Test drive Honda CR-V 2002-2004 SUV

Invisible hat

To make Honda-CR-V even better, the designers had to create it again.

Find ten differences
And yet - is it old or new? There are no doubts about Honda-Cr-V in front of me. But what? I wipe my eyes, squint and I don’t understand. On the side and behind it seems to be old - the proportions, thanks to which many consider CR -V the most intelligent SUV, remained unchanged. The same lanterns flattened along the posterior stands, equally wide doors. Except that the cast discs of the unprecedented hitherto design, and even a couple of trifles: new door handles and turns repeaters, which has visually a little smaller than the third side glass and more massive racks at the rear side doors.
But the difference is obvious in front - the surprised look of wide -open headlights gives the appearance of an all -wheel drive station wagon a completely different expression. Nevertheless, the comfortable car updated at the beginning of the year, namely, if the abbreviation CR-V is deciphered, deciphered, is perceived by an almost accurate copy of the predecessor. And this despite the fact that two all -terrain vehicles have a single common body panel.
Parnish fashion is in full swing. However, everyone knows that the trendy thing can almost be turned into yesterday’s collection, selling exclusively with a discount on big holidays. Therefore, dresses of parquet kings are changing regularly. What is Toyota-Rav4 of two generations in common? Only the Nissan-X-Trail emblem, in turn, does not at all look like terrarano-II, the new Ford Maverus only resembles the old name. And Honda designers suddenly decided to surprise everyone with their conservativeness. Why did it happen?
The main thing is not to frighten off
The Japanese cunning for a reason. If you remember, CR-V was the first in the history of Honda independently designed an all-terrain vehicle. And very successful - pretty, spacious, comfortable, reliable. As if afraid to frighten off a changeable bird of customer favor, the company's designers tried not to make sudden movements. And now, when the owners of the previous generation CR-V are thinking about changing their faithful horse, they are offered outwardly a similar car is only better.
The similarity of the old and new car is nothing more than a marketing move. Of course, it would be easier to do: to push the sponges, bring your eyes, stuff with free skin and hatches, put new wheels and all this one (we will use it again with a fashionable word) Restyling to present under the sauce of the new model. To the honor of Honda designers, they went in a completely different way. That is why the new CR-V behind the invisibility of the familiar exterior hides a completely new filling. However, why is it hiding? You just need to contrive it to see it.
Plus plus
Look into the salon. Notice? Well, of course, the rear tunnel has almost come to naught - this is visible at first glance. By the way, the flat floor becomes a branded sign of the Honda interior specialists. Therefore, the selector of the automatic transmission is located not on the floor, as in Europeans, and not behind the steering wheel, like the Americans, but to the right of the lamb. The handbrake is completely in itself: something between the poker and the assignment of the aircraft. There is even a gashlet - to return to a non -working position! But now, having back the table between the front seats, you can walk along the cabin - almost like in a modern minivan.
And before Honda’s salon could not be accused of tight, but the owners of the new CR-V were even more fortunate. Even two fully equipped mountain bicycles will fit into the trunk of a beginner. The rear sofa - again, is the command of the time - not only spreads, but also drives along the runners, and the separate (1/3) back is also adjustable along the angle of inclination.
Moreover, in the salon of Honda there is no random, impractical solutions. Well, how to overestimate such trifles as a curtain that hides the contents of the trunk from prying eyes, or 21 (!) Capacity for small and medium things?
 
