1999 Honda CR-V
01/05/1999
Ed Kwon
Brand loyalty for Honda owners is second to none in the US, but in recent years the SUV craze has made some Honda owners into ex-Honda owners. SUVs are replacing many of the family sedans in America, and a Honda Civic owner who is ready to step up to an Accord may consider an SUV as an alternative, instead of following the "natural" progression like so many Honda owners before him. Although Honda's version of the Isuzu Rodeo has temporarily persuaded some of the potential ex-Honda owners, the Passport is just a bandage, not a cure.
Enter the Honda CR-V, (Compact Recreational Vehicle). This vehicle is certainly no Winnebago, but deserves the RV title nonetheless. In a sea of impractical, gas guzzling, clumsy, overweight SUVs, the CR-V offers all the advantages of an SUV without the all the disadvantages. Honda hopes to retain its loyal base of customers by offering them a real Honda alternative to all the SUVs available on the market.
Introduced in 1997, the CR-V is a small sized SUV built on the Honda Civic platform. Due to the bulletproof design of the Civic, CR-V automatically earns the reputation as a vehicle that will deliver reliability.
The tested vehicle, CR-V EX, comes standard with all the amenities offered by Honda's factory plus a dealer installed roof rack. The EX version is equipped with a 2.0 liter 4 cylinder engine, Honda's 4WD system (Real TimeTM 4WD), ABS, and CD player.
Interior
Behind the steering wheel, it is business as usual for Honda, which is very good. Large, clear easy to read gauges, adjustable steering wheel with all of the necessary controls within easy reach. The placement of all the controls are logical and intuitive, or as they say in car lingo, ergonomic. There is a reason why companies such as Honda and Mercedes-Benz do not vary their driver interface layout. The visibility from the high position, surrounded by glass, of the CR-V is immediately comforting. There is enough headroom for the driver to take full advantage of the great visibility, and this headroom is available for the rear seat passengers as well. Even a headrest, which isn't a neck rest in disguise, is standard. And speaking of the passengers, unlike some of the other, much larger SUVs, rear seat passengers can sit very comfortably behind a 6'1" driver, even if that passenger happens to be 6'1" himself.
The CR-V truly deserves to be called a utility vehicle, and part of the credit goes to the CR-V's nooks and crannys. The CR-V is representative of all things stereotypically understood as Japanese. They somehow manage to intricately fit large quantities into very small spaces. CR-V is filled with an amazingly large interior. The rear split fold down seats offer even more space when large things need to be hauled.
Exterior
The front fascia is aggressive with a wide stance. The huge bumpers and headlights add a sense of balance to the wide stance. The squarish lines make the boxy shape look elegant and surprisingly inviting.
From the side, the profile is reminiscent of a station wagon raised up on stilts. The wheel and tire combination looks undersized for the vehicle's size, but overall the lines flow nicely.
From the rear, the vertical lights are large and most importantly, very visible. The spare tire is mounted on the outside to allow more room for the interior, and it adds a sense of ruggedness to the look of the vehicle. Obviously a character the market seeks.
The gaps between body panels are very much to Honda standards: even and narrow. For $22,000, this vehicle looks better than some of its $35,000 competitors. Overall, very clean styling that exploits the classic squarish lines associated with these types of vehicles.
Chassis and Suspension
Honda's decision to base this vehicle on the Civic meant carrying over many of the suspension and chassis components. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Like most other SUVs in the market, these vehicles will almost never experience anything but asphalt, and an occasional gravel/dirt road. The most treacherous road condition the vehicle may see is 6-inch deep snow lying on top of asphalt.
Due to deteriorating roads on the highways and byways of this country, a softer and forgiving ride is preferred by many. The higher ride offers the CR-V more suspension travel, higher profile tires, and some softer springs and shocks. Although this doesn't do much for the cornering abilities of the CR-V, it does offer a more compliant and pleasant ride. Besides, for someone looking for ultimate grip, an SUV should not enter the picture. The physics of the vehicle definitely works against such wishes.
Driving Impressions
Driving the CR-V is amazingly unlike driving a truck. It feels more like driving a Civic from a higher seating position. The steering is reactive and the manual transmission shifts with ease. Although the shifter throw wasn't the shortest, in relative terms it was very pleasant. Overall the control layout and the driver feel to the road is much like a car. And the best part is, it feels like a Honda.
