Honda CR-V Sport 2007 Review

Road Test

Overall rating: 3.5/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 3.5/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 3.0/5.0
Safety: 4.0/5.0
Behind the wheel: 3.5/5.0
X-factor: 3.5/5.0

About our ratings

Of all compact SUVs, few if any have done more to popularise the segment than Honda's CR-V.

Its high driving position, boxy styling, rear-mounted spare and all-wheel-drive system pointed to a vehicle that could get off the beaten track. In truth it was never intended to do more than very light-duty off-road work. And with its car-like manners and demeanour, it soon became the darling of suburban families to whom the high driving position and interior versatility were its most appealing factors.

Thus for the third generation CR-V introduced earlier this year, Honda accepted its place in the world and went back to the drawing board to create an even more urban-friendly vehicle.

Gone is the spare from the rear and unlike most new models, the CR-V is actually shorter (and rolls on a marginally shorter wheelbase) than its predecessor. Inside, it retains fairly spacious accommodation with only the sloping rear roofline impinging slightly on adult headroom for occupants of the back bench.

Gone is the gimmicky rear picnic table but the flexible practicality of the cabin remains with abundance of big storage cubbies and door bins and, on our mid-range Sport model, a dual deck load space in the rear luggage area -- essentially a slide-in shelf that will take up to 10kg on top.

The tailgate is now top rather than side hinged for easier access while the rear seat also offers more flexibility with the sliding base split 60/40 to tumble forward and the rear seat back split 40/20/40 to increase fold options.

The CR-V is pretty well specced too but with prices approaching the $40K mark for our Sport version, it is inching into the mid-sized market where you can get six-cylinder 2WD versions of the new Toyota Kluger and Ford Territory, or even an all-wheel drive Holden Captiva for the same money.

The Honda's 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine is largely carried over from the previous generation although some minor upgrades have increased power slightly to 125kW. Peak torque is unchanged at 218Nm.

It is a very smooth and refined powerplant but mated to the equally slick five-speed automatic transmission only feels adequate in getting the heavier CR-V off the line. It's more than capable around town keeping up with the traffic flow but head out into the country and it can get a little stressed on long hills.

Overtaking from highway speeds requires careful consideration. What might help would be a manual shift option for the auto box -- to keep the engine spinning over about 3000rpm where it feels strongest. Alas unlike most of its rivals, Honda has opted for a basic overdrive lockout that drops fourth and fifth gears and a simple L-2-D shift gate.

With a firmer suspension and lower centre of gravity, the latest CR-V feels solid and secure on the road. The trade-off is that while it is comfortable on good freeways, it does suffer from a bit of low-speed jiggling around town and on secondary roads. It's not exactly uncomfortable but rather tiresome.

As the speed increases however, so too does the comfort factor and over some fairly rough and rutted dirt roads through the Otways in south western Victoria, the suspension proved to have a surprising degree of compliance and suppleness.

What was also evident on these wet slippery surfaces was the competence of the combined all-wheel-drive system and Honda's VDA stability and traction control.

Under most conditions, the CR-V is a front driver with the rear only coming into play during traction losses. As we wound our way down towards the coast, the systems did a very good job of maintaining the car's line and keeping us well and truly on the not-so-straight but narrow.

This same handling competence is also delivered on the dry tarmac with the car's lower stance and firmer dampers helping to keep body roll to a minimum and ensuring the car remains stable and well controlled.

Overall, the new CR-V is vastly improved on the dynamic front and its sleeker styling offers a more appropriate visage for its predominantly urban use. That said, if you are buying the car for its high riding perspective and interior space and versatility, the value equation -- at least in terms of the higher specced versions -- is starting to lose its shine.

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