Test drive Honda CR-V 2007-2009 SUV

The madness of the brave

One of the most popular Japanese SUVs in our country has radically changed the image. And not only outwardly and inside this Honda became completely different.
 
Willpower plus character well done!
 
Wow the chin ... to go out into the people with such a strong-willed and dissatisfied Feys Comfortable cars for relaxation in this way, if someone has forgotten, the abbreviation CR-V did not allow themselves to be translated. Neither give nor take a character from the city of sins, a film comic based on Henry Miller. It is curious, because Honda’s profile looks calm, peaceful, even slightly half -hearted. Probably because the drawing of the rear lateral windows and racks of the body inspires an association with the fat man Rhodius and, no matter how much the Japanese designers want that, does not add swiftness to the car. And the feed, devoid of a spare wheel on the door, even with spectacular lanterns, their ruby \u200b\u200bswords rob a car with expensive and prestigious all -resistance from Volvo, also does not give it masculinity.
 
But you can’t confuse the current CR-V with the car of the previous generation. Previously, it was an average all -wheel drive box without any bright features. An ordinary jeep, which are a lot, born to crawl along suburban country. Now, even mainly because of an unusual jaw, the car immediately catches your eye and remembers. This is her first and undoubted plus. In addition, CR-V's proportions have changed dramatically and lower, as if falling to the ground, prepared to take off.
 
Not to mention the fact that pedestrians do not have the right to be offended by the appearance of the new Honda. In fact, this is their safety for the sake, and not at the whim of designers, the front bumper of the car made a noticeably protruding and crushed in collisions. For the same reason, the hinged hinges of the hood are not particularly stiff.
 
Less better
 
It is a pity that the suppleness of bumper and reinforcement of the hood to the material of the front panel CR-V does not apply. Apparently, the mild plastic of the torpedo, with which the previous versions of the SUV could boast of, the Japanese considered a manifestation of weakness. We will, however, are fairly the harsh hardness of individual materials in the Honda salon with cheapness is not at all associated. The interior does not look solemn, but the eye is definitely pleasing. Especially the instrument panel. The tachometer and speedometer have milky white scales and blue backlight. A very pleasant combination. Especially for especially economical citizens, the display of the on -board computer is exactly in the middle of the device. So information about fuel consumption and stroke is now always before your eyes.
 
The handle of the parking brake, which resembled self-tapping strollers of the late 19th century, stuck from the front panel, sunk into the past, and the automatic transmission selector, made in the style of passenger carcasses of the middle of the century twentieth to the right of the steering wheel, almost like on the 21st Volga. The handbrake at the new car settled in its traditional place at the driver's seat. And the lever of the box in the corporative on the tide of the torpedo. It somehow became more careful, by golly.
 
And even more so, I will not pour tears about the recesses that were irrevocably left with the central console for different small things, as well as a two -day radio. The gaping hole in the middle of the torpedo did not decorate the car at all. True, you can’t put music from the side now, but the native audio system, which occupied a couple with a climate control panel, can lose the notes of the now popular MP3 format, and it looks solid.
 
By the way, on the versions supplied to Russia there is now no folding table between the front seats that turns the car to a catering point. I have American, but we do not. I really like such an event from a series for those who want to lose weight. Perhaps this was done from savings, but for some reason it seems to me that in Honda they believe that in the new CR-V we will not be up to sandwiches.
 

                                         
               
              
 
Otherwise, why would the car are such seats? Let it also not be racing buckets, but comfortable, hold the body tightly and lined with tenacious fabric. You can sit down quite low. Is this not a hint of sports in nature? And the steering wheel is now not only three -spoke, with tide under the grip, but also adjusted in height and departure. So I want to tighten it closer to the chest, bend her hands in the elbows, in order to steer faster, it turned out to be faster ... But what kind of stylist attached a silver plastic insert to the steering wheel and made the door handles imitating the hinges of the robot? In my opinion, the toy is not at all in the subject.
 
However, they did not even think to turn the car into a sports compartment in which everything was done exclusively for the driver. The four large uncles in the cabin are confused with the ceiling, the elbow of the neighbor, and for passengers the rear sofa with the back of the front chair. Moreover, it is permissible to invite the third row to the second row, it will fit and even be able to adjust the back of the sofa for himself. In a word, it became closer in the cabin.
 
