Driving review: Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V was one of the first compact SUVS on the market and it just gets better and better. It has always been a favourite of mine, in fact I even convinced my mom to buy one. It is clear they are a popular choice, you see so many on our roads. And it is no wonder they are so popular, they offer space, comfort and are overall a quality product.
WOW had one to test for a week and it was hard to fault this car. The exterior styling is perhaps the only thing that would cause debate, some people love it, some hate it. But step inside and whatever your feelings you will be satisfied by the oodles of space and comfort. The space is in fact class-leading. One of the tallest men I have ever known and who was senior associate editor of CAR magazine bought one for himself, even he had headroom, something he so often struggled with when testing cars. If you fold the rear seats down you end up with a whopping luggage capacity of 1146 litres.
One of the draw cards of the CR-V is it’s features list. On just the entry level you can expect dual zone climate control, a multifunction steering wheel, electric mirrors and front windows, cruise control, and bluetooth. They haven’t skimped on safety either with ABS, EBD, emergency brake assist, vehicle and trailer stability control, six airbags and isofix child seat anchorage points.
A part from the space, another reason this is the perfect family car, especially if you have little ones in car seats, is that the doors open to nearly 90 degrees making access to the seats a breeze. And I am sure there are many moms out there thinking just how much easier this would make their lives.
The ride quality is one of the best in the class, which again, just think about a sleeping baby or family road trip comfort. It may be a little bit more expensive than some of its competitors but that is because you are buying guaranteed quality. And if you consider what you get for the price, it really is a no-brainer. There is a certain security that one gets when buying a Honda, it is a manufacturer that many feel is the most reliable and when driving the CR-V you don’t have anything to think about or worry about, which for many mom’s is exactly what they need when they have screaming kids in the back and a million other things on your mind.
Pricing ranges from R322 300 for the entry level manual model (2,0 Comfort FWD) to R552 600 for the 2,2 Executive AWD diesel automatic. It comes standard with a three year/100 000 km warranty and five year/90 000 km service plan.
We also had this to say about the Honda CR-V.