It was twice the fun for Honda Jamaica and guests alike when the arm of the ATL Automotive Group repping the Honda brand of vehicles unveiled the newest models of the CR-V and Pilot at The Ruins on the grounds of The University of West Indies, Mona, on Saturday, August 19.

“One of the things that is so special for us tonight is that our CR-V customers from 1997, they are here, celebrating with us, and they love the vehicle. It’s a beautiful vehicle and I’m telling you, the all-new 2024 Honda CR-V is the vehicle to come and have. We have the bragging rights of reliability, dependability, and Jamaica’s best resale value,” Petrena Purser, general manager, Honda Jamaica, told the Jamaica Observer‘s weekly Auto magazine.

Her words were echoed by Vasil Lee, assistant general manager, ATL Honda.

“We’re excited for the 2024 feature-filled CR-V. We’re loving it. We’re waiting for the market to experience it, so we just want everyone to come and do a test drive on one,” he said.

For 2024 the Honda CR-V is all-new from the ground up. There have been comprehensive improvements to the body, chassis, powertrain, and overall driving refinement. The exterior has been redesigned for a bolder, cleaner look, with familiar styling cues. The front receives a massive grille and badge flanked on either side by distinctive LED headlights. In the rear the signature vertical taillights have been modernised with LED technology keeping them instantly recognisable as a Honda.

Inside, the CR-V borrows liberally from the equally impressive Civic in terms of look, material feel, and ergonomics. This gives an instant connection to the vehicle due to its clear driving sightlines and major controls that fall easily to hand. A plethora of convenience and safety features are standard. The 1.5-litre turbocharged motor has been revised to produce more low-end torque for smoother power delivery to an improved all-wheel-drive system that includes another first for the SUV, Hill Descent Control.

The body is now longer, wider, and taller for class leading space for both passengers and cargo. The longer wheelbase allows 15mm more legroom for rear occupants and, for the first time ever in Jamaica, a seven-seater option.

“The CR-V can now hold seven people for those that need it,” explained Lee.

For those wanting even more space and comfort in their three-row SUV, Purser took time to highlight the Pilot.

“The Pilot is a new redesign. It’s a 2023 model. Comes fully equipped. The new shape is awesome and customers love it,” she said.

Purser confirmed the Pilot as a sales success with just around 70 per cent of its allotment already sold.

The full-sized Honda SUV has got a similar makeover for its model change as well, sporting a new robust front-end sharing the similar slim LED headlights and hexagon-mesh grille to its smaller sibling, the CR-V. The larger size of the Pilot means it’s stocked with plenty of modern technology. Getting to the leather lined third row happens with just a touch of a bottom. Moving the Pilot is a 3.5-litre V6 putting 285bhp to its intelligent all-wheel drive system.

“The CR-V is one of the most important models to us. It’s our iconic model. It’s been a staple ever since it came out in 1997 with the picnic table that people could play dominoes on,” said Lee.