HONDA is back on the offensive in the popular compact SUV segment with the fourth-generation CR-V, bringing real improvements and lower prices throughout the range.
But the newcomer – at least as tested here in base 2.0-litre front-drive VTi guise – appears to have two personalities – one for the city and one for the countryside. Whether this is the car for you might come down to where you’ll use it.
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RE CR-V
Released: February 2007
Ended: October 2012
Family Tree: CR-VA MASSIVE improvement over the rather coarse second-generation CR-V, the RE series abolished the 4x4-like side-opening tailgate and exposed spare wheel for a roomier and more refined wagon body with five adequate seats, more safety and improved driveability.
Now made in Thailand rather than in Japan, three models were offered in Standard, Sport and Luxury guises.
All were powered by a 125kW/218Nm, 2.4-litre, twin-cam, i-VTEC four-cylinder petrol engine, driving the front wheels (unless slippage was detected whereby torque was sent to the rear ones using Honda’s Real Time 4WD system) via a six-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed automatic.
Sales were strong initially, but the CR-V was soon joined by newer-gen compact SUVs such as the Nissan X-Trail Mk2, Subaru G3 Forester, VW Tiguan, and more latterly the Hyundai ix35, Kia Sportage III, and Mazda CX-5, and sales suffered accordingly.
Get the full story: Honda re-arms the CR-V in its long-running feud with Toyota’s killer RAV4
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