2000 Honda CR-V: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Leather upholstery is available for the first time on Honda's compact sport-utility with the midyear addition of a new top-line model. CR-V continues as a 4-door wagon, now in four versions. The base LX has front-wheel drive and automatic transmission. Four-wheel drive LX and EX models offer manual or extra-cost automatic. Standard on the new top-line SE is automatic transmission, 4WD, and the only leather interior offered on CR-V. All use a 146-horsepower 4-cylinder engine. Honda's Real-Time 4WD drives the front wheels, but directs power to the rear if the front tires lose traction. Not intended for hard off-road use, CR-V lacks locked-in 4WD or separate low-range gearing. Antilock brakes are standard on EX and SE, but unavailable on LXs.

COMPETITION

Ignored in the past, compact SUVs are now some of the hottest-selling vehicles around. The two current Best Buys are the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. Though they don't offer true off-road ability, they mix the best ride, cargo, and comfort characteristics with all-weather traction.

Toyota's RAV4 , which used to be a Best Buy, falls to Recommended based on its noisy engine and cramped rear seating area. Toyota hopes that will change when an all-new RAV arrives in 2001.

As immovable as Mt. Rushmore, the Jeep Wrangler continues as our Budget Buy in this segment. Though it has become a status symbol of late, it's most at home crawling over rocks and fording river beds.