2006 Honda CR-V Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

Honda's compact five-passenger SUV offers LX, EX, and SE models. LXs come with front- or all-wheel drive. The others have AWD. CR-V's AWD lacks low-range gearing. All CR-Vs have a 156-hp 4-cyl engine. An automatic transmission is available for all models, a 5-speed manual is available for EX versions only. Traction/antiskid control and antilock 4-wheel disc brakes are standard. So are front side airbags and curtain side airbags that cover both seating rows and include rollover deployment. The SE has standard leather upholstery and heated front seats. All CR-Vs have a 60/40 split folding rear seat and a lift-out rear cargo floor that doubles as a picnic table.

Competition

Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 17 classes based on size, price, and market position. Among utility vehicles, Compact SUVs are the least costly and offer the best fuel economy. Most utilize a car-type chassis and are not designed for heavy-duty, off-road use. Nearly all are five-passenger vehicles.

Our Best Buys include Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Mazda Tribute, and Mercury Mariner. Our Recommended picks are Honda Element, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Liberty, Kia Sportage, and Subaru Forester.

Suzuki Grand Vitara and Toyota Rav4 are new or significantly redesigned.

News

A redesigned 2007 CR-V debuts this fall. As expected, it's based on Honda's latest Civic compact-car platform. So is Acura division's new RDX crossover. Judging by that upscale sister, CR-V grows a little in wheelbase and width, but stands a bit lower and may lose a bit in overall body length. Spy photos show it looking bolder than the present CR-V, less aggressive than RDX. Taillights again flank the rear window, but the rear cargo door with outside spare tire gives way to a conventional liftgate and interior tire storage. The existing 2.4-liter 4-cyl engine should return with about 10 more horsepower. Full-time all-wheel drive may be an option on some models to "as you need it" AWD. A front-drive price-leader will continue. By 2009, CR-V may offer a "clean diesel" engine option, likely a 4-cyl, in line with Honda's recently announced plans to sell diesel vehicles in the U.S. by decade's end. We'll have full details soon, so keep checking back with us for more on the new CR-V.

2006 Honda CR-V Road Test

Pros	Cons

Passenger and cargo room	Road noise

Maneuverability

Build quality

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Acceleration

2WD LX, auto.	AWD EX, man.	AWD EX, auto.	AWD SE, auto.	Class Average
4	5	4	4	4.5

Not as peppy as V6 rivals, but brisk enough on takeoff and adequate up steep hills. Test manual-transmission AWD EX did 8.6 sec 0-60 mph.

Fuel Economy

2WD LX, auto.	AWD EX, man.	AWD EX, auto.	AWD SE, auto.	Class Average
5	5	5	5	4.9

Test AWD CR-Vs with automatic transmission averaged 19.7-19.8 mpg. Test AWD with manual averaged 18.6, including gas-eating performance tests.

Ride Quality

2WD LX, auto.	AWD EX, man.	AWD EX, auto.	AWD SE, auto.	Class Average
5	5	5	5	4.7

Some body drumming and tire thump over sharp bumps, but stable at speed, with little pitching or rocking on uneven surfaces.

Steering/Handling/Braking

2WD LX, auto.	AWD EX, man.	AWD EX, auto.	AWD SE, auto.	Class Average
5	5	5	5	4.7

CR-V is compact car maneuverable and never feels tippy, but even mildly exuberant cornering induces fair body lean, plus tire squeal and scrub. Steering nicely weighted in turns, somewhat inert on-center. Test AWD SE coped ably with 5 inches of fresh snow, but suffered shudder through the steering wheel, pulling to the side on patchy combination of ice, snow, bare pavement.

Quietness

2WD LX, auto.	AWD EX, man.	AWD EX, auto.	AWD SE, auto.	Class Average
4	4	4	4	4.1

Refined for a 4-cyl compact SUV. Engine intrudes only above 5500 rpm, but most rivals offer quieter, smoother V6s. Road/tire noise noticeable except on glassy pavement, but wind rush modest.

Controls

2WD LX, auto.	AWD EX, man.	AWD EX, auto.	AWD SE, auto.	Class Average
6	6	6	6	5.6

Automatic-transmission shifter sprouts from dashboard to right of steering wheel, and gives a clear reach to controls and a passageway to rear seat. Large, legible gauges. Some testers say audio unit is a stretch and that the three big knobs for most climate functions are set too low.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

2WD LX, auto.	AWD EX, man.	AWD EX, auto.	AWD SE, auto.	Class Average
7	7	7	7	5.8

Airy cabin with adult-size head and leg room on well-bolstered seats. Comfortable take-charge driving stance.

Room/Comfort (rear)

2WD LX, auto.	AWD EX, man.	AWD EX, auto.	AWD SE, auto.	Class Average
7	7	7	7	4.6

Great head room, despite chair-height positioning. Supportive seat has reclining backrest and slides fore/aft 6.7 inches for more leg room than in many larger vehicles. No-strain step-in, generous door openings.

