I miss station wagons. The first new car I ever bought was an '82 Civic station wagon, a car that literally and figuratively put the "box" in "econobox." Many times, that little trouper carried the two of us, our gear, and a good-sized dog well off the pavement in three mountain states. In recent years we've had a succession of pickup trucks, but there's always been something... civilized about station wagons.

When we* first decided to look for a new car, the Ms wanted an updated version of the '92 Accord Coupe we were retiring. That's not a car I'd be tempted to use for transporting a dog. "How about a station wagon instead?" I wondered, and the die was cast. Now, station wagons are a pretty rare breed these days, concentrated at the ends of the car-buying scale. We weren't too keen on the little guys (Passat, Focus, Saturn L) and frankly didn't have the cash for a high-end wagon from Mercedes or Volvo. What was left? Not a lot, and I was darned if I wanted a minivan!

It occurred to me that the smaller SUVs are today's station wagons: they're built on a car frame, have all the amenities of a family sedan, and can tote a mess of building supplies for those DIY products if need be. So we zeroed in on a mini-SUV ("sport-cute," if you insist). The top three candidates (based on reviews, personal preferences, and price) were the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, and Toyota RAV-4.

Dither, dither, dither - all three are quality choices with excellent reliability records, are about the same size, and have about the same equipment. The Forester, though, was the first to drop out - since the rear seats only fold flat, there's not much room for a 100-pound dog on long trips. The RAV-4 went next - probably because of an aggressive salesman, but also because it's pretty cramped inside for long trips, especially in the passenger seat.

So now I own a 2002 Honda CR-V (well, I sometimes get to drive it on the weekends, anyway); and here's whit I think of it...


The 2002 Upgrade

Now in its sixth year, Honda has made the CR-V just a smidgen bigger in the 2002 re-design. This model year's a bare inch longer (179"), wider (70") and higher (70") than previous models, and cargo room increases to 32 cubic feet. Exterior re-styling gives the new model a sleeker look, with a longer, more rounded nose and a less boxy look to the body. The drivetrain's been upgraded from a 2.0-liter 146-hp engine to a 2.4-liter 160-hp engine. Handling has been improved as well, according to commercial reviews.


Body...

The CR-V is a five-door vehicle, counting its side-hinged rear door. There's seating for five, all easily accessible and surprisingly roomy (the rear seat has almost four inches more leg room than the RAV-4). Both trim levels, LX and EX, come with standard cruise and tilt; and power windows, mirrors, and door locks. The EX version adds a power moonroof and remote keyless entry. The dashboard's nicely laid out, with large knobs for the climate-control system that are easily distinguished from the radio (handy for us aging folks with poor eyesight!) and clear lines to the instrument panel with its white-on-black gauges.

Front seating is comfortable and supportive, with adjustable lumbar support in the driver's seat. Rear seating is comfortable for two though slightly narrow for three, with plenty of leg room. Honda designed the CR-V with a "walk-through," meaning there's no console, which greatly increases front seat room. A small flip-down tray in the back seat conceals two cup-holders; there are also two in a tray that folds up from the passenger-side seat. A single cup-holder is provided in the dash (though not with the manual transmission).

Rear seats fold and tumble to expand the cargo area to 72 cubic feet, though (unlike the RAV-4) the seats aren't removable. The seat is split 60:40, with the narrow side behind the driver. A wealth of storage is scattered through the passenger compartment: pockets in all five doors (including the rear), a bin under the passenger seat, two bins in the dashboard (the lower one is an open space with the manual transmission), and small shelves and cubbyholes in the dashboard. The floor of the cargo area hides a large, waterproof bin - the floor also lifts out and unfolds into a picnic table. Well, actually, a card table. There's a single 12-volt power outlet in the dash and a second in the cargo compartment.


...And Soul

The 2.4-liter horizontally opposed i-VTEC engine puts out a maximum 160 hp (6000 rpm) and 162 foot-pounds of torque (3000 rpm). It boasts variable valve timing and intelligent technology, which "learns" the driver's habits to improve engine responsiveness and fuel mileage. The i-VTEC yields EPA estimated mileage of 22 city / 25 highway for the manual transmission, 22/26 for the 4-spd automatic tranny. With a 5-spd manual, we get about 22 mpg in mixed driving. The reverse of the usual better mileage for a manual is, says Honda, a function of the intelligent engine.

