Paris 2014 Honda CR-V 1

The Honda CR-V has been given a facelift after three years on the market, and now the refreshed crossover has made its world debut at the Paris Motor Show in European specification. As with the HR-V and the Jazz that premiered at the same show, this CR-V is still officially badged as a "prototype".

At the front, we see the introduction of Honda's latest "Solid Wing Face" front graphic that we've seen on the new City and Jazz. The headlights also now feature integrated LED daytime running lights, while the lower front apron gets some new chrome highlights.

Paris 2014 Honda CR-V 9

Meanwhile, the tail light internals have been revised, new chrome trim has been added to the tailgate above the number plate recess, and the rear bumper has been squared off and features a new silver underguard. One difference between this refresh and the US facelift that was also unveiled last week is that the front end features a silver protruding lip, rather than the US-spec's rugged-looking underguard.

Under the bonnet, the European-market CR-V gets a new Earth Dreams Technology 1.6 litre i-DTEC diesel engine that replaces the older 2.2 litre i-DTEC on four-wheel drive models. Power has gone up by 10 PS to 160 PS while torque has stayed the same at 350 Nm.

Paris 2014 Honda CR-V 11

The main improvements, however, are in the emissions – mated to a standard six-speed manual, the new engine helps the CR-V deliver a carbon dioxide emissions figure of under 130 g per km, 11% better than before, while a new ZF nine-speed automatic brings a whopping 20% reduction over the old five-speeder on the 2.2 i-DTEC, slotting under 135 g per km.

The updated Honda CR-V is slated to arrive in dealerships across Europe next spring. The question is, when will we get ours? Will we get the new 185 hp/245 Nm 2.4 litre direct-injected i-VTEC engine from the US facelift, or the 175 hp/225 Nm non-DI EDT mill from the current Accord? And will the motor in question be mated to the US-spec's new CVT, the new nine-speed auto, or the same five-speed auto as before?