- suv 143,576
- Honolulu, HI
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- autoshopper.com
- suv 143,576 gasoline silver automatic
1997 honda cr-v review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. That's because most sport-utilities rarely leave the pavement, let alone venture into tough terrain. The cr-v combines suv style and image with minivan usefulness. And it does so very effectively. walkaroundhonda marketing messages will pit the cr-v against toyota's spectacularly successful rav4, a strategy that's both logical and shrewd. it's logical, because the cr-v is similar in concept and execution. Unlike most sport-utilities, it's based on passenger car components, specifically the subcompact front-drive civic line. Toyota used the same approach with the rav4, which is an amalgam of pieces from the camry, corolla and celica. it's shrewd, because the cr-v is considerably bigger and roomier than the rav4. First, that's the way we keep telling the manufacturers we like 'em. Second, it maximizes interior volume. like the rav4, the cr-v carries its spare tire on an external rack mounted on the tailgate. Unlike the rav4, and a lot of other external mounts, the cr-v's spare is low enough so that it doesn't interfere with vision to the rear. the tailgate is a two-piece affair. The power window switches, for example, are located on the dashboard, to the left of the steering wheel, and they're a trifle awkward to get at when the vehicle is moving. and the column-mounted shifter felt out of place in something that calls itself a sport-utility. on the other hand, putting the shift lever on the steering column allowed honda to create a minivan-style pass-through between the front seats, a minivan feature that plays very well here. we also liked the removable tray, with integrated cupholders, that flips up between the front seats. Two more cupholders slide out below the climate controls, and the interior has an abundance of storage pockets and bins, another typical honda touch. for all its engaging detail touches, though, the most endearing trait of this interior is roominess. Lots of front legroom, which is common enough, and abundant adult-size rear legroom, which isn't. headroom is also plentiful, fore and aft, and there's a sizeable cargo space behind the rear seats. The rear seatbacks flip and fold individually to expand cargo capacity. and how's this for neat: the cr-v includes a picnic table that stows in the rear floor. That's typical of current honda designs, and it's one of the reasons for honda's success with ride quality. good ride quality is a cr-v strong suit. It's supple enough to absorb the nasty little irregularities of warty pavement without excessive compromise in handling response. the cr-v isn't quite as quick on its feet as the rav4, but it's thoroughly competent, and its steering is precise, with excellent feedback. overall, the cr-v feels like a compact station wagon--which is essentially what it is. The torque peak is 4300 rpm, and standing start getaway is a tad sluggish. once it builds up a head of steam, though, the cr-v is significantly quicker to 60 mph than a rav4 automatic, and the engine is reasonably quiet at most operating speeds. however, the rav4's standard transmission is a five-speed manual, and a rav4 with a manual transmission provides livelier performance. summaryaside from the absence of a manual transmission, the cr-v is an excellent piece of work. It's much roomier than the rav4, has all sorts of nifty features and a respectable load of standard equipment. it's not the best choice for tough off-road use, even though it has 8. 1 inches of ground clearance. But for the kind of duties that most sport-utilities perform, its all-around practicality and comfort are tops at the small end of the spectrum. assembled injapan. options as testedabs, aluminum alloy wheels. model testedcr-v. Power Windows✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ Bucket Seats✔ AM/FM✔ Air Conditioning✔ Cruise Control✔ Alloy Wheels
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