Honda CR-V: Your Weekend Buddy

MANILA, Philippines - In more ways than one, weekends are the culmination of each week. You dream of it in between meetings and phone calls. You plan it in your head as you walk on hallways. You make mental lists of things to do or places to go to as you pile a report on top of another. You imagine it as you snake through the urban jungle.

But for all the perfect moments a weekend connotes, the getaway of your dreams can easily turn into a cursed ordeal. First there is always the problem of space, especially for those traveling with friends and families. Then there’s the inconvenience of a noisy engine and a bumpy ride during long trips. And with the rising cost of fuel, gas mileage is also a consideration. With all these things coming into the scene, your weekend can begin looking like another stressful day at work.

Not with a Honda CR-V. With the CR-V, relaxation isn’t a destination. Relaxation starts the moment you step inside the car and turn your ignition key. Once you settle inside the cozy interior, you can’t help but fall in love with its sedan-like ride comfort. As a driver, you’ll appreciate the CR-V’s unrivaled driving stability. For the passengers, the CR-V gives a new meaning to the phrase “comfort zone” with its silent, comfortable ride and various amenities. The CR-V is so comfortable, the long drive itself becomes part of the relaxation process.

The secret to the CR-V’s exceptional ride comfort is the new placement of the engine and spare tire. The spare tire is moved underneath the rear floor, thus lowering its center of gravity, while the engine location is lowered to give it a sedan-like ride comfort. These also contribute to the CR-V’s handling and stability on the road. The drivability is further enhanced by the new suspension systems, lightweight and well-balanced body rigidity, and Honda’s original Realtime 4WD system, which now sends 20% more torque to the rear wheels.

Aside from the ride comfort, Honda made sure that unwanted noise wouldn’t interrupt your hearty conversations or your favorite music as you cruise to your weekend sanctuary. The CR-V’s reduced body weight and strategically placed soundproofing materials make passengers oblivious to the idling or acceleration of this gentle beast.

The CR-V comfortably sits five adults and the seats can be configured to fit almost anything. The 40:20:40 split rear seats with double-folding design makes the CR-V a master of flexibility when it comes to cargo space. Off-road mountain biking is no problem. Simply fold the rear seats for max-cargo mode and easily fit two mountain bikes at the back. Going surfing? Adjust the front passenger seat to full-flat mode and fold the rightmost rear seat to accommodate your surfboards and other gears. Heading to a weekend jamming? Just fold down the center armrest, start loading those kick-ass guitars and drums, and call the rest of the band. Another way to maximize space is by using the CR-V’s new lightweight, high-rigidity shelf that can divide the cargo into two levels so you can maximize the space even further. The shelf even folds in half so you can load tall items while using double-deck storage. And because of its lower engine location, the CR-V also has a lower floor so loading and unloading cargo is no longer a challenge.

With your space problem solved, you’re ready to step on those pedals and begin a weekend of rest and spirited driving. The CR-V’s powerful i-VTEC engine, which can unleash a maximum power output of 170ps, is ready to take you anywhere. And with its mind-boggling fuel-efficiency, anywhere sounds like a very good place. The CR-V’s i-VTEC engine works together with its Drive-by-Wire technology to optimize fuel consumption and produce cleaner emissions. It also comes in either 6-speed manual transmission or 5-speed automatic transmission. Wider range of gear ratio reduces engine revolution that results to lower fuel consumption and quiet cruising.

So stop planning your weekend and start driving to your dream getaway. Visit your nearest Honda dealer and test drive one now. The 2.0 L variant is available in Taffeta White, Alabaster Silver Metallic, Sparkle Gray Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Habanero Red and Bold Beige. For the 2.4 L variant, you can choose from Silverstone Metallic, Sparkle Gray Metallic and Brilliant White Pearl. Price starts at P1, 245, 000. Log on to www.hondaphil.com for more information about the CR-V and other Honda products.