EACH iteration of the Honda CR-V is meant as a reflection of its time period. The 1995-2001 CR-V was Honda’s first salvo into SUV territory, while the 2002-2006 version was touted as an urbanite’s people and cargo carrier. The current third-generation CR-V is now a crossover vehicle that is comfortable either on hard earth or tarmac, but leans toward providing city folk with a vehicle that complies with quickly changing times.Its newest iteration—the CR-V Modulo Sports Plus 2.0S—takes the notion to a new level, particularly for those with an active lifestyle and those who want their CR-Vs to look good. You can see it on the roof rack, which can actually hold a mountain bike or two, but you have to get your own chains or tie-downs. You can see it in the tailpipe, the lower front and lower rear garnish, the turn signal lights incorporated in the side mirror housings and the foglights, which makes the unit foster a more “look-at-me” persona without getting tacky.
Coping with the times also means providing 21st-century ride comfort and convenience, something the Modulo CR-V totes in copious amounts. The steering wheel has leather wrapped around it, plus silver accents around it and audio controls on the 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock sides. The air conditioning has a dual automatic system to flush out hot air quickly should the unit find itself under the sun for a long time, and the unit sports an outside temperature gauge nestled between the rev counter and the speedometer. The head unit has MP3 capability, plus USB connectivity and an auxiliary jack for external MP3 player use within the glovebox. Balanced sound comes courtesy of a six-speaker system that includes two tweeters to properly replicate high tones. About the only negative is the head unit’s on-off button location. It’s closer to the ignition column, and can be hard to reach at times.
Storing lots of stuff is possible within the unit’s confines. The large center console was retained, and it houses two cupholders and a storage bin that can handle seven to nine external hard drives stacked together horizontally. The rear bench folds flat, and the bench’s middle part sports hidden cupholders. The rearmost area has a tonneau cover that can act as a divider for luggage, or as a security cover to shield items from prying eyes. Ingress and egress from the unit are helped via low hip points and doors that can open at angles bordering 90 degrees, which is great for those with leg injuries or back injuries trying to get in or out of the CR-V Modulo.
Fast-paced times call for a fast unit, but the CR-V Modulo falls short. Despite the presence of Honda’s renowned i-Vtec (Intelligent Variable valve Timing and lift Electronic Control) valvetrain efficiency enhancement—meant to improve the torque curve on engines that produce peak twisting force and pace at 4,500 rpm and beyond—on the CR-V Modulo’s 2.0L, the powerband is narrow. You have to floor the gas to get good acceleration or perform decent emergency change-of-lane moves. The five-speed A/T helps somewhat, but the gearing is tall and you have to cancel the overdrive function so that only three gears are used instead of all five forward ratios. However, the unit can go a long way on a single full tank of pump gas. There is even a fuel consumption indicator on the instrument panel that allows the driver to monitor and control the vehicle’s fuel consumption by maintaining a light right foot and adopting economic driving habits.
The lateral performance, ride comfort and safety features redeem the CR-V Modulo’s engine sins. You can toss the SUV in corners with confidence without the unit getting skittish, yet feel relaxed when the unit goes through the nastiest undulations. The steering feedback is much improved as Honda moved the caster angle in a little more positive way, which the driver benefits from his wrists and hands not being given a workout when turning the wheel in any direction. That comes in handy during cornering at speed, or traveling through consecutive turns that go in opposing directions without sacrificing steering feel. The brakes displayed no fade for the entire duration of the test drive, and the aforementioned foglights can act as second headlights due to their bright beams. Sensors within the rear bumper are a big help during parallel parking and long backing.
In a period where various fascinations can get passé in weeks or days, Honda created a CR-V that can adapt to ever-changing times.
Thumbs up
Great handling (for an SUV)
Comfortable ride
Light steering feel
Bright exterior lighting
Safety features
Fuel consumption
Interior storage, ergonomics
Audio entertainment
Fit and finish
All doors open close to 90 degrees
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Narrow powerband
Tall gearing
Price
Specifications
Vehicle 2011 Honda CR-V Modulo Sports Plus 2.0S
Type Compact SUV
Engine type R20A1 2.0L SOHC 16-valve inline four cylinder gasoline, with i-VTEC (Intelligent Variable valve Timing and lift Electronic Control), drive-by-wire throttle control and PGM-Fi (Program Fuel Injection), naturally aspirated
Maximum power 148 hp at 6,200 rpm
Maximum torque 190 NM at 4,200 rpm
Transmission Five-speed automatic (with Grade Logic Control, shift lock and overdrive), rear-wheel drive
Dimensions
Length 4,565 mm
Width 1,820 mm
Height 1,680 mm
Wheelbase 2,620 mm
Front track 1,565 mm
Rear track 1,565 mm
Wheel size 6.5J x 17-inch alloy
Tires 225/65R17
Price (base CR-V Modulo Sports Plus 2.0S): P 1.39 million
Price as tested P1.455 million
In Photo: The 2011 Honda CR-V Modulo Sports Plus 2.0S is apt for those with an active lifestyle. (Photos by Honda Cars Philippines Inc.)
