- suv 122,417
- Algonquin, IL
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- autoshopper.com
2003 honda cr-v review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Roomy interior, agile handling make this an appealing car. introductionthe honda cr-v is roomy and convenient and easy to drive. It rides nice and smoothing, without the jouncy harshness of most suvs. It's surprisingly maneuverable in tight quarters and handles well on winding roads. the cr-v has grown up. Literally: last year, a new model was launched that was larger, roomier, and more powerful than the first-generation model, and the new cr-v reclaimed its leading position in the compact sport-utility race. along with the toyota rav4, the cr-v was one of the original cute-utes: not quite a sport-utility, but more than a car, offering an upright seating position, all-wheel drive and decent cargo space. Since it was built on a car platform (the honda civic), its highway-friendly ride and handling made it drive more like a car. That was in mid-1997. since then the field has become crowded with competitors, including the ford escape, mazda tribute, and hyundai santa fe. The chevrolet tracker and suzuki vitara offered more truck-like engineering for better off-road capability. Land rover introduced its luxurious and highly capable freelander, while jeep launched its highly capable and slightly larger liberty. with the 2002 model, however, the cr-v got back in the hunt. It still isn't any good off-road, but it's quite competent on the highways and byways where most of these vehicles are driven most of the time. The honda bests many of its immediate competitors in both qualitative and quantitative measures, while trailing in a few minor areas. for 2003, honda has added coat hooks in the rear compartment and enlarged the front storage console to better accommodate cassettes and cds. Options are extremely limited; as honda firmly believes that the fewer the options, the less a car costs to build. It's available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. the base lx is well equipped for $19,360. With the automatic, the 4wd lx costs $20,560. side-impact air bags add $250. It lists for $22,060 with the five-speed manual, $22,860 with the automatic. walkaroundthe cr-v is growing up. This latest version shows less activity in the body panels, suggesting a more robust persona. For lack of a better comparison, it's like a puppy that's filled out as it has grown up. interiorthe honda cr-v has a friendly interior that's easy to live with, convenient in the daily hustle. Getting in and out is quick and easy. For 2003, rear coat hooks have been added and the center console-mounted storage area has been enlarged to accommodate cds and cassettes. gauges are easy to read, with white numerals on a black background, avoiding the twilight wash-out afflicting the black-on-white arrays that are the current fad. Cruise control is standard, as is an adjustable steering column. the front seats are comfortable. In nearly every measure of interior room, the cr-v bests its competition. Only the toyota rav4 beats the cr-v's front seat headroom, and by less than half an inch. The ford escape and rav4 provide more front-seat leg room, by 0. 3 and 0. 9 inches, respectively, over the cr-v's still-generous 41. 3 inches. likewise, the rear bench is comfortable with lots of room. The rear bench seat has three-point belts and head restraints at all three positions, something not all suvs offer. in terms of cargo hauling, the cr-v is the undisputed champion, with 72. 0 cubic feet of cargo space. A picnic table in back does double duty as the cover for the spare tire bin. Everything else is where it should be, and there are no less than 21 storage bins adroitly spread about the cabin. we really liked it the am/fm/cassette stereo with 6-disk in-dash cd changer. Honda does not provide a compass, however. the parking brake is disguised, subtly integrated into the vertical panel forward of the center console. As odd as the placement might seem at first, over time it begins to make ergonomic sense. driving impressionthe honda cr-v rides well, whether the roads are smooth or rough. Through the miracles of valve timing, honda is able to generate lots of power while keeping fuel economy at an impressive epa-estimated 22/26 mpg city/highway. All cr-vs meet the new lev-ii low-emissions standards. the cr-v's handling is reassuring. It feels sure-footed on twisting roads. The handling is neutral and the tires offer lots of grip in corners. The cr-v drives more like a car than a truck. That's because it is more car than truck. It's a car and that's a good thing. the cr-v is more maneuverable in tight parking lots than a toyota rav4 or ford escape. That's a benefit of its tight turning radius (33. 8 feet for the cr-v verses 35. 4 feet for both the rav4 and escape). in terms of crashworthiness, the cr-v rates highly. The cr-v earned 5-star ratings from the national highway traffic safety administration for both front and side impact, the highest rating possible. summarywith its expanded cargo and passenger volume and more mature styling, the latest honda cr-v has graduated to less cute, more ute. In the process, it has not only caught up to its competition, but passed most of it. yes, a v6 would be nice, but it's not necessary, given the impressive torque output of the cr-v's inline-4. Most importantly, honda's reputation for quality and durability make the cr-v a top choice in the small-sport-ute field. model lineuplx 2wd 19,360) (rd6843pw); lx 4wd 19,760) (rd7743pw); and ex 4wd 22,060). assembled insayama, japan. options as testednone. model testedhonda cr-v 4wd ex automatic 22,860) (rd7883jw). Power Windows✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ Power Mirrors✔ AM/FM✔ Cruise Control✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Air Conditioning✔ CD Changer✔ Aluminum Wheels
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