Cargo Room

2WD LX, auto.	AWD EX, man.	AWD EX, auto.	AWD SE, auto.	Class Average
8	8	8	8	7.3

Impressively wide, tall space even with rear seat up. Seat sections flip/fold for even more room. Rear cargo door should open to the curbside, not the streetside, but has opening glass. Load floor/picnic table a fun touch, and covers a useful waterproof storage bin. Outstanding interior storage includes handy flip-up tray between front seats.

Value within Class

2WD LX, auto.	AWD EX, man.	AWD EX, auto.	AWD SE, auto.	Class Average
10	10	10	8	6.3

Efficient and well-built, CR-V also appeals for relative comfort, refinement, and spaciousness. Some small SUVs offer more muscle, but none beats this Honda for thoughtful design, proven reliability, and resale value. Standard head protecting curtain side airbags, ABS, and antiskid system only enhance its Best Buy credentials.

Total Score

2WD LX, auto.	AWD EX, man.	AWD EX, auto.	AWD SE, auto.	Class Average
61	62	61	59	52.5

Scores for all Compact Sport-utility Vehicles

Low Score		29
Average Score		52
High Score		62

2006 Honda CR-V Prices & Equipment

Model Prices

Prices Updated: 04/27/2006

Trim Name	Retail Price	Dealer Invoice	Destination Charge

2WD LX 4-door wagon, automatic	$20,395	$18,847	$550

AWD LX 4-door wagon, automatic	$21,595	$19,954	$550

AWD EX 4-door wagon, manual	$22,850	$21,112	$550

AWD EX 4-door wagon, automatic	$23,750	$21,942	$550

AWD SE 4-door wagon, automatic	$25,450	$23,510	$550

Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker. Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options. The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.

NA = price note available, NC = no charge.

Rebates and Incentives

There are no rebates or incentives at this time.

Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.

Standard Equipment

Powertrain

2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, 5-speed automatic transmission, traction control.

Safety

Dual front airbags, front side airbags, curtain side airbags w/rollover sensors, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, brake assist, antiskid system.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Air conditioning, interior air filter, power steering, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, cloth upholstery, front bucket seats w/driver-seat height adjustment, cupholders, adjustable split folding rear seat, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/cassette/CD player, digital clock, tachometer, intermittent wipers, visor mirrors, map lights, lift-out folding picnic table, rear defogger, intermittent rear wiper/washer, floormats.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Theft-deterrent system, roof rails, outside-mounted full-size spare tire, 215/65R16 tires, AWD models add: all-wheel drive.

EX adds to LX:

Powertrain

5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel drive.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Power sunroof, AM/FM/cassette w/in-dash 6-disc CD changer, steering wheel radio controls, outside-temperature indicator.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Rear privacy glass, alloy wheels.

SE adds to EX:

Comfort and Convenience Features

Leather upholstery, heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated power mirrors.

Optional Equipment

No factory options.

2006 Honda CR-V Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	Honda CR-V 4-door wagon

Wheelbase, in.	103.3

Overall Length, in.	181.0

Overall Width, in.	70.2

Overall Height, in.	66.2

Curb Weight, lbs.	3428

Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	72.0

Standard Payload, lbs.	--

Fuel Capacity, gals.	15.3

Seating Capacity	5

Front Head Room, in.	40.9

Max. Front Leg Room, in.	41.3

Rear Head Room, in.	39.1

Max. Rear Leg Room, in.	39.4

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Engines

	dohc I4

Size, liters/cu. in.	2.4 /146

Horsepower @ rpm.	156 @ 5900

Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm.	160 @ 3600

Availability	Standard

EPA City / highway mpg

5-speed manual	21/26

5-speed automatic	22/27

Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft; dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders; V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Safety Features

Antilock Brakes

Traction Control

Antiskid System

Front Side Airbags

Curtain Side Airbags

Rear Side Airbags

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Test	Honda CR-V 4-door wagon

Front Impact, Driver	5

Front Impact, Passenger	5

Rollover Resistance	4

Side Impact, Driver	5

Side Impact, Rear Passenger	5

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Manufacturer's Warranty

Class	Years/Miles	Comments

Powertrain	5/60,000	10/100,000 on PZEV vehicles.

Bumper-to-bumper	3/36,000	--

Corrosion	5/unlimited	--

Free roadside assistance	3/36,000	Towing available only for warranty-covered breakdowns

Free scheduled maintenance	None/--	--

Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive. There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for 2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.

Built in: Japan

Drivewheels: front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive

< 2006 Honda CR-V Photos

Also in the 2006 Honda CR-V Review:

Honda CR-V

Honda CR-V Road Test

Honda CR-V Prices & Equipment

Honda CR-V Specs & Safety

Honda CR-V Photos

Honda CR-V Full Review

All Honda CR-Vs

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