Car models usually get better over time in terms of features, specifications and design, but in most cases the character remains the same. This can be said for most of the cars we see around us that have been around for a while. The character of a particular model sustained over a long period is proof of acceptance by a certain target segment of the market. The market or customer decides whether a model stays on the production line or not. One of the car models that have managed to stay on the production line for quite some time now is the Honda CR-V.
It is really hard to find faults in a car like this. It's like the perfect employee that the boss has been looking so hard to find. The kind of employee (according to Seth Godin) who fits in like a perfect cog in a machine that's designed to do a specific task. No complaints, no issues with reliability...
After the performance life cycle is complete, you simply replace the cog with another that does exactly the same thing. To many, this may sound like something they have always wanted to have.
But I like to own a car that needs a little repairing and fixing every now and then - something the 2010 Honda CR-V does not expect you to do. It is a very reliable automobile - no hiccups, nothing to go wrong.
I had a hard time figuring out what this car was intended to do in the first place. It looked a lot like a small 4x4 which it tries to be on some level on the road, but that's not what it was intended to be at all.
On the performance part, it does complete justice to the 2.3-litre, 4-cylinder engine that it comes with and its full-time four-wheel drive system does quite a satisfactory job on the road. Acceleration and speed are not the qualities that Honda intended for the CR-V and therefore it does neither with extravagance. The engine generates 168hp at 5,800rpm and 224Nm of torque at 4,200rpm. It fits the profile of a perfect family car for those who look for reliability, a trustworthy brand, and most importantly something that transports the entire family from point A to point B with nary a problem. I think it's a big segment in terms of people who are looking for something with qualities similar to the CR-V. A hassle-free motoring experience.
Fuel efficiency is something that Honda has always been good at and the CR-V's i-Vtec engine is no exception. The fuel efficient engine makes the CR-V a strong contender for those who need a car commute to get to work and to take the entire family to the beach on the weekend. That's the kind of profile the CR-V fits and it stays true to this character. The CR-V was never built for real off-road use but short trips to the beach and moderately sandy areas where a 4x4 transmission is required is something that this car is quite capable of handling. It does the kind of all-terrain handling that it was meant to do.
Improvements in features and specifications have taken place over the years and the 2010 CR-V now comes with a new exterior styling and refined intricate detailing on the front grille, the bumpers and lamps.
The 17" alloy wheels are a welcome addition. The interiors have also got better over the years and it now comes with improved seat fabrics, great colour options and other groovy trim enhancements that complement the improved exteriors. In addition, the CRV's suspension system has also been improved for better performance.
The large windows and good visibility made city driving in the CR-V a pleasure as compared to a giant gas guzzling 4x4 in traffic.
Highway driving was a lot better than I expected and the CR-V maintained its stable nature even at higher speeds. Speeding around corners is not recommended with any SUV, neither is it with the CR-V.
In short, the CR-V does everything well and gracefully.
