Vehicle: 2010 Honda CR-V EX-L
Price as tested: CDN$34990

Performance: Unlike so many of its rivals, Honda only put 4-cylinder in their latest CR-V. As everyone would expect from Honda, this particular 4 banger is a very good one. Pumping out 180 ponies from Honda’s well-renowed 2.4 liter SOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder with well-known i-VTEC variable valve timing technology, it moves the CR-V off-the-line with both refinement and power. 161 lb/ft of torque certainly serves this compact crossover exceptionally during bottom end, especially its maximum torque arrives at 4400rpm. The level of refinement, NVH and smoothness should be judged as the best in any normally aspirated 4 banger, regardless of price. As this is the carmaker which engineered world’s highest hp per liter in S2000′s 2.0 liter DOHC VTEC a decade ago. As we have mentioned many times in the past, Honda is the world’s best engine builder; as well as world’s best normally aspirated 4-cylinder producer. Bar none! 5-speed automatic is the only gearbox available in the CR-V’s EX-L. Despite the lack of manumatic mode for enthuisastic driving, this 5-speed automatic is a honey of a gearbox. As it provides silky smooth up and downshifts. The shifts are coordinated with proper ratios to suit CR-V’s needs. Both the engine and gearbox work in a perfect harmony. The power from this 180hp would also make you forget about opting for a V6, considering today’s gas prices. If you really want a 6-cylinder crossover, Honda would serve you with the Accord Crosstour and Pilot.

Handling: Since the original CR-V back in the 90s, Honda has based this compact crossover on the Civic platform. Judging by how good the latest Civic drives, it doesn’t come as a surprise CR-V won’t be a disappointing drive. Civic’s underpinnings are excellent to begin with, as both are based on a stiff and rigid chassis. Put a well-calibrated suspension and springs; CR-V handles just like a “Civic station wagon” with reactive AWD. Maybe because Honda wants customers to go over to Acura showroom for classier RDX, Honda has left the better SH-AWD to its upmarket division. That leaves Honda’s reactive AWD called RealTime 4WD for CR-V. While it certainly not a terrible sytem, its a system which only works when the computer detects any slippage on the rear offending wheels before sending any power from the front. CR-V is basically a FWD for most of the time, before it detects slippage. On the other hand, both the steering feel and feedback are what one expects from Honda. The steering feels precise and responsive, with nice feel and feedback to driver input. There are some safe understeer, especially with this reactive AWD system. Same goes for controlled body rolls. Whenever anything goes wrong, there is always an Vehicle Stability Control waiting in the wings. This sytem works as a perfect harmony with RealTime 4WD system, which is a godsent in Canadian winter. Last but not least, is CR-V’s superb ride quality. It absorbs all the bumps and roughness with ease. It filters out all the patholes without feeling floaty.

Brakes: With 4-wheel discs and standard ABS, CR-V’s brakes perform decently. The stopping distance is short while pedal feels decisive and solid. Its all you would expect from Honda. The pedal always feels alive without spongy while ABS only acts necessarily.

Interior: CR-V’s cargo space is large for its size. When you fold down the 40/60 split fold-down rear seats, it got 72.9 cubin feet of cargo space. Best of all, the entire cargo area is squared with nice cut-off on both sides. There are plenty of cubbyholes underneath, including CR-V’s trademark picnic table. The loading is easy thanks to low liftover. If there is one drawback, its the rear window doesn’t open indepedently.

Up on the front, CR-V’s use of materials and fit-and-finish are up to Honda’s high standards. In our loaded EX-L, it got comfortable leather seating and automatic climate control. The climate control is effective by cooling and warming up the interior.

Conclusion: The CR-V has always been considered as one of the better compact crossovers in the market. It is certainly so. As it combines good performance, handles relatively well with a nice interior to boot.

Here lies the rough, though. Like our loaded tester EX-L, without the Navi, already cost up to 35 grand. The nearby Acura store has a RDX for less than 40 grand. But that comes with a more upscale nameplate, plusher interior, SH-AWD and a 240hp 2.3 liter turbo engine. The final decision is whether you prefer to fill up your Honda CR-V with regular gas or Acura RDX with premium gas.

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2010 Honda CR-V
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Performance: 3.5/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 4/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 4.5/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 4.5/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 4.25/5
Value-for-money: 3/5

Overall rating: 4/5