Review
Introduction
The CR-V has been a success for Honda since the first version came out in 1996, and the current, third-generation model that debuted in 2007 is the bestselling SUV in America.
The interior is straightforward and comfortable, and the rear seats fold flat. There are three trim levels: LX, EX, and EX-L. All three come with a 166-hp, 2.4-liter four and a five-speed automatic transmission. Buyers can opt for front- or all-wheel drive.
Although no one is going to call the CR-V fun to drive, it does handle predictably and is nicely responsive, with accurate steering and a serene ride. The CR-V is the ultimate suburban runabout. You might wonder why Honda doesn’t offer a V-6 and a third row, as does one of its main competitors, the Toyota RAV4, but Honda didn’t see a need to alter the winning formula of the first generation in the name of increased girth and diminished efficiency.
Verdict
On the one hand, critics might say the unibody CR-V lacks some of the cargo room of big, traditional body-on-frame SUVs such as the Ford Explorer and that the frugal four-cylinder engine lacks the punch of something larger. On the other hand, the CR-V’s just-right size and good fuel economy are largely what attract legions of buyers. The CR-V placed second behind the excellent RAV4 in our most recent comparison test of cute utes—which included a whopping nine vehicles—in a virtual dead heat that saw only the Nissan Rogue anywhere close to the two leaders.
Click here to read our full review of the Honda CR-V.
Click here to read our latest comparison test involving the Honda CR-V.
What’s New for 2009
Nothing—the CR-V was redesigned for 2007.
Highlights and Recommendations
The LX comes fairly well equipped, and it should be enough for most buyers. The main additions to the EX are dress-up items such as a chrome grille and rear privacy glass and luxury touches such as a premium sound system and dual-zone automatic climate control. If you want leather or a navigation system, you’ll have to go all the way up to the EX-L, but that model isn’t cheap, as it closes in on $30,000.
All-wheel drive only sacrifices 1 mpg on the EPA highway rating and nothing on the city loop, but the front-wheel-drive version will have plenty of traction for almost any on-road driving situation. Even with all-wheel drive, the CR-V is not made for off-roading, unless you count pulling up next to the soccer field.
Safety
All safety items on the CR-V are standard across all three models. That list includes front, front side, and curtain airbags, active head restraints, ABS with panic brake assist, and stability control.
