MOTORNETNEWS  ROAD  TEST  -  SEPTEMBER  2007

HONDA  CR-V  LUXURY AWD  WAGON

With its more rounded shape the Honda CR-V looks smaller than the previous boxy version. It is quite attractive - as far as these AWD wagons go - and looks a lot less aggressive than most. 

It combines the usual Honda excellence of build with a reasonably roomy interior that actually has more luggage area than many much larger vehicles. It has a smooth auto transmission but a somewhat bouncy ride and the 2.4-litre engine is thirsty and lacks torque.

OUTSIDE:

The addition of smart 7-spoke alloy wheels, deep set fog/driving lights, some nice sculptured lines along the sides and some nice chrome touches, the CR-V Luxury is less aggressive than most of the similar wagons on the market.

The flared guards add a sporty look and the deep bumpers offer good protection front and rear. The large headlight nacelles are cut sharply into the front guards and house projector lamps and the indicators. These indicator lights are repeated in the rear view mirrors, a very good idea as they are very visible from all angles. These exterior mirrors, however, a very large and while they are great for seeing what's behind you they do tend to block side vision when coming to an intersection.

At the rear the taillights are amongst the best in the business as they run right up the D pillar and a very visible. The rear bumper is fitted with parking distance sensors - a very important standard fitting for this type of vehicle and only surpassed by the relatively rare rear view camera system on some models.

INSIDE:

The leather-trimmed interior smacks of luxury with dual zone climate control air-conditioning, a good audio system with CD player, cruise control, neat armrests, heated seats, sunroof, electric control on driver's seat and and an elegant ambience. The front seats are extremely comfortable and have fold down armrests  and very good support.  The rear seats are good for two adults or three children and head an leg room are very generous all round. The rear seats have quite upright back rests but are still quite comfortable.

The four doors provide easy access to the roomy cabin and there are plenty of storage spaces including pockets in the backs of the front seats. Each door has a large bin with a bottle holder and there are four cupholders - all very necessary for a family vehicle. There are two glove boxes in the front compartment. there are some very neat touches such as chrome ringed instrument dials and matte silver door pulls.

The three-spoke steering wheel has both reach and rake adjustment and has remote controls for the audio system and cruise control. The auto transmission lever is mounted in the dash console below the easy-to-use climate control and audio system. Quality materials are used throughout and fit and finish are excellent. Twin covered and illuminated vanity mirrors are provided.

LUGGAGE AREA:

Many AWD wagons suffer from the fact that the rear seats are almost hard up against the tailgate. The CR-V design is such that there is still quite a large area behind the rear seats. This space can be dramatically increased when the rear seats are folded flat to provide a very long and wide area.

The tailgate opens right down to the floor of the boot area to facilitate loading and unloading. The solid floor covers a full sized alloy spare wheel and tyre - full marks Honda! There is a cargo blind as well as a more solid cover and there are two tie-down lugs fitted to the floor. Child restraint lugs are at the front of the load area. The tailgate opens easily on gas struts and has a recess inside for easy closing.

ON THE ROAD:

The CR-V could do with a little more power than the 125kW developed at a fairly high 5,800rpm. This wouldn't be a problem when loaded if there was more torque developed. The torque figure is only 218Nm and this maximum is only available at 4,200rpm. While this power and torque are OK for one or two people and urban driving, fill the CR-V with a family and their gear and hills become a problem - and fuel economy suffers. 

The fuel economy rating from Honda is for an average of 10.00 litres/100km however, the test car ran out at 12.1 for an average week of urban and some freeway./highway driving. 

The ride tends to be a bit bouncy and the wagon can feel top heavy if you drive a bit too enthusiastically into a corner. Steering is light, the auto transmission is very smooth while the engine is quiet and road noise very subdued. The insulated bonnet doesn't have a gas strut and the engine layout is a bit untidy but access is good.

PRICE:            $41,990 5-speed auto plus on road costs. (6-speed manual $39,990)

STANDARD:    ABS brake system with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Distribution; 6-speaker audio system;   central remote locking; 6-stack CD player; electric sunroof; cruise control; Front, side & curtain airbags,; fog/driving lights;  heated seats; leather upholstery; power driver's seat; power mirrors, steering & windows; Vehicle Stability Control;

OPTIONS: