Honda CR-V 2010 review

A quick glance at this year's off-roader sales figures reveals two things. They are going gangbusters and there are plenty of choices out there in buyer land. This is good news and bad news for Honda's popular CR-V. Honda has reacted to the challenge from newer rivals by giving the CR-V a modest facelift for 2010.

Although it has been around in various guises since 1997 and grown to be a formidable competitor it faces fresh challenges. The Mazda CX-7 and the Volkswagen Tiguan have been edging the likable CR-V out of the sales limelight this year.

It also has to go head-to-head with the strong-selling Subaru Forester, Nissan X-Trail and Toyota RAV4. Other well-specified arrivals like the Hyundai ix35 and repackaged Nissan Dualis will not make things easy for it either.

Honda Australia spokesman, Mark Higgins, says despite the competition the CR-V remains one of the company's more popular core models with a strong owner loyalty base. It consistently ranks as one of the brand's top-three sellers. "It's essentially mum and dad's taxi," he says.

Higgins says the little off-roader wagon has a strong following among families because of its practicality and economical four-cylinder engine. "The loyalty rate for the CR-V is very high," he says. "Owners tend to upgrade out of one into another."

Variants and pricing

As before, there are three models, a starter, mid-range Sport and range-topper Luxury. The Sport remains the best seller, closely followed by the Luxury, Higgins says. "The mix is quite rich for us towards to top-end models," he says. Prices kick off at $30,990, rising to $42,790 for a loaded Luxury. The Sport is $38,790.

Honda has improved the CR-V in several key areas, tweaking the steering, ride and handling. The entry model also gets full-length curtain airbags as standard, while the Sport gets upgraded seven-spoke alloys and the range-topper Luxury has new five-spoke alloys and automatic headlights and wipers. Extra sound deadening has been added around the engine bay and in the cabin to reduce road and engine noise.

There are some cosmetic touches outside and inside, like new door handles and interior surfaces, upgraded fabrics and plastics that help create a premium finish. The front end also gets a new bumper and updated grille.

Higgins says the feedback from buyers on the improvements has been favourable. "Many remark on how much quieter it is and the sedan-like ride," he says.

All CR-V models share the same carry over 125/kW/218Nm 2.4-litre i-VTEC engine four cylinder engine with either a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic. The auto is standard on the Luxury.

Driving

It's been a while since we've driven the CR-V. However, friends who own them are really committed CR-V owners and love them. We can see why. It manages to master the dual roles of family duties around town while being a compact and economical off-roader if you want to go bush. A five-star crash rating also provides some reassurance.

The 2010 updates have delivered improvements to two specific areas, the steering and suspension. The revised steering feels more direct and meatier. The end result is that it now more communicative.
The suspension has also been massaged to improve the ride and handling. It works.

The CR-V no longer feels slightly floaty when swinging through roundabouts or driving through winding mountain roads. It is more secure and that's a big positive. The 2.4-litre four-cylinder, mated to a five-speed automatic in the Luxury, remains a sweet unit that has ample power and is reasonably economical.

However, some of its rivals are now opting for six-speed automatics over a five-speed. The fully automatic 'real-time' all-wheel drive system remains. It uses a multi-plate clutch to push power to the rear wheels only when needed. In the past we've found it reacts too slowly when you hit soft gravel but it will fulfil most light duty off-roading needs.

The curvy design, a marked departure from the boxy look of pervious CR-Vs, has grown on us but the front-end still lacks enough visual presence. Like all Hondas, the CR-V's cabin is appealing and modern. The switchgear has a quality feel, the dials and trip computer are easy to read and there is plenty of room for passengers and luggage.

The neat, twin-height luggage shelf is a bonus for families with small children. You can pop a stroller under the luggage shelf and put groceries above it. It's a neat trick and typical of Honda's design thoroughness, just like the 40/20/40 split rear seats, which slide and tumble forward to increase the load area.