2005 Honda CR-V EX
The CR-V first came to Canada as a new 1997 mini sport-Ute to compete with the Suzuki Sidekick. Until that year, the Chevy Tracker and its Suzuki twin were just about the only compact SUVs offered. At the time, the Honda was only available with a 4-speed automatic transmission mated to a 126 hp 2.0L 4-cylinder engine. The small amount of power that the CR-V offered was, at the time, competitive. That is until Subaru launched their 165 hp Forester the following year, and in 2001, Mazda and Ford introduced their 200 hp Tributes and Escapes. In 2002, Honda vastly improved (read: made bigger and more powerful) the CR-V by adding a larger engine and adding more utility in the mix. Since its inception, the CR-V has been a class leader in safety and reliability.