Honda CR-V Road Test
Honda claims the cabin of the CRV now contains more than 20 storage bins to accommodate items of various sizes. Rear cargo volume has been significantly increased. The CRV’s controls are particularly well laid out and as a result are very easy to use. A new handbrake lever is cleverly disguised as part of the dash and works well. Vision to the front and sides is good, although the centre rear head restraint does obstruct the driver’s view to the rear. The CRV still uses a swing-out rear door with the added feature of a swing-up glass hatch. While a gas strut attached to the door allows easy opening and closing of the door (on which the spare wheel is mounted), considerable space behind the vehicle is needed to fully open it. The new CRV is a very pleasant vehicle to drive. The clutch pedal is light to operate with good feel and the manual gearshift has a positive action and quite a short throw. The big news, however, is that the new engine offers a whole new level of performance.
The 2.4 litre i-VTEC is particulary responsive right throughout the rev range and smooth in its operation. Unfortunately there is a certain mount of torque steer evident under hard acceleration. The suspension provides quite a compliant ride, the handling is reasonably sharp and the steering is nicely weighted. Four wheel disc brakes provide adequate stopping power, although ABS (standard on CRV Sport) would further improve emergency stops. SUMMARY: The 2002 CRV is an all-new vehicle that has undergone a number of changes to further improve upon the original model. Visually, the CRV features a new body structure that offers improved passenger safety and more interior space. Under the bonnet there is a new 2.4 litre i-VTEC engine that produces more power and offers impressive performance. Overall, the new CRV is a more refined vehicle that offers terrific versatility.
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