Honda CR-V is top of its class

The suspension is probably as good as most sedans in this price range, but things do get a tad jumpy on rough sections and gravel roads.

And when it comes to high-riding vehicles it's not the exclusive heated debate domain of the boep and beer brigade either for the ladies are as passionate about their SUV's as the men.

The only difference is they do their talking under hair-dryers or over coffee and cake, while the ones with the two-tone khaki shirts are at their cleverest while propping up a bar counter, beer or brandy in hand.

Men are from Mars, and, well... women aren't

I always find it interesting to flap an ear when the issue of X vs Y vehicle comes up for discussion. Generally women would put forward practical, logical reasons for liking or disliking a vehicle whereas men tend to describe a vehicle in one, usually crude, word...Often without any substance other than a personal dislike or some vague urban rumour.

All of which brings me to the recently tweaked and improved Honda CR-V which I arrived in at the Hout Bay Yacht Club recently while road testing it for a couple of days.

The boot's a boon.

Before even bothering to ask which model it was that I had arrived in (there are six different CR-V's on the South African market, ranging in price from R350 900 for the entry-level petrol model to R439 400 for the flagship 2.2 i-DTEC Executive AT at R439 400 that I was driving,) two of the regular know-alls greeted me with: "What is that piece of c...p you are driving?"

But it took less than a beer to silence them with a few salient facts: the CR-V regularly features in the top 10 SUV's in surveys in this country; it is superbly built, it is extremely competent both on and off-road, it probably has more and better specifications that most others in its class and it's "greener" in terms of fuel economy and emissions than the top-selling SUV, the Nissan X-Trail.

Handsome

But there are many more good things to say about the Honda; like it's amazing brakes (from 100km/h to standstill in just 3.10 seconds), that it come standard with plush leather seats, that it has a big, very practical, three-tier shelf boot, that it is one of handsomest beasts in its class, and that it is more spacious and better built than even a number of pricier options.

Good-looking piece, isn't she.

Besides the exterior trim which gives the CR-V a handsome macho look (sporty alloys, a broad front end, big bat wing mirrors, sun roof, flared wheel arches, bee-sting aerial and sun roof) the cabin lay-out is almost classical in its simplicity and smartness, right down to the attractive blue lighting around its dials.

The one let-down of the Honda is that it comes with an optional (and rather flimsy) Garmin navigation package which sits (and shudders) loosely on the console above the air vents.

Well-behaved

Out on the road the CR-V (as with most Hondas) behaves impeccably. Roadholding is good, the steering is fairly direct (hydraulic, thank goodness, and not electronically lifeless), body-roll is minimal and there is little evidence of sharp nose dip under braking or see-sawing under acceleration and gear changes.

The suspension is good on tar. Probably as good as most sedans in this price range, but things do get a tad jumpy on rough sections and gravel roads, but not disconcertingly so.

Smart 'n simple - but a pity about the navpac (not shown here as it is an optional extra).

click to enlarge

Fact is, other than the odd gravel roads, smart SUV's such as the CR-V are seldom subjected to really tough going.

I like the gutsy growl of the Honda's turbo-charged 2 litre intercooled diesel although it loves revs and some might find it a little too loud. The engine will churn out 110kW but it needs about 4000rpm to do so, while its 350Nm is at its most muscular from as low down as about 2500rpm.

Bucking the trend of six-speed cog boxes the Honda has a five-speed auto shift which works best when left alone, particularly on even, level surfaces.

It's not a speed thing... It's a comfort thing

Like most SUV's this one is not going to scar the tar with a 0-100km/h time of about 12 seconds and a top speed of about 185km/h.

But speed is not what SUV's are all about. It's all about being comfortable, safe (the Honda also has six airbags), fairly economical, confident on uneven surfaces and being a pleasant high-riding family transporter and leisure vehicle, a stylish Daddy commuter car and a cool Mum's taxi.

Factor in a five-year/90 000 km service and a three-year/100 000km warranty and this oil-burning Honda comes out near the top of its class.... So there, all you Clever Dicks propping up the bar, make mine a Windhoek, please!

Specifications

2010 Honda CR-V

Jessica & Brandon review the 2010 Honda CR-V (Part 1 of 3)

The New Driver's Seat - Honda CRV Review