All trim levels are front-wheel drive. Optional on the LX version and standard on the EX is Honda's Real-Time 4WD, a sensor-driven system that proportionally routes engine power to the rear wheels if slippage is detected. The driver never notices this change - I only knew it had been active because I could see where the rear wheels had been biting in loose sand. On the down side, the driver also cannot engage the 4WD manually - it's entirely automatic.

The optional 4-speed automatic transmission is, in an apparent fit of whimsy, dash-mounted (something I don't recall having seen since early-60s Dodge and Plymouth products). This keeps the floor clear for the walk-through design, and placement of the handle is only slightly different from what you'd expect of a column-mounted shifter.


Safety First

Both EX and LX trims come with standard dual front airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, and headrests and three-point safety belts for all five seats. There are LATCH points built into the rear seats for attaching car seats, and the rear doors have child safety locks. The EX adds standard front side airbags. Optional safety equipment includes daytime running lamps, fog lamps, and remote keyless entry.


Driving the CR-V

Honda's juiced-up 4-cylinder engine delivers acceptable acceleration at either end of the rpm range; it's especially improved at the low end by a maximum torque at just 3000 rpm. The engine's responsive, though by no means is it high-performance. There are rumors (unconfirmed) that Honda will introduce a turbo-charged version for 2003, but a V6 seems unlikely. Towing capacity is the same1500 pounds as the RAV-4, lower than the Forester's 2000-pound rating.

Handling is carlike, as befits an SUV built on a Honda Civic frame. Cornering is tight, with little roll at highway speeds - like most car-based SUVs it's not as "tippy" as truck-based models (e.g., the Xterra). Parking and low-speed maneuvering are made easier by a stingy 37-foot turning radius.

Road handling is, frankly, bland: particularly when compared to the sprightly RAV-4. Steering and braking are predictable and responsive. Though the steering has a somewhat "damped" feeling, the driver still maintains a good road feel. The double-wishbone suspension delivers a comfortable but uninspired ride, smooth even over coarse surfaces; and handles lumpy and bumpy roads well. Off-road handling is limited by low road clearance and a lack of driver control over the 4WD system. Still and all, the CR-V was never intended as an off-road bruiser.

Almost no engine noise leaks into the passenger compartment, even under hard acceleration. Wind noise is also limited, but road noise can be intrusive on rough pavement.


Amenities

Standard equipment: power windows, mirrors, door locks; AM/FM/Cassette/Single CD; Cruise Control; tilt steering wheel; A/C; five full-sized wheels (no compact spare!). The EX version adds 6-CD in-dash changer, remote keyless entry, power moonroof, aluminum wheels, and anti-theft protection - the keys contain a microchip, without which the engine won't start (though a replacement key costs $90).


High Points

+ roomy cargo area, especially with the seats stowed (big enough for two dogs!)
+ large, side-hinged rear door (makes loading the dogs easier)
+ fuel economy (means we can afford premium dog food)
+ superb fit and finish inside and out
+ lots of little storage compartments
+ clear sight lines to front and sides
+ good-quality stock sound system with in-dash 6CD changer (EX or optional)

Middling Points
= road noise
= acceleration
= no color-matched spare tire cover
= single power port in front

Low Points
- head rests block rear window view (though reclining the seats a bit helps greatly)
- Yakima doesn't make a roof rack
- so far, I don't get to drive it much...


Overall

There's a reason why people are waiting in line to get a new CR-V (we waited almost a month for delivery): this is a well-designed, roomy vehicle that offers Honda quality and economy, while still boasting all the amenities you might want in a small, car-based SUV. It's not meant for hard-core off-roading - go with an Xterra or a Liberty for that - but the CR-V handles itself with aplomb on city streets and freeways alike. I like it. In a few years I might even get to drive it once in a while!



* By "we," I mean Ms scmrak...


Amount Paid (US$): 21500
Condition: New
Model Year: 2002
Model and Options: EX ,5-Spd Manual