The engine was fine for driving around town. It wouldn't win any quarter mile races, but it was very acceptable. The gear ratios in the first four gears are very short. The driver will need to do a lot of shifting if he wants to make the CR-V hustle. The power band is up in the higher range of the engine's rev band. Luckily this is one engine that won't mind the revs. However, in many situations, the car seemed to begging for a larger engine to carry the chassis.
The combination of high revs and the large cabin makes the vehicle seem to be alive with sounds. During highway driving, the noise level needs to be lower to ease conversation. With the more compliant ride, the other senses become more sensitive, and things like noise level become more of an issue. The decision to save weight was most important to Honda, and some of the insulation that would dampen some of the sounds may have been left out.
Specifications
General
1998 Honda CR-V EX
Front engine/All wheel drive (Real Time(TM) 4WD)
5-passenger, 5-door
Price Range: $18,000-23,000 (est.)
Price as tested: $21,000 (est.)
Measurements & Capacities
Curb Weight: 3217 lb. (est)
Width: 68.9 in.
Height: 65.9 in.
Track F/R: 60.4/60.4 in.
Overall Length: 177.6 in.
Wheelbase: 103.2 in.
Fuel Capacity: 15.3 gal.
Engine
Inline-4, liquid cooled, aluminum block and heads
Valvetrain: DOHC 16 Valve
Fuel Delivery: Multipoint fuel injection
Displacement: 2.0 L
Bore X Stroke: 3.31 x 3.5 in.
Compression Ratio: NA
Power (SAE net): 146 @ 6200
Torque: 133 lb.-ft. @ 4,500 rpm
Max. Engine Speed: NA
Fuel: Unleaded Regular
Oil Capacity: 4.86 qt.
Coolant Capacity: 6.34 qt.
Emission Controls: NA
Transmission
5-speed manual with over drive
Ratios: 3.500 (1st), 1.956 (2nd), 1.344(3rd), 1.071(4th), 0.812 (5th)
Reverse: 3.000
Final Drive: 4.562
Suspension
Front: Independent, double wishbone, coil springs, shock absorbers, stabilizer bar
Rear: Independent, double wishbone, coil springs, shock absorbers, stabilizer bar
Steering
Variable Power-assisted rack-and-pinion
Steering ratio: 17.1
Steering Turns (lock-to-lock): 3.23
Turning Circle: 34.8 ft.
Brakes
Front: Vented disc, vacuum-assist
Rear: Drum, vacuum-assist
Wheels & Tires
Wheels: 15"
Tires: P205/70 R15 95S All Season M+S
Fuel Economy
Highway: 25 mpg
City: 22 mpg
Interior
Head Room (Front/Rear): 40.5/39.2 in.
Leg Room (Front/Rear): 41.5/36.7 in.
Hip Room (Front/Rear): 53.4/50.7 in.
Shoulder Room (Front/Rear): 53.3/55.5 in.
Interior Volume: 98.0 cu. ft.
Cargo Volume: 29.6/67.2 (rear seats folded) cu. ft.
Restraints
Front: Driver and passenger airbags, 3-point belts
Rear: 3-point belts
Summary
Honda has once again redefined and set new standards for an existing market. Just like they did with the Civic for small cars, and the Accord for midsize cars. The CR-V may be the vehicle that all other SUV of similar size may be compared against. It is difficult to emphasize enough the utility and practicality that this vehicle offers. Most owners of Chevy Blazers and Ford Explorers never really tow anything, nor do they climb mountains. Most owners of SUVs make runs to the grocery store and utilize it as a daily commuter with occasional light duties to haul the odd piece of furniture.
Honda has read the market almost perfectly. A commuter vehicle that offers good ergonomics, gas mileage, plenty of room for four real sized adults, and the compliant ride of a sedan. Add to that, the Real TimeTM 4WD system eliminates the low speed steering wind up, and gives the performance of a 4WD vehicle only when needed. This is one of the few vehicles out there that is practical for all four seasons.
Sidebar:
At a Glance
A useful, roomy SUV that looks great but lacks the torque expected for such a vehicle.
Likes:
Practical, versatile, 4WD Honda.
Dislikes:
As Tim Allen would say, needs more power.
Surprises
How about a picnic table?