Thailand on March 2023.

Although our source could not provide the final specifications of the local CR-V seven-seater, the Thai-market EL AWD gets a split-folding third-row seat that can be configured in various ways. 

Besides the 5-Seat Mode, there’s also the Utility Mode that offers generous cargo space after folding the second-row and third-row seats. Meanwhile, the Long Mode allows you to fully recline the front passenger seat so that you can carry longer items.

And much like the previous-generation CR-V, this seven-seat EL AWD gets air-conditioning vents for the third-row passengers.

Turbo power, strong tech

The Philippine-market 2024 CR-V is available with a turbocharged 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine that pumps out 190 PS and 243 Nm, which are coursed through a continuously variable transmission. 

All variants of the all-new CR-V will come standard with the latest generation of Honda SENSING driver-assist technology, which uses a front camera and radar to help detect cars, motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians and other road users effectively. 

The latest CR-V will also get Honda CONNECT, which allows owners to monitor their CR-Vs using their smartphones, along with controlling the vehicle’s various functions. In neighboring markets like Malaysia, Honda CONNECT includes: 

• Automatic Collision Detection

• Security Alarm Detection

• Speed Alert

• Find My Car

• Geo-fencing Alert

• Emergency Call

• Car Status

• Remote Vehicle Control

• Service Reminder

Even without hybrid power, would you go for a seven-seat version of the 2024 Honda CR-V?

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