Picked up a 2013 Honda CR-V AWD for Rs 9.5 lakh: Pros and cons

This should be on the list of those who are looking for great pre-owned car deals. You get a reliable, feature-rich and powerful AWD SUV for Maruti Ignis/Swift money.

BHPian SmartCat recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My brother picked up the 2013 Honda CR-V 2.4 AT AWD for Rs. 9.5 Lakhs, with 47000 kms on the clock.

PROS:

• Honda SUV (Rs. 30 Lakhs on road in 2013) for hatchback money.
• Long feature list makes this car contemporary even in 2024.
• Proper SUV feel. You climb into the car and sit high.
• Sprightly lag-free performance. No turbo wurbo concept here.
• Compact dimensions at 4.55 metres length. That's Honda City size.
• All wheel drive!

CONS:

• Looks odd from certain angles (eg: rear 3 quarters)
• Fuel economy of 6 kmpl in Bangalore city
• Some missing features like keyless entry, engine start/stop, auto dimming mirror, boot cover etc
• Rear seat is slightly upright and recline angle is not adjustable.
• Spare part availability might be iffy. Was not a big seller.
• Leg operated parking brake is a bad idea!

Front end is quite pretty. Headlights are projector HIDs and are equipped with headlamp washers:

Rear looks weird because of the oddly shaped rear windscreen & XXL sized tail lamps:

The previous owner had taken the AWD badge seriously and equipped it with Yokohama Geolandar All Terrain tyres. Thanks to thick sidewalls (225/65 R17), CR-V does well over broken roads.

Interiors are pleasant, but there are no soft-touch plastics or leather inserts. Dashboard mounted gear lever falls perfectly in hand. There is no 'open area' to keep the smartphone though. The touchscreen head unit is aftermarket (android auto/apple carplay, reversing camera with guidelines etc). Long feature list includes driver-side electric seat adjustment, driver & passenger-side temperature control, leather seats, 6 airbags and traction control/ESP.

The steering is a size or two smaller, which adds to the sporty feel. The EPS feels like that of Honda City's. It is heavier than that of a typical Hyundai but is still not weighty enough for my liking. Turn-in is a little slower than a Honda City. The gauge cluster is good looking and the letters & numbers are clearly legible. Don't miss the paddle shifters and cruise control:

The foot-operated parking brake is a bad idea. It is above the foot rest and might probably cause left foot injury in case of an accident. It is not at all intuitive to use. It gets worse in stop-go-stop traffic on an incline. Although CR-V is equipped with hill hold function, you will roll back if you don't step on the accelerator within a couple of seconds.

The rear looks roomy but I feel the seat is slightly upright. There is no recline function either:

But on the plus side, the seats are soft and cushiony and the floor is flat. Do not miss the large windows & sunroof, which makes the cabin airy. The rear seat is wide enough to accommodate 3 adults. The middle row occupant gets a 3-point seatbelt and headrest too. And the seats do the flippy thing to achieve a flat floor:

The boot is ultra roomy and it also holds a full-sized alloy wheel underneath:

6 kmpl is bad, but you are rewarded with smooth, rapid & relentless lag-free acceleration. Big naturally aspirated petrol engine + 190 BHP at work here:

Before purchasing the car, my brother paid Rs. 230 to Cars24 and got the entire service history of the car.

For those looking for great pre-owned deals, 3rd gen Honda CR-V should be on the shortlist, especially if you intend to use the car sparingly or if fuel economy is not a major concern. You get a reliable, feature-rich powerful AWD SUV for Ignis/Swift money.

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