Verdict
These are close on entry price, but they answer Malaysian family use very differently. The Honda CR-V carries 589 litres of boot space against the smart #3’s 370 litres, plus sliding and reclining rear seats, so it is the more useful five-seater for luggage. The smart #3 counters with a 268-hp, 343-Nm rear motor, a 5.8-second 0-100 km/h time and 325 km of EV range. Its 150 kW DC charging capability matters if you have access to suitable chargers; the CR-V instead brings a 57-litre petrol tank and a rated 7.0 L/100 km economy figure.
Pick the Honda CR-V if boot capacity, rear-seat flexibility, dual-zone climate control and a five-year unlimited-mileage warranty matter more than outright acceleration.
Pick the smart #3 if you can charge an EV and want 268 hp, 325 km of quoted range, 150 kW DC charging and a more tech-led cabin.
Key differences
- Price: Honda CR-V RM178,200; smart #3 RM175,000.
- 0-100 km/h: Honda CR-V 8.9 seconds; smart #3 5.8 seconds.
- Boot space: Honda CR-V 589 litres; smart #3 370 litres.
- Length: Honda CR-V 4,691 mm; smart #3 4,400 mm.
- Wheelbase: Honda CR-V 2,701 mm; smart #3 2,785 mm.
- Warranty: Honda CR-V five years unlimited mileage; smart #3 four years unlimited mileage, plus an eight-year/200,000 km battery warranty.
CR-V
- 589-litre boot and sliding, reclining rear seats.
- Dual-zone automatic climate control and front foglamps.
- Five-year unlimited-mileage manufacturer warranty.
- 8.9-second 0-100 km/h time trails the smart #3’s 5.8 seconds.
- No panoramic glass roof, 360-degree camera or auto parking.
#3
- 268-hp, 343-Nm rear motor with 5.8-second 0-100 km/h pace.
- 49 kWh battery, 325 km range, 22 kW AC and 150 kW DC charging.
- Panoramic glass roof, 360-degree camera and auto parking.
- 370-litre boot is 219 litres smaller than the CR-V’s.
- Four-year unlimited-mileage vehicle warranty is one year shorter than the CR-V’s five years.
- Single-zone climate control versus the CR-V’s dual-zone system.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM178,200 | RM175,000✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM437 | RM260✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Atkinson Cycle Naturally Aspirated with Dual Variable Valve Timing and Variable Valve Lift | — |
| Capacity | 1,993 cc | — |
| Horsepower | 146 hp | — |
| Torque | 190 Nm | — |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Electric |
| Bore | 81 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 13.9 | — |
| Number of Motors | 2 | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | 181 hp | 268 hp✓ |
| Motor Torque | 335 Nm | 343 Nm✓ |
| Battery Capacity | — | 49 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 325 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 22 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 150 kW |
| V2L | — | 3.3 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | eCVT Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Honda | — |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 8.9 seconds | 5.8 seconds✓ |
| Rated Economy | 7 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 185 km/h✓ | 180 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,691 mm | 4,400 mm |
| Width | 1,866 mm | 1,844 mm |
| Height | 1,681 mm | 1,556 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,701 mm | 2,785 mm |
| Weight | 1,616 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 57 litres | — |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 589 litres✓ | 370 litres |
| Front Tyre | 235/60R18 | 245/45R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 235/60R18 | 245/45R19 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | — |
| Factory Tyres | — | Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 060 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | China (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Struts |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 18" Alloy | 19" Flux Alloy Wheels |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Alloy | 19" Flux Alloy Wheels |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| ASEAN NCAP | 5 stars | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side and Rear Curtains, Front Knee Airbags | Driver & Front Passenger, Side Airbags, Curtain Airbags and Driver's Knee Airbag |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | — |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available On Front Passenger Seat, Rear Outer Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, Honda Sensing | Yes, Front and Rear |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Reflector with Auto High Beam | LED Reflector with Manual Levelling |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | 8-way Power Adjustable Driver's Seat with Driver's Memory, 4-way Power Adjustable Passenger Seat | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding, Manual Recline and Sliding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear Vents | Rear AC Vents |
| Sunroof | — | Panoramic Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 Front USB, 2 Rear USB | 1 Front, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear, 1 Wireless Charger |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Manual Sunshade for Glass Roof |
| Audio | 9.0" Advanced Display Audio Touchscreen with 8 Speakers, Wired Android Auto, Wired and Wireless Apple CarPlay | 12.8" Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Driver's Side Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button with Remote Start | Keyless (Depress Brake Pedal) |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Walk-away Auto Lock | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Low Speed Follow | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Power Boot with Hands-Free Function | Yes, Powered |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Multi-angle | Yes, With 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 4 years |
| Warranty Notes | — | 8-year/200,000 km Battery Warranty |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used CR-V & #3 for sale
CR-V vs #3 FAQ
Is the Honda CR-V or smart #3 better?
The Honda CR-V is better for carrying people and luggage, thanks to its 589-litre boot and flexible rear seats. The smart #3 is better for EV driving, with 325 km of range, 150 kW DC charging and a 5.8-second 0-100 km/h time.
What is the price difference?
The Honda CR-V costs RM178,200 and the smart #3 costs RM175,000, so the CR-V is RM3,200 more expensive.
Which has the better charging and EV capability?
The smart #3 is the EV choice: it has a 49 kWh battery, 325 km quoted range, 22 kW AC charging, 150 kW DC charging and 3.3 kW vehicle-to-load capability. The Honda CR-V is a petrol hybrid and has no quoted EV charging figures.
