The Honda CR-V might seem like it burst onto the scene, fully-formed, as the template for how all future compact crossovers would look and feel, but the trajectory to its near-dominance among family buyers took more than a few years of feeling-out. From its early days as one of the pioneers of the tiny SUV set, to finding its feet as a comfortable, safe, and useful daily driver that almost any family could afford, to its current place near the top of the crossover heap, the Honda CR-V consistently found a higher level of game as it climbed the sales charts.
Of course, not all versions of the SUV were as intriguing as others, and for a time it appeared as though the CR-V might have lost a bit of its mojo before it came roaring back, big-time, to capture the attentions of mainstream shoppers. Here’s our ranking of each and every generation of the Honda hauler, rated from first to worst.
2002-2006 Honda CR-V
What makes the second-generation Honda CR-V the most compelling? While the original model was a cool proof-of-concept, once Honda realized there were legions of buyers out there waiting for a right-size crossover, the company went all-in with a full redesign to accentuate what drivers wanted, and iron out what they could do without.
The end result was a version of the CR-V that still relied heavily on the Civic sedan platform, but which gained a larger 2.4L 160-horsepower four-cylinder engine based on the VTEC variable-valve timing unit found in the larger Accord and Odyssey. A new suspension and a more rigid unibody translated into extra cargo space and a more comfortable ride, and the CR-V would continue to offer the pop-out table that had been such an unusual characteristic of the first-gen. By 2005 a revised all-wheel drive system was in place, along with a mild restyling that would further cement the CR-V’s place among budget-conscious families looking to step up from a hatchback.
1997-2001 Honda CR-V
Let’s be honest: the fact that the first version of the Honda CR-V was available with both a picnic table and an integrated shower, through the accessories catalogue, was almost enough to push it into the top spot. Aside from unusual options, Honda also got a lot of other things right when it joined Toyota in the cute-ute market at the end of the ’90s.
Notably, the CR-V’s upright styling butched it up compared to the wagons it was competing with, even in the absence of any true bulk. A modestly-powered four-cylinder engine kept it relatively frugal, while copious cargo space made it a no-brainer versus sedans of the day for those who needed to haul a bunch of junk in the trunk. Its Civic-sourced chassis erred on the right side of smooth, with no off-road pretensions, and it was priced low enough to lure curious buyers into showrooms. As a marketing experiment, the CR-V was a resounding success, and it helped kick off what is currently the hottest automotive segment around.
2017-2021 Honda CR-V
To sample the current version of the Honda CR-V is to experience the culmination of what the first model promised all the way back in the 1990s. Today, the CR-V is perhaps the archetypal compact SUV: plenty of room for a party of five, surprisingly high levels of interior storage, a reasonably tall driving position that provides a good view of the road ahead, and available four-wheel grip to pull passengers through treacherous road conditions.
The fifth-generation CR-V also adds a turbocharger to its bag of tricks, with its 1.5L four-cylinder (first as an option, then later standard) providing an available torque boost that finally addresses the older crossover’s lack of hustle when fully loaded. This comes alongside a hybrid model that delivers a substantial boost in city-speed fuel efficiency [although Honda has yet to offer it to buyers in Canada, just in the U.S. – Ed]. All versions of the latest CR-V come with a full host of active safety gear that helps seal its position as one of the go-to choices for entry-level family fare.
2012-2016 Honda CR-V
The CR-V was stuck in Blandsville for its fourth generation, although this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. As an ultra-practical commuter it was still a great choice for a wide swathe of shoppers, but the vehicle’s styling and on-road personality, despite a power boost to 185 horsepower, helped it blend into the crowd more than stand out from the pack.
Still, there were some bright spots. This is the version of the CR-V that indicated Honda was willing to install a little more luxury gear to help win over hearts and minds, a practice that was taken to the next level with the following model. It also gained a new and improved all-wheel-drive system that sucked down only a smidge more gas than the front-wheel-drive models available in some markets. Overall, a perfectly fine vehicle, if an unmemorable one.
2007-2011 Honda CR-V
Holding up the bottom end of our Honda CR-V rankings is the third generation that appeared in 2007. The victim of an anonymizing restyle, this CR-V lost its rear-mounted spare and presented itself as a somewhat amorphous blob that was easily lost in a sea of similarly-styled SUVs at the time. Sales of the 2007-2011 CR-V were still strong, and a 2010 makeover helped add a splash of personality back into the Honda, but there’s little to recommend it over any other late-2000s crossovers scrambling for family dollars.
January 24, 2021 at 11:59PM
https://ift.tt/3pgDi78
Generation Gap: Ranking Each And Every Version Of The Honda CR-V - Driving
https://ift.tt/2ZpDLcG
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Generation Gap: Ranking Each And Every Version Of The Honda CR-V - Driving"
Post a Comment