by Holly R.

Pros:

• LOTS of room inside
• Sits up higher than standard cars - easier to see up the road over traffic
• For only having 166 HP, it feels like it can really get up and move
• Due to the size, it’s really easy to park (pretty much anywhere)
• Voice recognition system

Cons:

• Not-so-smooth shifting which leads to some jerkiness
• Didn’t like the placement of the gear-shift knob (on lower dash)
• Volume control for stereo in non-intuitive location
• Side mirrors are small, which led to head check view between the B pillar and a small sliver of the rear window (eek)
• Voice recognition system

Introduction:
When I got the chance to drive this vehicle, I jumped at it! I had a friend who had an older version of the CR-V and I recall that it was a decent ride. So I thought it would be fun to compare the new version versus the older versions. Plus, it just happened to be a weekend I had a TON of running around to do, so it would give me lots and lots of miles to figure out what I loved about the vehicle, and what I loathed. Just my luck! I got the CR-V EX-L model - the pimped out version of the CR-V with all the special items the other CR-Vs dream of…

Driving Impressions:
Because I’m used to driving a cushy car, I feel that the CR-V rides like a bit like a truck. Kind of noisy at times and kind of rough at times. But if you buy one of these, you’re not really in the market for a luxury car ride.

The automatic shifting was a bit rough, which led to some jerky accelerations. On the other hand, the decelerations were smooth. The CR-V’s combination of 166 horsepower and the lighter weight of the vehicle, makes it FEEL like it has more power in the engine. It felt very responsive to me, even, dare I say, zippy. City driving was fun, and with the excellent braking power, I didn’t worry about stop and go conditions. It would GO when I wanted it to, and STOP when I needed!

Build:
The car felt solid. I didn’t have to slam doors or worry that if someone did slam a door, it would damage it. I was unable to detect any abnormal noises emanating from the car even on the roughest roads. I believe this to be a very well-built, solid vehicle, definitely living up to the Honda name.

In moving the seats forward, backward, folding up the rear seats and then putting them back into position, I didn’t detect any weakness or flimsiness. The build is equally good inside as it is on the outside.

I didn’t pop the hood, so I have no idea what’s going on under there!

Interior Comfort and Ergonomics:

The good:
The leather interior is surprisingly nice. The driver’s seat has a huge range for adjustments, which would probably make this car suitable for pretty much anyone. Unfortunately, the passenger seat is significantly less adjustable. But it’s all about me, right?

The steering wheel has the little thumb nubs (is this becoming a trend?), and little flat spots on the backside of the steering wheel, which my fingers sat comfortably on.

Loved all of the cubby holes and cup holders! There are EIGHT cup-holders, that’s 4 for the front seats, 4 for the rear. And I’m always in need of at least one more cup holder in my cars for that extra bottle of water. Cubby holes everywhere for cell-phone, change, sunglasses, etc.

The cargo space is huge! I folded the rear seats forward, anchored them with the handy strap which loops over a hook on the B pillar behind the front seats. I was then able to put my road bike, my teammate’s road bike (the handlebars hooked onto the folded up seats nicely), the two fronts bike wheels, two small coolers, floor pump, 2 helmets, shoes, my full-sized backpack, a stationary bike trainer and my teammate’s large exploding bag of clothing. And there was room to spare!

The voice recognition system was good when I could get it to work right. “Show gas stations” works good. “How long to destination” worked good. See also “the bad”.

The bad:
The volume control for stereo is in a non-intuitive location (at the top left corner of the navigation screen). Where it would ordinarily be located is actually the temperature control knob, so every time I tried to turn the stereo up, I was turning up the cabin temperature.

I did have some trouble with the visors, in that when the sun is low on the horizon, they aren’t adequate for blocking it out. Perhaps if my seat were higher, they’d work better.

Voice recognition quirks: “Show closest restaurant” told me the time. Umm, no. Sometimes I got no response to my “question”. Sometimes it would just ask me to repeat. It got frustrating!

The ugly:
I think the instrument panel is a mess. There are too many gauges, dials, readouts, numbers, etc. I found that it was really distracting to try to find out how much gas I had remaining at a quick glance, how many miles I’d driven, etc. A toggle switch which allows you to see what you want, WHEN you want is much better. I like “less is more”, not “more is more”.

Handling:
I drove this crossover SUV for a lot of miles, over several days. I drove it in heavy (and sketchy) traffic, into the sunset, over bridges, through toll lanes, basically over the valley and through the dell. The longer I drove the CR-V, the more I became used to it and fond of its zippiness, ability to handle corners at speed, and its ability to stop immediately. I drove it down my favorite, dark, curvy road and the CR-V did not disappoint. I would characterize its handling as: nimble.

Styling:
Honda has rounded out the squared edges of the CR-V over the years. I didn’t like the older models, as they were too boxy looking. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw this one. It now has softer, rounded edges, some nice tinting touches, and pretty attractive wheels. I actually caught someone checking the car out while I was sitting in traffic! Honda’s decision to remove the spare tire on the back of the vehicle was genius, as it improved the styling ten-fold.

Value:
For a car that’s under $30k, and for the 5-star safety ratings on everything BUT rollover (4 stars), this car is a really, really good deal. It’s nice to look at. Fun to drive. It has a navigation system, XM-Satellite radio, cruise control, back-up assist camera, 6-CD changer, single CD hidden behind the navigation system screen, leather interior, heated seats, power moon-roof, safety everything, AND it’s easy on the pocketbook. It’s a no brainer - a great value for a great vehicle!

Conclusion:
I really loved this vehicle! It was fun to drive, a pleasure to look at, easy to park, and zippy! I keep coming back to the word “fun” to describe the CR-V. It was fun! Fun to look at. Fun to be in. Apparently it’s rather fun to take a nap in the back of (as my teammate did) too! And after driving some real gas guzzling cars on vacations and trips, it would be almost fun to take to the gas station!

I felt really safe while driving it, and outside of a Volvo, that’s pretty hard for me to say. But Hondas have always been really safe and reliable in my book, and the CR-V is no different.

Would I buy one? Heck yes! Would I recommend one to a family or friend? I already have!

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>> Official website for Honda cars, minivans, trucks, crossover utility vehicles, and hybrids: American Honda Motor Co.