The CR-V consistently posts impressive sales numbers.
With the possible exception of Toyota, any manufacturer venturing into the compact SUV market is well-advised to check and see what Honda is up to first.
The CR-V is and always has been the benchmark for this market and consistently posts impressive sales numbers. I can't tell you how many new-car introductions I've attended that feature the CR-V as the one to beat in the compact SUV segment. It is a remarkably popular car and crosses all kinds of demographic boundaries.
The thing is, it doesn't really excel in any one area. Is it the most powerful model in this segment? Not even close. Is it the roomiest? No. Does it have the best fuel economy? Nope. Is it the best-looking? Possibly, but that's a personal thing. What about off-road ability? Hardly; there are any number of similar rigs that will leave it for dead when the going gets rough.
Okay, then, how about price - is it the cheapest? No again. Rivals coming from Hyundai, Kia, Ford and others are much more affordable. In fact, my tester this time around, the EX-L with Navi, will run you close to $40,000 after taxes, levies and other extras.
Nonetheless, the CR-V is a very appealing package. It has a driver-friendliness and usability about it that many buyers clearly like and, for 2009, you can get it with 2WD in a couple of trim levels. This makes sense; the vast majority of people who are interested in the CR-V couldn't give a fig about its off-road ability. Those that do can order the AWD system, at a cost of $2,000, with the EX model.
The top of the line EX-L has AWD as standard equipment, however, and it's Honda's well-utilized Real Time system. Although it's been revamped and tweaked over the years, this arrangement goes right back to the mid-1980s, when the Civic Wagon was available with it.
In a nutshell, the front wheels provide all the traction until they start to slip, at which point, the back wheels receive engine power to help the vehicle get through the rough patches.
It's far from being a terrain-devouring off-road system, but will provide supplemental stability and help you get through snow and muddy road conditions. My neighbour had a 1988 Civic Wagon with this feature, and he drove it for 300,000 trouble-free kilometres before selling it. Not the most versatile AWD system around, but it's pretty much bullet-proof.
Power for the CR-V - in all trim levels - is provided by a 2.4-litre four-cylinder that features Honda's i-VTEC variable valve timing setup, and is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission only. This gearbox has Honda's Grace Logic Control, and it automatically adjusts gear ratios when ascending/descending hills. It's a handy engineering feature and used throughout the company's lineup.
Honda also re-located the shift lever to the dashboard a few years ago, and, well, I wish they hadn't. I liked having the shifter on the steering column, but that's just me.
That said, the drive train in the CR-V is virtually faultless; more power wouldn't go amiss, but it makes the most out of what it's got, and returns decent, if not outstanding, fuel economy.
Transport Canada reckons that an average driver in the AWD version of the CR-V will use 1,880 litres of regular gas a year. By way of comparison, a Nissan Rogue will go through 1,720 litres, a Ford Escape 1,760 litres, and a Volkswagen Tiguan 2,020 litres. The VW also requires premium gas.
None of these three feature the same kind of drive train finesse as the CR-V, however. No one is building better four-cylinder engines these days, and in terms of smoothness and refinement, this engine leads the pack.
Inside, standard equipment on the EX-L includes a climate control system (unnecessary, all things considered), heated front seats, leather interior, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, a 60/40 folding rear seat, tilt/telescoping steering and the usual array of power modcons.
My Navi model also featured a voice recognition system and back-up camera. I say ixnay to the first, but yes to the second; I'm really coming to appreciate these little cameras and think it's about time Honda and others stopped including them as part of a larger, more expensive package and sold them separately. If I want a back-up camera, let me have one - how much can it cost?
And while I think of it, Honda should bring back that built-in card table that used to come with the CR-V. It doubled as the rear deck cover and you could take it out, unfold the legs and, hey presto, instant picnic. A lovely feature and, again, how much can it cost to include it as standard equipment?
But the CR-V doesn't need any gimmicks or extras to draw buyers. It's about as close to a four-wheeled appliance as you can get and, for a lot of people, that's the general idea.
2009 HONDA CR-V EX-L NAVI
Type: Compact SUV
Base Price: $37,090; as tested: $38,680
Engine: 2.4-litre, four-cylinder
Transmission: Five-speed automatic
Drive: All-wheel-drive
Horsepower/Torque: 166 hp/161 lb-ft
Fuel Economy (litres/100 km): 10.7 city/7.8 highway, regular gas
Alternatives: Chevrolet Equinox, Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute, Nissan Rogue, Jeep Compass, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Mitsubishi Outlander, Kia Sportage, Hyundai Santa Fe
Like
- Refined drivetrain
- Sensible ergonomics
- Thoughtful interior layout
Don't like
- Could use more power
- Not crazy about gearshift lever location
- Maybe too appliance-like?
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