Honda CR-V sporty compact wagon grows up with a new design
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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CONFLUENCE, Pa. -- Honda of Japan in 1997 brought to America a four-door sport-utility wagon of compact dimensions that differed from the typical SUV built atop a truck's chassis.
Instead, Honda's wagon rode on the chassis of a sedan -- the compact-class Civic used in the Japanese market. In addition, many of its mechanical systems, such as the controllable double wishbone suspension, also appeared on various cars in Honda's line.
And while some SUVs in the compact class skimped on interior fittings for passengers, the cabin of Honda's wagon seemed as comfortable and convenient as a minivan.
The name explained it: Comfortable Runabout Vehicle. For simplicity, Honda shortened it to the initials of CR-V.
Concepts for the CR-V that rode like a car and worked like a minivan came out of the Japanese market, where a small vehicle navigating Japan's crowded and narrow streets was far preferable to a big one, and perks for comfort were in keen demand.
The CR-V became such a sales sensation in Honda's motherland during its debut year that a decision was made to ship to America a single-trim LX version outfitted with driver's seat on the left side and all-wheel traction mode.
By 1997 the American market was apparently ripe for a sport-ute that worked like a car because the CR-V became an instant hit. More versions soon followed, including a front-wheel-drive model and a deluxe EX edition.
By model-year 2000, the CR-V had several car-based competitors in the United States but it still dominated the market, with annual sales exceeding 118,000.
For 2002 models, Honda allows the CR-V to grow up.
It casts new evolutionary designs that elevate the wagon in size, style, comfort and performance.
The revamped CR-V measures larger in all dimensions than previous editions, and it produces more power and gains more sophisticated hardware, along with an enhanced new structure that tames noises and vibrations.
Foundation for the new treatment is a universal small-car platform that Honda uses for various products in markets around the world. It carries the Civic revamped in 2001 for America and also shows up supporting the 2002 Acura RSX sports coupe.
As with Civic, the unit-body platform merges chassis and superstructure to forge a single framework that's extremely strong and rigid. When measured against the former CR-V, this new structure improves torsional stiffness by 50 percent and gains 30 percent in bending rigidity.
It has a low center of gravity and a wide-track tread to improve vehicle stability when set to motion.
New suspension elements apply: MacPherson struts up front with toe control linkage and a reactive double wishbone design in the rear. The system reduces CR-V's turning diameter by seven inches and sets up more agile handling traits plus a smoother ride quality.
Size-wise, the 103-inch wheelbase of this new foundation actually decreases by a fraction compared to the previous CR-V chassis, while the overall length of the structure increases by an inch. It's also 1.3 inches wider than the predecessor and almost half an inch taller.
Space in the revamped cabin of CR-V expands with the larger package size. Most noteworthy gains occur from multiple inches more room for shoulders of front seat riders and in the rear seat where legroom increases by 2.7 inches.
In addition, cargo volume in the rear bay more than doubles. There's 33.5 cubic feet of room with the rear seatback up but 72 cubic feet with seatbacks folded down.
Access to the cabin comes from the four passenger doors or a cargo door at the back. It's hinged on the right side, swings wide with several indents to pause along the swing, and has a window that flips up and out of the way to reach small items, without having to open the door.
The cabin layout looks conventional with two tall bucket seats up front followed by the folding rear bench that holds two adults comfortably or three in a pinch.
However, unconventional designs inside make creative use of the space and add to comfort.
For instance, the two front buckets are separated by a flat floor. With a manual transmission, the stick mounts on a center console in conventional format, but with an automatic transmission the shifter sticks directly out of the dashboard to the right of the steering wheel.
That arrangement eliminates the need of a console so it vanishes, leaving the flat floor free to function as walk-through space as found in a minivan.
Likewise, the rear seats perform tricks.
Split in unequal portions, each section slides fore and aft, the seatback reclines or folds forward and the folded seat tumbles forward, all to add flexibility in carving out space for people and cargo.
The dashboard design is one of the best we've seen. Large analog instruments cluster beneath a binnacle brow, while the center stack of controls for audio and climate systems has the audio gear mounted high on the dash for easy access with the climate controls down low using large round rotary knobs.
Three trim variations apply to the new CR-V. Entry point comes with a front-wheel-drive LX edition that piles on convenience features. The LX trim also works with four-wheel-drive, as does the deluxe EX trim.
Honda's intelligent four-wheel-drive system automatically splits engine torque between front and rear wheels to maintain constant traction on pavement. For a driver, operation becomes a no-brainer because the system is always engaged.
Note, though, that the absence of protective undercarriage plates and a lockable differential with low-gear range signify that CR-V's four-wheeling intent is directed at improving traction on pavement rather than crawling over off-road obstacles.
All trims use the same engine that gains strength with new issues. The 2.4-liter in-line-four delivers a robust 160 hp and sparks the acceleration. An automatic four-speed is standard, but a manual five-speed is available with 4WD.
We drove all new versions -- plus previous issues -- across the Allegheny Mountains in Pennsylvania.
Compared against the original, new CR-V feels solid and strong. It's more nimble on a winding road and stable at speed on a freeway. It's also far more comfortable and quiet in the cabin, and easy to like -- like any Honda.
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| 2002 HONDA CRV VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS |
| Description: |
Compact 4-door SUV
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| Model Options: |
Compact 4-door SUV
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| Wheelbase: |
103.1 inches
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| Overall Length: |
178.6 inches
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| Engine Size: |
DOHC 2.4-L I4
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| Transmission: |
LX 2WD: Auto/4
LX 4WD: Manual/5, Auto/4
EX 4WD: Manual/5, Auto/4
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| Drive: |
2WD (front), 4WD
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| Braking: |
Power 4-disc
EX: ABS/EBD
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| Airbags: |
LX: 2 (front)
+ opt. 2 (side)
EX: 2 (front) + 2 (side)
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| Gas Mileage: |
M/5: 22/25 mpg
A/4: 22/26 mpg
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| MSRP Price: |
$ 17,500 to $ 24,000 |
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