Honda CR-V Review
Published: 16th October 2005
Honda CR-V
How It Drove - Performance
The Honda CR-V 2.2 i-CTDi Sport is powered by a 2.2 i-CDTi 16V DOHC common rail direct Injection turbodiesel engine which produces 140 PS at 4000 rpm enabling it to accelerate from 0-62 mph in 10.6 seconds and continue to a top speed of 112 mph.
The new all aluminium 2.2 i-CDTi diesel engine is the first to be designed and developed in-house by Honda and is a direct result of the rapidly growing diesel market.
The diesel engine is exceptionally refined combining responsive acceleration with low engine noise and vibration. Drive-by-Wire throttle technology is standard throughout the CR-V model range and ensures a smoother and more instantaneous response to acceleration pedal inputs, particularly from standstill.
The engine is shared with the Honda Accord but in our opinion is possibly a tad noisier. To be honest you can only tell it's a diesel on cold start-ups or when the windows are down at low speeds and apart from the obvious different driving characteristics of a diesel you soon forget it is diesel powered - apart from trips to the fuel station, as it is also economical returning 42.2 mpg on a combined cycle.
A 6-speed manual is standard with the 2.2 i-CTDi diesel engine which is relaxed and exceptionally smooth to operate. We usually prefer automatic transmissions fitted to 4x4's but Honda's 6-speed manual proved faultless offering light and effortless gear changes.
How It Drove - Ride/Handling
For an SUV the Honda CR-V is surprisingly nimble with well-weighted steering and limited body roll, in fact unlike some SUV's it feels reassuringly stable and car-like to drive.
The ride is supple and levels of grip are impressive making the CR-V entertaining to drive and of course you do benefit from four wheel traction when necessary in the form of Honda's Realtime 4-Wheel Drive system which automatically changes from 2 to 4-Wheel Drive to suit road conditions. In normal driving conditions the CR-V drives only the front wheels, saving fuel and limiting wear and tear however, in adverse conditions such as driving on ice, mud or wet leaves the 4-Wheel Drive System takes over automatically and so smoothly it is barely noticeable. However, don't be fooled into thinking that the CR-V is suitable for serious off-road conditions if you need to venture off the beaten track on a regular basis we would look more towards the Jeep Cherokee or Land Rover Freelander.
VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) is standard on Executive models only and helps you maintain control during cornering, acceleration and collision avoidance manoeuvres and we feel that this should be standard across the CR-V model range.
/ 