Three-Row Honda CR-V is More Popular Than Honda Expected - You Still Can't Have It

by Timothy Cain

Published: October 13th, 2017

three row honda cr v is more popular than honda expected you still can t have it

If Australia is an effective test bed for American tastes — and it most definitely isn’t — then the three-row version of the fifth-generation Honda CR-V would be a hit stateside.

We told you way back in April that there were plans afoot at American Honda for a utility vehicle to slot in between Honda’s two-row CR-V and three-row Pilot. We then watched, intrigued, at the level of interest among TTAC readers when we showed you images in July of Honda Australia’s three-row CR-V. Could this be the SUV Honda plans to squeeze between the CR-V and Pilot? At the time, Honda told TTAC, “We can’t make comments about any future possibilities.”

So you’re telling me there’s a possibility.

There likely is only the most limited sort of possibility. The third row can’t be linked with all-wheel drive, for starters. It’s obviously snug. And American Honda already has the Pilot, which Honda does not offer in Australia.

Nevertheless, if the Australian test bed is looked upon as a case study, American Honda would discover a three-row, seven-seat CR-V that turns out to be more popular than expected.

Indeed, Honda Australia first limited the three-row option to the top-spec front-wheel-drive version of the new CR-V, launched in July. But according to Honda Australia director Stephen Collins, “There is more of an opportunity with the seven-seater — it has taken us a little bit by surprise how strong it has gone.”

Motoring reports that Honda’s goal for the three-row CR-V was for 15 percent of total CR-V volume. But the most costly front-wheel-drive CR-V, the VTi-L, has instead ended up accounting for more than 20 percent of Honda Australia’s CR-V volume.

While it remains highly unlikely that all-wheel-drive CR-Vs will offer a three-row option “because of technical issues fitting it in over the rear diff,” Motoring says, Honda’s Australian lineup may require a broader portfolio of three-row CR-Vs. “I think the opportunity is in the lower grade two-wheel drive,” Collins says, “but we are investigating now.”

On this side of the Pacific, direct competitors to a three-row Honda CR-V would include the Nissan Rogue, Mitsubishi Outlander, and Volkswagen Tiguan. The Rogue offers a third-row as part of an $1,190 package on the base S trim or as part of a $940 package on the mid-grade SV. All-wheel drive is not a limiting factor. At Mitsubishi, seven-passenger seating is standard on the Outlander. The Volkswagen Tiguan comes standard with a third-row, but if you select all-wheel drive the third row becomes a $500 option.

[Images: Honda Australia]

Timothy Cain is a contributing analyst at The Truth About Cars and Autofocus.ca and the founder and former editor of GoodCarBadCar.net. Follow on Twitter @timcaincars and Instagram.

#2018HondaCR-V #AmericanHonda #Australia #FutureVehicles #HondaAustralia #HondaCR-V #ThirdRow #ThirdRowSeats #Three-rowCrossover #Three-rowSuv

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S197GT on Oct 15, 2017

my wife insists on an awd vehicle for winter and a three-row suv for the two times per year we use the third row. so we have a cx-9, which we love, but gets crap gas mileage and while it is more nimble than any vehicle that large has a right to be you pay for it on bad roads. now, if the CR-V had a third row (and AWD) then i would push very hard for that to be the next family road trip vehicle and her winter vehicle. looks like it won't happen.

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Walky_talky20 on Nov 30, 2017

Previous generations of the CR-V were already available with a factory 3rd row option overseas. Here's a man folding up the third row in his 2nd Gen (2002-2006) CR-V: https://i.imgur.com/qeU86ZW.png From this video: https://youtu.be/m9a4VszadAs Here is the third row seat in the 3rd Gen (2007-2011): https://i.imgur.com/xelbTgX.png Interestingly, the 2nd Gen was officially available as a 10 seater, 3 across the front bench, and 4 belts on each rear bench. Here's a picture of the front bench in a 10-seater. Notice the dash mounted e-brake. https://i.imgur.com/3lnbF1P.png Here's a press release about the 10-seat version. http://www.philstar.com/business/158278/honda-prepares-launch-10-seater-crv

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- Walky_talky20 on Nov 30, 2017
  
  Correction, that's 3 in the front, 4 in the back, and 3 in the "way back". Because that actually equals 10.
  
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