This became quite evident during the three ski trips with my tester. Dropping the middle 20% section of the seatback enabled placement of the skis longitudinally while allowing two teens to find comfort in the full-size outboard seating positions – hence no “centre hump” complaints from either.
The rear seat can also be folded and tumbled forward to maximize the dimensions of the cargo bay; doing so produces 2,064-litres of highly useable capacity. So we know that the CR-V ingests people and gear with little hindrance but how does this rig perform on the road?
Behind the wheel
I’ve described driving the CR-V as an uncomplicated pleasure, and I mean that in the best way possible. There’s something that’s simple and genuine in administering this vehicle. It seems to do everything with great ease, simplicity and clarity; and that includes ascending mountain roads.
The engine is a polished performer that feels more than sufficiently stout when asked to perform. It’s quiet and operationally refined with throttle mapping that’s relaxed and progressive, making smooth applications of power a cinch.
The unobtrusive mill is fused to a 5-speed automatic transmission controlled through a dash-mounted shift lever. This setup is a bit “old school,” as there is no electronic manual-mode to encourage greater driver input when dealing with the ups and downs of mountainous driving.
That said, I was tremendously impressed with the functioning of Honda’s Grade Logic Control technology. On the road up to the ski hill, my tester held the correct gear for the job rather than repetitively hunting up and down for the most effective ratio as some 4-cylinder powertrains are prone to do. Honda’s little buggy also held the road throughout the many bends and switchbacks.
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| We know that the CR-V ingests people and gear with little hindrance. |
The rear seat can also be folded and tumbled forward to maximize the dimensions of the cargo bay; doing so produces 2,064-litres of highly useable capacity. So we know that the CR-V ingests people and gear with little hindrance but how does this rig perform on the road?
Behind the wheel
I’ve described driving the CR-V as an uncomplicated pleasure, and I mean that in the best way possible. There’s something that’s simple and genuine in administering this vehicle. It seems to do everything with great ease, simplicity and clarity; and that includes ascending mountain roads.
The engine is a polished performer that feels more than sufficiently stout when asked to perform. It’s quiet and operationally refined with throttle mapping that’s relaxed and progressive, making smooth applications of power a cinch.
The unobtrusive mill is fused to a 5-speed automatic transmission controlled through a dash-mounted shift lever. This setup is a bit “old school,” as there is no electronic manual-mode to encourage greater driver input when dealing with the ups and downs of mountainous driving.
That said, I was tremendously impressed with the functioning of Honda’s Grade Logic Control technology. On the road up to the ski hill, my tester held the correct gear for the job rather than repetitively hunting up and down for the most effective ratio as some 4-cylinder powertrains are prone to do. Honda’s little buggy also held the road throughout the many bends and switchbacks.
 |
| The unobtrusive mill is fused to a 5-speed automatic transmission controlled through a dash-mounted shift lever. |