The Honda CR-V Revisited

MANILA, Philippines –  As the resident car geek in the family, I was asked last year by an aunt which was my recommendation: the Honda CR-V or a newer model from a brand known for its zoomy styling. After listing the pro’s and cons of each, the adventurous side of me encouraged the aunt to try the newer model for a change. It was sexier, drove much more like a car, and would set her apart from the sea of popular CR-Vs.

Predictably, she chose the CR-V. Like I said before, anyone who takes a tip from me has a 50-50 chance of actually following my advice. In all probability, they’re not so much asking for my choice as an affirmation of what they’ve already decided for themselves. Which is not to say that the CR-V is something I discourage people from buying (my in-laws bought one on my recommendation, and so did our neighbor). Rather, in a market where new models come every few years my instinct as a car critic is to always go for the latest one.

And as compact SUVs go, the CR-V is no longer the freshest face on the block. Last year saw the Mazda CX-7, Hyundai Tucson and Nissan X-Trail making inroads into the niche lorded over by the Honda. Meanwhile, the CR-V is still in its midlife phase such that talk of a new generation model hasn’t even seriously begun yet.

But new model introductions are a quick-and-easy way of driving sales, and the only way to sustain it is to make a genuinely good product in the first place. One that will withstand the test of time as new competitors inevitably come to play.

My aunt’s official reason for choosing the CR-V was that “It has a full size spare. Brand M only has a compact spare.” I understand some people’s misconceptions about compacts versus full sizers, but was this the only real reason for going with the Honda? To dig deeper, I accepted Honda’s offer of a test drive for their 2.4-liter model, a way to get reacquainted with their bread-and-butter SUV.

Over the course of 4 days and several hundred kilometers, I drove the CR-V like any other owner would: cruising on the highway, crawling along EDSA, powering up some steep hills in Tagaytay. I did all this while my wife was beside me, and as we chatted about all the usual things married people do I almost didn’t notice how efficiently the CR-V does its business.

Smooth, quiet, predictable, just like any other Honda I’ve driven over the past decade. (FULL DISCLOSURE: I drive an Accord) The 2.4-liter i-VTEC engine is a burly one with 170 horsepower on tap, but mated to the standard 5-speed automatic you’d hardly ever notice it’s working unless you bury the accelerator into the carpeting. Sure would be nice to have paddle shifters like the City and Civic, though...

Standard kit for the 4WD variant is the REALTIME drivetrain that transfers torque to the rear wheels when it detects front wheel slippage. It’s a lightweight design that’s ideal for light trails and slippery roads, but only a fool would take a CR-V onto some hard core trails. That’s what jeeps are for. The CR-V, on the other hand, is faithful to the niche it helped pioneer two model generations ago: a tall, fashionable, wagon-type vehicle with the option of all-wheel drive for (very) light duty “off-roading”, if at all.

So what is it good at? Family outings, for one, as it has comfortable seats, a firm and stable ride, and a classy interior that reminds of the previous generation Accord. Keeping loved ones safe and sound are front and side airbags, G-CON crush zones, ABS, traction control, and seatbelt pretensioners. For comfort and entertainment the Honda eschews the tacky gimmicks, playing it safe with the basic modern necessities such as a stereo with a USB jack, and dual zone climate control. My wife also appreciated the CR-V’s malling abilities as the Honda has one of the most versatile cabins in its class.

Like the award-winning Jazz, the CR-V sports a nifty backseat. The seat bottoms are split 60:40 and can be tumbled forward. On the other hand, the seatback is split 40:20:40. Depending on your hauling and/or malling requirements, you can fold one or all seatbacks forward while still carrying a passenger or two. Or you can combine these with the tumbling seat bottoms to free up the most room at the cost of passenger space. When we borrowed my mother-in-law’s CR-V for an out-of-town trip several years ago, we were able to fit my road bike, spare wheels, a cooler, and our overnight bags without too much packing creativity required. And even loaded to the gills, we still made good time, easily cruising at a relaxed 100-120kph while enjoying respectable fuel economy of 8-9 kpl on the highway.

By the time I had to return the keys to Honda I was reminded of why the CR-V is still a popular choice among sensible folk. The look is still new without being faddish, nearly every interior material has a quality look and feel, and everything just clicks together with mechanical precision.

Like Bose sound systems, Cole Haans, and Baileys, it’s not so much about being “new” or “different” all the time. Rather, it’s about delivering on the essentials, adding a little zest here and there... and doing the job efficiently and classily.

The good

• Timeless good looks.

• Machine-like precision.

• Versatile interior.

• Comfortable ride.

The bad

• If the City and Civic have paddle shifters, why can’t this one?

The verdict

• A finely built machine that just gets the job done without drama or hype.