Driving Impressions

Good ride quality is a CR-V strong suit. It's supple enough to absorb the nasty little irregularities of rough pavement without excessive compromise in handling response. Part of that is due to its relatively long wheelbase. At 103.2 inches, the CR-V wheelbase is long for its overall size. Its wheelbase is a little longer than the Jeep Cherokee and a significant 8.3 inches longer than the four-door RAV4. That's typical of current Honda designs, and it's one of the reasons for Honda's success with ride quality. The CR-V isn't quite as quick on its feet as the RAV4, but it is thoroughly competent. Low-end torque, the force that gets you up and running when the light turns green, isn't particularly abundant in the CR-V. The torque peak doesn't come until 4500 rpm. As a result, standing-start getaway is sluggish. The 5-speed improves performance in this area considerably. Once it builds up a head of steam, though, the CR-V is quicker than a RAV4. Honda powers the CR-V with a 2.0-liter dual overhead cam 16-valve aluminum four-cylinder hybrid from the Civic inventory rated at 146 horsepower and 133 pounds-feet of torque. That's a little more power than the RAV4's 2.0-liter engine, but the CR-V is a little heavier, so power-to-weight ratios are similar. CR-V's engine is relatively quiet, less noisy than the RAV4, at most operating speeds. But both vehicles come with a fair amount of wind noise. The CR-V's all-wheel-drive system primarily drives the front wheels. When system sensors detect loss of traction to the front wheels, it feeds torque to the rear wheels until proper grip is restored. The CR-V does not offer a locking center differential, low-range set of gears, a limited-slip rear differential, or traction control. This limits the CR-V's capability in areas with steep climbs, limited traction, or deep sand. So be careful about driving the CR-V on the beach. Overall, the CR-V drives like a compact station wagon, which is essentially what it is. There is nothing remotely truck-like about its behavior. Steering is precise and feeds plenty of road feel back to the driver. Honda's effective four-wheel double wishbone suspension is independent at all four corners. Its variable-assist rack-and-pinion power steering offers high boost for easy steering at parking lot speeds, low boost for better feedback at higher speeds. EX models come with an anti-lock braking system (ABS), which allows the driver to maintain steering control in an emergency braking situation. Front brakes are discs, but the rear uses drum brakes.

Final Word

The Honda CR-V is an excellent piece of work. It's much roomier than the RAV4. Even with more than 8 inches of ground clearance, the CR-V is not a good choice for off-road use. But it is loaded with nifty features and, for the kind of duties that most sport-utilities perform most of the time, its all-around practicality and comfort deserve high marks.