Recently, my wife Judy and I had a two wheel-drive 2011 CR-V with a trim-level called EX-L. The exterior color was a nice grayish shade called Urban Titanium.
Honda, wisely, has not upset the apple cart my attempting to re-make the CR-V. This is a tried and true, very popular, compact-crossover. That word “crossover” continues to confuse a lot of consumers, but generally indicates that the vehicle is a SUV-style on a car base platform rather than a truck base platform. The Honda CR-V is simply one of the best-selling small SUV’s in North America. There is some probability that 2011 will be the final year for the CR-V, but there are a lot of unusual happenings in the automotive industry, so we really do not know for certain.
Our test model 2011 model was new, but there really has not been any major upgrade on the 2011-year model over the 2010-year model. For 2010, Honda provided a significant refresh that included a new grill, new bumpers, some more horsepower in the engine, better acceleration, and of course, better mileage. The chrome-trimmed grille looks good, but there have been some who said the grille was too gaudy or the roofline needs to be softened. These “complaints” probably came for jealous competitors. Best-selling anything’s, not just cars, will always receive their share of bad press.
Our daughter Alison and husband Mark took advantage of that Cash For Clunkers campaign and purchased a new 2010 model Honda CR-V. They love it. When their new baby Ryland was expected, the additional cargo space was appreciated. Now that they have to carry half of their worldly goods with them every time they come to visit Grandma & Grandpa. They really praise the attributes and conveniences of their CR-V, and as grandparents, we notice the roominess and flexibility that the CR-V provides for them when they travel with a baby and all the accompanying “stuff.”
Our 2011 test model was powered by a 2.4 liter, 4-cylinder engine that provided a significant 180 horsepower. It was matched with a smooth-operating five-speed automatic transmission. Safety features are abundant in the CR-V including side-impact door beams, front & rear crumple zones, dual-stage airbags, anti-lock braking, brake assist, and Active Front Head Restraints.
Although the CR-V is listed in the Compact Crossover segment of cars, many also consider it a large sedan. It drives more like a small car most of the time, but has the ability to behave like a larger car on the highway. The short wheelbase allows nimbleness in handling. Overall, the ride is smooth and comfortable.
The exterior is fairly standard for the compact crossover segment and most of these vehicles look somewhat alike. The car manufacturers always seek to add some distinguishing characteristic and tell why you can spot their vehicle over another. All that being said, the exterior is fairly common, but could be referred to as slightly quirky. Other manufacturers have probably copied it more than the other way around. Standard features on the EX-L test model included a power moonroof with a tilt feature, rear privacy glass, heated power door mirrors, and a rear window defroster.
The interior of the CR-V is well equipped with a lot of convenient features that help make the drive-time comfortable. Family use of the CR-V is very utilitarian due to the many standard features. The navigation system is one of the best. The leather seating is very comfortable. There is a 10-way powered driver’s seat, heated front seats, fold-down rear seat center armrest, several power outlets, USB audio interface, MP3 input jack, and a 7-speaker audio system. A special feature in the rear cargo area really appealed to me during the test-drive. It was a dual-deck cargo shelf. This was not just a flimsy shelf that was used to cover the back from prying eyes, but a heavy-duty, fold-over shelf for carrying cargo items. The shelf allowed easy accessibility for all the lower area, but a lot of space to place items on an upper level. If the shelf was unfolded, it covered the entire bottom cargo area and could still be utilized for an abundance of heavy items. I found myself using this special feature often during the week.
The EPA rates the Honda CR-V at 21-mpg city and 28 mpg on the highway. My average for the weeks test-drive was about 27-mpg average, which I thought was very good for an SUV. MSRP for the EX-L trim level was $28,685. Bottom sticker price including delivery charges came to $29,425.
I really enjoyed the week’s test drive of the Honda CR-V. Our daughter Alison really likes her 2010 model. The Honda CR-V is simply a well-designed vehicle that provides good performance and special packaging of convenience and useful items, all at a very reasonable price structure.
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