Honda - CR-V

1997-01  2001-07 

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A family-sized sports/leisure 4x4 that's roomy, cleverly designed and well engineered. It's fairly affordable to run and holds its value well because it's a popular used 4x4 choice.

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	Spacious, family-friendly and comfortable
	Well put together and extremely reliable
	Better to drive than most 4x4s
	Not up to heavy off-road use
	Gets thirsty when driven hard
	More expensive than Subaru?s talented Forester

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CR-V straddles the borderline between family estate and full-blown 4x4. Most owners fancy themselves as having a 4x4 lifestyle but do 99 per cent of their motoring on tarmac. CR-V's clever four-wheel drive recognises this, automatically switching power to all four wheels only when needed - it's front-wheel drive under normal conditions.
Styling is purposeful, lending 4x4 credibility. CR-V seems sportier and more sophisticated than close rival Forester. It's well constructed and offers outstanding reliability. Roomy enough for a family of five plus a useful amount of luggage, the cabin is light, airy and well finished in hardwearing materials.
The original 2.0 engine is adequate but needs a lot of throttle and gear-work to give brisk acceleration. Output was boosted by 20bhp in early 1999, cutting 0-60mph acceleration by two seconds.
Steering is light and precise, and handling is fairly nimble. The ride is smoothly firm without too much body roll.