                                   
                
 
What is amazing here, do you say? Indeed, we are used to the fact that cars are growing from generation to generation. So CR-V has become wider by 30 mm, but as much lower, and the wheelbase decreased by 10 mm. Honda is now 105 mm shorter, but we will not sew this indicator, since the length has decreased due to the transformation of a full-sized spare wheel into a dock and its move from the fifth door to the trunk. And that’s surprisingly, the volume of the hold after such an operation ... increased! Let only three liters, but more places than the predecessor. Miracles, and only!
 
I fought bravely! I saw the sky ...
 
Nevertheless, changes in the proportions and sizes of the car were not interested in on their own, but first of all, how they would affect its riding character. After all, it was not just that the engineers made CR-V lower and wider, lowered the 35 mm center of the masses, increased the angle of inclination of the turn of the rotation and departure of the wheel, strengthened the body (it became 32% tougher), set up springs and shock absorbers in a new way and located below. The steering rack. All these events from the arsenal of engineers of racing teams. That is how cars are taught to drive quickly.
 
And they taught! In terms of controllability, the last model is really much more interesting than predecessors. The steering wheel has become sharper and informative, the cranes of the body decreased. On this honda, just right in corners.
 
From the grasping and improving reflex, the lever of the 6-speed manual box also got. I really wanted to pull it more often, the mechanism works so clearly. Only now the engine plays on the supports when you sharply release the gas pedal, and this is noticeable at low speeds. However, I have no more complaints about the motor. A completely new four pulls with absolutely the same 150 horses in the harness confidently from the bottom. Therefore, in traffic jams you strain slightly. And on command of gas, the car brishes briskly. True, acceleration proceeds very evenly until 7,000 rpm of the limiter. I will not say that I am very upset with this fact, overtaking from speeds of 120140 km/h for CR-V is quite possible. The car did not suffer from a deficiency of traction before, only gasoline ate more.
 
Born by a bird does not want to crawl
 
But, as you know, if it arrives somewhere, it means that it has left in another place. The creators of the new Honda donated again, traditionally for designers of racing equipment in sled comfort. Moreover, this decline is very noticeable. Even on the winter, rather soft tires, the car with all its riders unkindly reports about the joints and potholes of the asphalt with shaking and a dull rumble of the suspension. And your idea will perceive your idea through a broken primer without much enthusiasm.
 
Here it is the main thing that has changed in the character of CR-V. The former comfortable car for relaxation has become a comfortable car for outdoor activities on even asphalt roads. The front rear wheels automatically connected during slipping do not mean at all that this is our current CR-V-Act-Plus A High-Manner. After all, the clearance from 205 mm decreased to him to 185! The front bumper hangs so low that you will think about whether it is worth climbing this border when parking. The motor is not covered with the protection from below. In short, having learned to fly, the car completely stopped crawling. And if you do not have a desire to once again visit the mechanics of the service center due to the replacement of suspension details, then it is better to go on a country road to the country as slowly as on an ordinary passenger car.
 
I suspect that for many CR-V fans, such a sharp and cardinal change in the character of the machine will be a surprise. Pleasant or not? Question ... However, we are used to singing hymns of the crazy madness.
 
Salt and sugar are portioned
 
The price of the car has increased somewhat. However, the basic equipment is now not only more expensive by $ 1400, but richer on ESP, a fairly advanced radio and headlight washers. For $ 33,800 you will receive comfort: six airbags, ABS, dynamic stabilization system, air conditioning, e -retro -windows, heating the front seats and mirrors with electric power. A wonderful leather steering lining is set to configure Eleans, which is more expensive for $ 2000 and includes cruise and climate control, fog lights, light alloy disks, light sensors and rain. For $ 1000 to elegans, you can order an automatic machine. In the most expensive execution for $ 39,500 with a leather salon, an electric drive of the front seats, parking sensors, a cd changer, a subwoofer, xenon headlights and the alarm, the automatic box is required.
 
Text: Andrey Koltun
Photo: Maxim Goncharov
 

A source: Magazine buy a car [07/2007]