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HABITS
are developed after long exposure to a certain activity.
And then these habits are carried over generations. The
2007 Honda CR-V is most probably one Filipino motoring
habit that is hard to break. Although it is now the
fourth-generation model, it still moves the hearts of
Pinoy drivers.
Evolving
from one of the bestselling SUVs in the country, it
almost flopped when Honda decided to tap the AUV market
when they turned the second-generation model into a
10-seater. This mistake was immediately corrected by the
third serving that it again rose to become a bestseller.
In its
launch early this year, CR-V fanatics were wowed by the
new design. So radical was the change that it is
difficult to compare it with the past three generations
of CR-Vs.
The body
was altered to give it more aerodynamics, making it look
sleeker and sporty, much as a sport-ute should look
like. The face of the CR-V, with its new headlights and
grill, gives it a sterner look fit for much more than
lazy city driving.
The
bodylines that smoothly flow from the front to the rear
depict a stylized design that glides through one’s
vision. Honda calls it the Emotional Window Graphic and
side character line.
The face
of the new CR-V projects strength and power, reminding
one that it has been a powerhouse since its birth. The
double-layer grille gives it a more serious look and the
high headlamp position not only lights up the road
better but give the CR-V full character. Add the small
dimple-like fog lamps below and it is quite a handsome
facade. It also has side mirrors that are equipped with
very useful turn lamps.
However,
I feel that the new tailgate that slopes inward is an
amendment that seems to defy logic and its design does
not go well with the vehicle.
 Step
inside and the familiar comfort of the CR-V will
surprise you. Not only because it is familiar, but
because of the new thingamajigs inside. The seat fabrics
are still soft and pleasant everywhere inside and the
driver’s seat has lumbar and height and seat
adjustments. Legroom everywhere is spacious, in fact,
the interior space of the new CR-V is great.
The
instrument cluster and dials are easy to read and now
has that modern look. It even has a fuel efficiency
meter that tells you if you are driving like a
gas-guzzler or driving it economically.
The
dashboard contains a six-disc audio system that works
quite well if you don’t want all those fancy sound
gadgets. And a double level glove box hides the usual
car clutter we eventually gather. It has a center
console with two large compartments, still for your
clutter, I guess.
Now,
this is quite new: a conversation mirror. It’s a fisheye
mirror on top of the rearview mirror. It enables the
driver to keep his face directed on the road while being
able to see and talk to the guys in the rear seat.
The
steering wheel incorporates the mainstream design, which
allows having audio and other controls on its surface,
enabling the driver to make adjustments without taking
his hand of the wheels.
Now,
lets get to driving the CR-V. It still has the same feel
of comfort and control that we have been used to, but
now has a stronger 2.4-liter under the hood. This is a
DOHC, water-cooled, 16-valve engine that packs maximum
power of 170 ps at 5,800 rpm and maximum torque of
22.2 kg-m at 2,200 rpm. I had quite a lot of fun
driving it around as the powerplant is attached to a
five-speed automatic transmission with grade-logic
control.
Let us
say it is fast, but not so fast that it turns into a
racecar. No, the CR-V is a humble servant to the
family-type motorist with some ambitions of being sporty
and “in.” Space, as I said earlier, is fantastic, so
much so that it can carry almost double the cargo of
some regular SUVs out there. Now isn’t that a pretty
good thing? n |
