How many R1-million Honda CR-Vs were sold in its first month in South Africa

The new Honda CR-V sold a total of 9 units in the first 20 days since it was launched in South Africa.

Launched on 9 February 2024, the next-gen SUV is now perched as the flagship of the company’s stable as it is the first Honda in South Africa to retail for more than R1 million.

A respectable performance

The CR-V has always been at the top of the Japanese carmaker’s SUV catalogue, but the previous generation was much cheaper than the current models.

While the old version has a local starting price of R609,900, the new unit requires a minimum payment of R959,900 for the base Executive trim level, which goes all the way up to  R1,039,900 for the range-topping Exclusive.

In other words, the barrier-to-entry for Honda’s top SUV has increased by R350,000, yet this has evidently not dissuaded motorists with the necessary funds from buying the car as it sold a respectable nine units since it went on sale more than a week into the shortest month of the year.

This is actually on par with a few of the other vehicles competing at this price point, which is reflected in naamsa’s sales report for February:

• Kia Sorento – 6 units
• Hyundai Santa Fe – 8 units
• Mazda CX-60 – 20 units
• Audi Q5 – 32 units
• Lexus NX – 58 units
• Volvo XC60 – 72 units

Unfortunately, BMW and Mercedes-Benz do not publish individual model sales and are therefore unable to be included in the list.

From this, we can see that while the Honda is not on the same level as well-established luxury brands like Audi or Lexus, it was able to outperform its two closest rivals – the seven-seater Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento.

A big jump

The substantial price hike from the old CR-V to the new one is not just the result of inflation and other market factors, as it saw a dramatic overhaul in its equipment sheet compared to previous iterations.

For starters, the SUV is now a seven-seater while the old units were limited to five passengers, which reinforces the idea that this new version is the brand’s answer to the Santa Fe and Sorento.

It still affords 150 litres of boot space with all three rows up, and the cabin has received a panoramic sunroof as standard and extensive sound-proofing – the latter of which is enhanced even further with an Active Noise Control System that uses auxiliary speakers to cancel out sounds from outside.

Much of the interior design is inspired by the Civic Type R hot hatch, including a steering wheel with paddle shifters and a honeycomb-style dashboard with two large screens for the driver and infotainment.

The leather seats feature electronic adjustability and are ergonomically designed to provide improved comfort and support on long journeys, and the vehicle boasts a suite of assistance technology including an HD surround camera system, parking sensors, a collision-mitigation braking system, forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, road-departure mitigation, lane-departure warning, and a driver-attention monitor.

It uses the same 1.5-litre, turbocharged petrol engine as the last generation, which produces 140kW and 240Nm and connects to the front wheels using a CVT transmission.