- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
2.0i, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
94kW, 182Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 8.5L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4WD
- Transmission
Manual
- Warranty
3 Yr, 80000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Used car review: Honda CR-V 1997-2000
Likes:
Good quality.
Well-laid out interior.
High driving position.
Versatile thanks to station-wagon layout.
Dislikes:
Engine never feels really potent.
ABS not available in base model.
Not a true off-roader by any stretch of the imagination.
Potential for underbody damage.
Score: 3 stars (out of 5)
The light four-wheel-drive (or soft-roader) market was unfamiliar territory for the company back in 1997, but the CR-V was every inch a Honda. It was a sales success for Honda and also one of the cars that kicked off the soft-roader segment in this country. It also led to many imitators.
The CR-V has managed to retain a reputation for being the real thing, even though as a soft-roader the real thing is a pretender when it comes to any off-road ability much beyond a muddy driveway or slippery boat-ramp.
But that doesn't seem to bother the people who lined up for a new CR-V, nor has it dampened the ardour of those who are chasing the second-hand ones that are hitting the market in meaningful numbers.
The 4WD system aside, of course, the CR-V has a fair bit to recommend it. The high seating position gives a good view over traffic, and the upright, squared-off styling allows for a very accommodating interior. As well as being a proper five-seater, the CR-V also has adequate luggage space, something not all its competitors can claim.
The car launched in 1997 arrived with a single specification that included dual airbags, air-conditioning, remote central-locking, power mirrors, power windows and metallic paint.
Power came from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder that served up 94 kW but felt underpowered to many people. Certainly the CR-V was heavier than some two-wheel-drive wagons of the same dimensions, and the all-wheel-drive system contributed to extra driveline friction. All of which makes the five-speed manual the better vehicle, since you're able to work the engine harder and extract more from it.
The four-speed automatic was still very popular, however, and is around in greater numbers.
A slight facelift occurred in early 1998, the main alteration being a better engine, which remained at 2.0 litres but now cranked out 108 kW.
Significantly, though, it didn't add extra torque, so it goes harder if you flog it along but still falls short of making the CR-V feel muscular.
At the same time as the new engine arrived, Honda added a second, higher specification level called the Sport. Standard equipment grew to include alloy wheels, roof-rack, a sunroof and, more importantly, ABS, although why ABS wasn't offered on the base-model is one of those mysteries of automotive specification. Build quality is up there with the best, and the paint finish is of a high standard and should have weathered the years well. A CR-V that looks like it's been neglected or abused probably has.
The 4WD system is typical for this type of vehicle and amounts to an "on-demand" system. In normal driving, the power is sent to the front wheels, making the car behave like a normal front-wheel-drive. Power is only sent to the rear wheels once the car has detected a loss of traction at the front wheels.
So, it's a reactive system but at least it operates continuously and requires no driver participation.
Apart from a lack of ground clearance, a couple of things ensure the CR-V is definitely no rock-climbing adventure machine. Obviously the all-wheel-drive system plays a part, but so does the lack of a centre diff-lock and a set of low-ratio gears. All of which prompts the question of why you'd want 4WD in the first place, given that it does not, in this case, an off-roader make. A question for the ages if ever there was one.
The CR-V is a well-made medium-sized station wagon and, for many families, that's enough.
Nuts 'n' bolts
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Transmissions: 5-speed manual/4-speed automatic
Fuel economy: City/highway (according to government tests): 10.0/7.8 litres per 100 km
Safety rating: 5 stars (www.howsafeisyourcar.com.au)
Insurance premium: (RACV, 40-year-old, rating one driver living in a medium-risk suburb) $702
Competitors
Subaru Forester
3.5 stars
Feels gruntier and more purposeful than CR-V, although lacking its high driving position. Low-range gears in manual version mean it's quite able off-road.
Mazda Tribute/Ford Escape
4 stars
More butch-looking than the Honda and surprisingly easy to drive. Four-cylinder engine is undernourished, but V6 is a cracker.
Toyota RAV4
3 stars
Early version was a toy with similar lack of off-road ability to the CR-V. Short-wheelbase version makes no sense and only cutsie looks sold it.
What you need to know
- Camshaft belt needs to be changed every 100,000 km or the engine will be destroyed.
- The CR-V is not accomplished off-road. Anybody who treated it as such is odds-on to have damaged it underneath.
- The noisy valve-gear from the otherwise quiet engine is not really a problem.
- Some early CR-Vs had a noisy rear diff. A change of lubricant usually fixed it.
Priceline
YEAR | MODEL | ENGINE | NEW | NOW* |
1997 | CR-V | 2.0-litre 4-cylinder | $29,950 | $16,800 |
1998 | CR-V | 2.0-litre 4-cylinder | $29,950 | $18,100 |
1999 | CR-V | 2.0-litre 4-cylinder | $29,950 | $20,000 |
2000 | CR-V | 2.0-litre 4-cylinder | $29,990 | $21,900 |
1999 | Sport | 2.0-litre 4-cylinder | $33,950 | $22,800 |
2000 | Sport | 2.0-litre 4-cylinder | $33,990 | $25,000 |
*Retail price at dealers as supplied by Glass' Guide
Prices and details correct at publication