The compact SUV market has gotten quite crowded in the last few years. One of the entries which has always done well through its model years is the Honda CRV.
From the beginning Honda billed the CRV as a more civilized road traveling sport Ute rather than a hard-pressed off-roader. This was and remains a smart decision for this Honda is not what I would call a trail buster.
The all-wheel drive system is designed and engineered to get you through the mud and snow you might encounter at your mountain cabin or in the parking lot at the ski resort.
Everything the CRV was designed and engineered to do it does quite well, yet don’t expect it to do more than what falls into its capabilities.
I put this Honda through a number of exercises that I might demand of a four-wheel drive sport utility knowing I would not be able to complete. I also put it through myriad maneuvers on the street that it handles superbly, putting the off-road able vehicles to shame.
The ride comfort and handling is greatly improved over previous versions and many fold over many of the competition. One of the reasons is the vehicle is aimed at bringing sedan-like handling and comfort to the driver.
Honda emphasizes many new safety features to the CRV. Body structures are made stronger to not only add safety, but also allow engineers the ability to give the CRV a more responsive suspension.
An electronic stability system aids the driver in maintaining control. Anti-locking brakes along with a plethora of airbags including side-curtain air bags adds a tremendous amount of safety.
The more rigid body structure assists in making the passenger compartment more resistant to intruding noise. This CRV is much quieter than before, although I did get a bit of road noise depending on the road surface.
The 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine produces a reasonable 166 horsepower. However, typical of auto media types I would like to see this number closer to 200 horsepower. The tradeoff, which these days is much more on people’s minds, is the CRV gets 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.
The interior is inviting and typical high Honda quality. The seats, no matter the upholstery, are supportive allowing me to find a comfortable setting. The CRV has plenty of bins and cubbyholes to store all those things we usually take on a drive. A dual-deck cargo shelf in the rear compartment provides a place for light objects with plenty of space underneath for the more substantial stuff.
If you are looking for a true off-road rock-crawler keep looking. However, if a comfortable and accommodating vehicle that can get you past the snow banks and mud holes of a rural recreation area is your need this could be the vehicle for you.
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