2010 Honda CR-V Reviews

Honda was already on a winner with the CR-V, but the new RE model that arrived in 2007 was a clear and welcome improvement over earlier models.

When the Honda CR-V was first sold in Australia in October 1997 it was a considered to be a genuine 4WD, albeit one intended only for mild conditions. That was almost 20 years ago and the SUV situation has changed markedly in the meantime. Today so-called small SUVs are really station wagons, are frequently driven by

Graham Smith reviews the 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 Honda CR-V as a used buy.

The CR-V is approaching its fourth year in a market filled with newer rivals but the compact Honda is still a consistent seller.  It also has a devoted following among the mums of school-aged children, judging from the number that crop up in streets near schools and parking lots.The Honda combines a high-riding drive position with handling better than some cars and a small SUB body that will still swallow a lot of luggage, especially with the optional cargo screen fitted Carsguide has just returned a long-term CR-V and can see why owners are so passionate about them.The Honda Sport gains alloy rims and a few vanity interior features like a sunglass holder in the roof console. At $39,000 it is pitched into battle against the up-spec versions of the new and very capable Kia Sportage, the Subaru Forester and the Holden Captiva. The CR-V can still match them in the drive, but it is starting to date inside - the lack of Bluetooth is a obvious omission. A six-speed gearbox would only help fuel consumption, too.The cabin itself is still a comfortable, with switches falling where you expect them, a sound system that you don't have to read the manual to manoeuvre around and an airconditioning unit that was warm/cool within 90 seconds of entering the car.The 2.4-litre VTEC engine was good when it came out but Honda will soon need to update the Euro IV-compliant engine with a Euro V version if it wants to continue European sales. It will probably be a refinement of the existing mill, which is a free-spinning unit that happily winds up to redline.The on-demand all-wheel drive system performs credibly in a range of situations, from gravel roads to ice and mud. Power is generally channelled forwards, but rear drive is added as front traction is lost. It sounds simple (it isn't, unless y and really enjoy hydraulics) and works well in every situation Carsguide could put it through..The conservative Honda suit didn't win any design laurels when it was launched, but it's standing the test of time well. The inoffensive styling still isn't out of place in the new-car carpark. The upright look has been maximised in terms of interior space and the little SUV is quite capable of taking a family of four on a weekend camping trip with little fuss. Honda will even sell you a generator ...The Honda is a top performer in crash tests globally and its structural integrity is one of the features the Japanese company boasts about. It uses stability and traction control to try and avoid the crash in the first place, then deploys six airbags to cushion the impact between occupants and the reinforced chassis if the worst does happen.Adaptive head restraints help out but first time SUV owners should still do themselves and their cars a favour and book in for a specialised SUV handling course with someone like Murcotts or DECA.The only real giveaway you're driving an SUV comes from the high ride position. The Honda will outcorner conventional cars - and that's without relying on the software to help out. There's the inevitable body roll before the suspension stabilises everything with a fair amount of efficiency. That makes the CR-V a fun device on hard-packed gravel roads and still in its element lane-changing in the CBD.The brakes are solid and again reinforce that feeling of confidence - the CR-V doesn't pitch under heavy brakes as much as some of its competitors.  The rear tailgate needs remarkably little room to swing up, making loading up the groceries a simple affair.The interior surfaces are also easy to clean. That's a big deal for any family with young children or who are regular campers and will be regularly removing gunk from the fabrics, but it stood tall and colourfast even after the worst my pre-teen children could squash into it.The brakes are solid and the car is better than any one aspect suggests. The origami-like way they come together make the CR-V a worthy contender against the latest crop of SUVs _ and reinforce how good it was on launch.If build quality and practicality matters, the Honda should rate highly on the shopping list.

Honda has put a lot of work into the exterior styling of the new CR-V. But with so many worthy competitors in the SUV category now, they needed to in order to hang onto its fans. The Honda CR-V range starts at $33,990 and tops out at $43,990.The CRV base model is powered by a 2.4 litre DOHC in-line four cylinder engine that puts out 125kW of power at 5800rmp and 218Nm of torque at 4200rpm. A six-speed automatic or five-speed manual with grade logic control gets power to the wheels.   The SUV has a combined fuel economy figure of 10l/100km for both transmissions and it emits 237g/km of CO2, again for both automatic and manual.Honda has improved the exterior of the CR-V since the last version. Smoother lines and well placed creases shift it into the stylish and refined SUV category.  Keyless entry, body coloured powered side mirrors come standard on the entry level model and the inside is stacked with standard features.Air conditioning, cruise control, front seat armrests, a multi-function display, an MP3 compatible stereo and heaps of storage, make travelling in the CR-V a pleasure on trips of any length.  The 40/20/40 split-fold-and-slide rear seats are even heated for extra comfort. As well as a comprehensive airbag package, the Honda CRV entry level edition list of safety features includes anti lock brakes, child proof rear locks, electronic brake force distribution, an immobiliser system and Honda’s G-con technology.Compared with Hyundai’s Santa Fe and the Subaru Forester, the first impression of the CR-Vs interior is ‘fuddy-duddy’, especially with the arm rests down. It looks more like a Smokey Dawson chair has been shoe-horned into the cockpit than the modern – young - interiors of the other two competitors.Having said that, the seats are comfortable if a little flat, and the dash is uncluttered and easy to work out. But it’s just a bit old looking and we reasoned that given the glut of these types of cars that are available, Honda need to put more effort into interior styling.  The outside is definitely better than it was but Honda needs to pick up its game and come up with something a little edgier if it wants to remain a frontrunner.Driving, as always in any Honda is smooth and refined with a perfectly mated transmission. Good torque across the rev range saved us from feeling nervous when merging and overtaking and there was enough poke for it to just scrape into the ‘zippy’ range.Happily, the revised suspension in the new CR-V meant that we stayed pretty upright in corners and the grip was smarter than the previous model.There was noticeable wind noise off the side mirrors, plus a bit of rumble up through the floor, especially when travelling at speed but our conversations weren’t interrupted by it.With the back seats down it really does look like there is a tonne of room, and with the seats up five large adults fit nicely with room to spare.  Mechanically, Honda’s new CR-V is a very good car; it just isn’t the best looking thing getting around. And we think that could become a real problem in the not too distant future.

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."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.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.