2008 Honda CR-V review
December 14, 2007 by Matt Brogan
2008 Honda CR-V Luxury review
CarAdvice rating: 
(4.25)
Priced from: $31,990 to $41,990 (as tested)
Options: Metallic Paint $300
By: Matt Brogan
Honda, broadly speaking, is about three things in the eye of their loyal buyers. They are popular, reputable and reliable.
According to VFACTS statistics, Honda’s CR-V was the number one seller in its class for years 1999 to 2002 and again in 2006, taking out an impressive 13% of all sales in its segment for that year. But do sales figures truly indicate a car’s worth?
It’s all well and good to have sold a mountain of cars in times gone by, a feat which CR-V has achieved in droves. With some 2.5 million examples sold in 160 countries, the little lugger’s popularity certainly can’t be questioned.
Though popularity, generally an indication of merit, is one thing, is it purely the CR-V’s popularity that keeps punters coming back time and again? Perhaps it’s the manufacturer’s solid reputation?
After working in the Sahara in Libya I am a died-in-the-wool Landcruiser fan. The only 4wd of it’s size range to return constantly good behaviour in all types of desert.
I’m now looking at a mid-size but nobody is talking about the ‘real’ raison detre for a 4wd – how does it perform offroad? I live in WA and sand is a major part of going offroad here – especially when surfing north of Perth.
Any thoughts on how it rates offroad?
I love the new design and don’t think it’s ugly at all. I can’t wait to get mine in Jan.
I can’t answer David’s request re off roadability; but having sold my Landcruiser Sahara 100 series this month and bought a CRV Luxury I can give him some thoughts about comparing both vehicles.
Little surpasses the smooothness of the Toyota V8 and gearbox, but the not yet run in CRV performs seamlessly in the city and appears to be pretty swift, though not startling.
It feels light and airy and space wise it has loads of room, in fact better than the cruiser for second row passangers. Plenty of capacity in the load compartment too, though not matching the albeit huge cruiser.
Ergonomics are excellant everything comes to hand and has a quality feel. Seats are great, very supportive and with a wide range of adjustment.
For a city dweller, like me, the big advantage is parking, agility and fuel consumption. Honda quality is also second to none, including the luxury Sahara; panel and plastics fit are very high quality.
Cruisers,even 200 series have many good features, but it is now yesterday’s vehicle for city drivers anyway and the CRV feels like it will be at home on the beach and not too far off the road.
To BoggedAgain. Please don’t make stuff up. Roads in Australia have a natural camber to allow the water to run off. If you are driving to the left, then your car will follow the camber and drift left. It has nothing to do with “drift” being built into the car.
Thanks for the thoughts. Have ended up with a Suzuky Grand Vitara turbo diesel – great reviews on & off road & 7l/100k’s – pick it up in a couple of weeks.
have one almost a year now, but the suspension is not as good as expected.
lol at Curt “I just got one and the front is ugly”!!! Good one Curt!
I would rather buy a decent looking car/4WD instead of this ugly one, even if its got less features/quality or buy the previous model which looked allright…
That gave me a laugh, Maneesh. I wonder if he realises the sides are crook, too.
And, as for those who bought the previous model Camry…have ANY of them woken up, yet?