Honda CR-V 2021 review: VTi 7 snapshot

If you’re after a budget-focused seven seater, the Honda CR-V VTi 7 2021 model could be right up your alley. It’s priced from $35,490 (MSRP), just $2000 more than the five seater VTi below it.

The VTi 7 model runs the same 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine as all models with the VTi as part of their name in the 2021 CR-V range, and it is good for 140kW of power and 240Nm of torque. In this spec it’s front-wheel drive, but like all CR-Vs it comes with a CVT auto transmission. Fuel use for this grade is claimed at 7.3L/100km.

The VTi 7 is the cheapest way to get a seven seater CR-V, and with this upgrade it’s the first time you’ve been able to get a three-row version of this midsize Honda SUV with the Honda Sensing suite of active safety technologies, which includes forward collision warning and auto emergency braking with pedestrian detection, as well as lane keeping assist and lane departure warning. There is no blind spot monitoring or rear cross-traffic, though, nor rear AEB, and you get a reversing camera but not parking sensors. The CR-V range carries over its 2017 five-star ANCAP score, but under 2020 criteria no version of the CR-V would score five stars.

The VTi 7 model has 17-inch alloy wheels, cloth seat trim, a 7.0-inch touchscreen media system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, 2x USB ports, four speaker sound system, a digital instrument cluster with digital speedometer, dual-zone climate control. It has halogen headlights and LED daytime running lights, as well as LED tail-lights.

Explore the 2021 Honda CR-V Range

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The VTi 7 model also scores keyless entry and push-button start, an eight speaker stereo, four USB ports (2x front, 2x rear), exhaust pipe finishers, adaptive cruise control.

The additional two rear seats take away 50L of luggage space with five seats in place (472L VDA) and there’s 150L (VDA) cargo area with seven seats up. It also adds rear row air vents, two additional cup holders and third-row curtain airbag coverage, as well as third-row top tether hooks in the boot floor. 

If you need a cheap seven seater, this is a really strong option.