Honda CRV, petrol or diesel? (identical bhp)

lukester

Which engine would you favour in this car, given that both have nearly identical horsepower output? My main criterion is driving enjoyment, and I'm used to diesels, so would normally favour that. But I test drove both and found the petrol better than expected. It felt a bit gutless going uphill and required dropping a gear or two, but the vtec was fun. The diesel was less smooth than that in the Accord, but had the typical diesel midrange. Basically I think I'd prefer the diesel in the long run, but want to give the petrol a chance. Also the petrol is cheaper, and there are more of them available for sale-2007 onwards. Our annual mileage is only about 6k, with about a third of that longer trips around the country.

Bottom line, revvy or torquey?

Stevie Dakota

lukester wrote: »

Which engine would you favour in this car, given that both have nearly identical horsepower output? My main criterion is driving enjoyment, and I'm used to diesels, so would normally favour that. But I test drove both and found the petrol better than expected. It felt a bit gutless going uphill and required dropping a gear or two, but the vtec was fun. The diesel was less smooth than that in the Accord, but had the typical diesel midrange. Basically I think I'd prefer the diesel in the long run, but want to give the petrol a chance. Also the petrol is cheaper, and there are more of them available for sale-2007 onwards. Our annual mileage is only about 6k, with about a third of that longer trips around the country.

Bottom line, revvy or torquey?

I'd imagine a petrol CRV will be near sale proof if not now, then certainly in a few years. If that does not bother you and can live with the poor mpg, and prefer the petrol then go for it.

lukester

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

I'd imagine a petrol CRV will be near sale proof if not now, then certainly in a few years. If that does not bother you and can live with the poor mpg, and prefer the petrol then go for it.

Why do you think that? The road tax isn't an issue as it's pretty much on a par for both, pre or post 2008. Fuel economy is better for the diesel, but not by a huge amount, 34mpg vs 43mpg.

The power output of the petrol is marginally better: 147 bhp vs 138bhp, but the diesel has 251 ft lbs of torque to the petrol's 142, which is to be expected.

Obviously the resale of the petrol will be lower, but that's reflected in the purchase price now- the petrol is about 1500 euro cheaper to buy for a 2007 model, all other factors being equal.

As I said before, I prefer torquey engines in general, hence my preference would normally be for diesel. But the petrol was very smooth, had a nicer gearbox, and had a more agile feel cornering (if agile isn't misplaced for such a large car) than the diesel.

My gut still says long term I'd regret not buying the diesel, but I'm looking for arguments for the petrol.

Actually, I'm just interested in opinions that can help me decide.

bazz26

lukester wrote: »

Why do you think that? The road tax isn't an issue as it's pretty much on a par for both, pre or post 2008. Fuel economy is better for the diesel, but not by a huge amount, 34mpg vs 43mpg.

The power output of the petrol is marginally better: 147 bhp vs 138bhp, but the diesel has 251 ft lbs of torque to the petrol's 142, which is to be expected.

Obviously the resale of the petrol will be lower, but that's reflected in the purchase price now- the petrol is about 1500 euro cheaper to buy for a 2007 model, all other factors being equal.

As I said before, I prefer torquey engines in general, hence my preference would normally be for diesel. But the petrol was very smooth, had a nicer gearbox, and had a more agile feel cornering (if agile isn't misplaced for such a large car) than the diesel.

My gut still says long term I'd regret not buying the diesel, but I'm looking for arguments for the petrol.

Actually, I'm just interested in opinions that can help me decide.

The country is gone low motor tax mad meaning low emmission diesel cars are the trend and I cannot see that changing anytime soon the way the economy is going. SUVs are not popular these days, a 2.0 litre petrol one even less so. It would want to be seriously cheaper than the diesel version to buy as you could be married to it for along time.

R.O.R

Usually I'd be all over the diesel version, but at 6,000km a year it's got to be the Petrol - as long as you are prepared to keep it for a long time.

There should be an absolute bargain to be had on a Petrol engined CRV - I'd be surprised if any that are for sale now haven't been sitting around for a good long while, as the general public don't want petrol cars, or SUV's, so a Petrol SUV is a wedding ring.

On the positive side, the Honda Petrol engine is a cracker, and is liable to run for ever with servicing every 20,000km or 2 years. Shouldn't have to do anything else.

Diesel could give an issue with DFP (if it has one) at that annual mileage.

stevenmu

If that's the same 2.2 diesel from the Accord and Civic, I believe it remaps easily up to about 190bhp if that's of any interest.

Lex Luthor

as ROR says, I'd have the diesel but your low annual mileage cant rule out the petrol but be prepared to keep for a long time

If its driving enjoyment you're after from a 2litre petrol SUV, what about this?

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201039199679991

lukester

Thanks all.

I'm still not convinced that a petrol CRV would be that hard to sell on-because the road tax is the same for a post 08 diesel car, they both cost 600 odd a year. Pre 08 the diesel costs 800 to 600 for the petrol.

The engines are the same as those in the Accord, both are great but the diesel is slightly less refined in the CRV for some reason.

On balance, the diesel would be easier to sell on though, so it's probably the more prudent buy as I want the option to sell in 3 years if I feel like changing. Diesel CRV s are like hen's teeth though, so might have to go down the import from the uk route.

That forester looks fun alright

lukester

Just bumping this, as I'd be interested in some more opinions, and I really can't make up my mind.

Most of my decision is based around driveability- and whether or not a 2.0 petrol VTEC is enough for a relatively large car like the CR-V.

If you're used to driving diesels, a petrol car will always feel a bit gutless initially, because you don't have that big torque wave to ride. When I test drove the Honda, this was my experience. But if you accelerate to above 4000 rpm, there's plenty of power there, and it's quite satisfying to rev the engine in this manner. A diesel feels lazier, in a good way. Above 2000 rpm, just accelerate and you have power on tap, although it runs out by about 4000rpm.

Diesel cons:
a) more expensive to buy
b) potentially more fault-prone: DMF, injectors, turbo etc. The CDTI engine does not have a DPF, so that's not an issue.
c) a bit louder, more clattery, at low speeds. Once you get moving it's very smooth for a diesel.
d) more expensive to service
e) higher road tax (am looking at 2007 models)
f) not as nice to drive around town

Diesel pros:
a) Lots more torque lowdown.
b) Better fuel economy, plus diesel cheaper to buy than petrol
c) lower depreciation, and easier to sell
d) better to drive at speed for overtaking, joining motorway etc


Petrol cons:
a) less midrange power- needs to be revved hard for decent acceleration (this is a plus for some )
b) worse depreciation, and harder to resell
c) worse fuel economy, plus petrol pricier to buy than diesel
d) arguably not so good at speed/ for overtaking, joining motorway etc


Petrol pros:
a) Quieter and smoother than diesel
b) Cheaper to buy than diesel, easier to pick up a bargain
c) nice VTEC sound when revved
d) nicer to drive around town

The biggest concerns with the petrol are that I'd miss the diesel midrange, which I'm used to. Also the depreciation/saleability 4/5 years down the road. (Mind you, I may well just end up trading in, so saleability isn't quite so important.)

I'm also used to the relatively good fuel economy of my last VAG TDI. I'm worried that I'd resent the cost of petrol and poor mpg!

Please help me decide!

Thanks