Agree, the hand brake lever is great reminiscent of the aircraft control handle

The new Honda passengers are damaged by the flat floor, the longitudinal adjustment of the sofa, the back of which, moreover, is also regulated by the angle of inclination
       
CR -V interior is a rare example of a successful combination of exquisite style and comfort
You have to pay for everything
But having looked under the bottom, I whistled. A high landing of the SUV is nullified by a huge bouquet of the exhaust system framing the hanging gas tank. In fairness, it is worth noting that the gas tank is protected by a powerful steel grill, which, however, does not at all improve the geometric cross-country ability CR-V.
To be surprised here, in fact, nothing - the flat floor will take nothing. And in their own way the Japanese are right. After all, any more or less serious off -road sortie leads to a SUV to a hospital bed - to unscheduled and expensive maintenance. And to cope with an uneven primer to the house in the village, get out of the yard brought by the night snowstorm or ride with a girlfriend on the sandy beach Honda will allow it easily. The unpretentious and reliable system of independent connection of the rear -wheel drive using two pumps migrated to the novelty from the old model. More than a passenger car with increased road clearance can only be required only on the highway.
 
This picture should become a memo for those who are going to seriously drive Honda on a steep off -road

   
The first of the best
And here Honda has something to boast. A rather powerful 147-horsepower engine provided the former CR-V quite convincing dynamics-no worse than others. The new Honda immediately broke into the leaders of its class. Although, it would seem, why suddenly? Indeed, under the hood, she still has a 2.0-liter four with a proprietary system for changing the VTEC gas distribution phases. Power increased by only three horses. In parallel, traction has increased - by 10 N.M - and the threshold of achievement of the maximum torque was reduced from 4200 to 4000 rpm. It would seem a trifle. But now CR-V sang completely differently.
Gas to the floor, and, compressing like a spring, Honda rushes forward, trying to overtake the tachometer shooter that has rushed to the red zone. By the way, 9.6 s (11 seconds with an automatic machine) to hundreds is faster than RAV4, X-trail and even a 2.5-liter freelander!
Manageability has also changed for the better. And how else, because CR-V was built on the same new global compact platform (chassis) as Sivik. Hence, firstly, the increased hardness of the body, and therefore, a higher passive safety-the creators hope to get a five-star rating in the crash tests of the Euro NCAP. But the main thing is the new independent suspension of all the wheels.
McExeson in front, spring, on double triangular levers from behind, provides the car with excellent stability at high speeds. Say, at 140 km/h, the tall and, by definition, the clumsy alternate allowed me to freely crawl between the rows on the Moscow Ring Road, without giving out indignation either by transverse rolls or belated reactions to the turns of the steering wheel.
Of course, it was not possible to get rid of the rolls completely - you can’t deceive a high, all -resistant constitution. But the clarity with which Honda writes an arc in a turn, as well as a completely informative steering wheel allow us to say-in handling, the new CR-V plays in the same league with RAV4 and X-Trail. At the same time, the latter obviously loses Honda in the smoothness of the course, and the first in the comfort and diversity of the cabin.
Be more simple!
That's how curious it turned out. Outwardly, not very different from the predecessor, the new Honda-CR-V, nevertheless, bypasses it in all respects. The new car is more spacious and spacious - this time. The modernized engine made it the fastest in the classroom - two. And a completely different chassis allows, at least, not to give in to the rivals on a winding highway. Limited patency for the SUV is not a problem, but a given. And as for a modest appearance, so for old Honda customers this is only a plus. In addition, they are not looking for good from good.
 
 
Honda Cr v
 
common data

 
Body
5-seater station wagon
 
Equipped mass, kg
1430
 
Complete mass, kg
1900
 
Length x width x height, mm
4490x1780x1710
 
Base, mm
2620
 
Track, mm
1535
 
Maximum speed, km/h
170
 
Acceleration time 0100 km/h, with
eleven
 
Fuel consumption, l/100 km
11.9/8.4
 
Engine

 
Location
Front transversely
 
Design
4-cylinder, in row
 
The number of valves per cylinder
four
 
Cylinder diameter /piston stroke, mm
86/86
 
Working volume, SMZ
1998
 
Compression ratio
9.8: 1
 
Power, L.S. (kW) at rpm
150 (110)/ 5500
 
Torque, kgsm (nm) at rpm
19.6 (192)/ 4000
 
 
 
 

Source: Magazine "Limousine" [06/02]