2002 Honda CR-V EX 4WD
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SEE ALSO: Honda Buyer's Guide
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS
Compared to the original, the second-generation 2002 Honda CR-
V is bigger inside, but not much bigger outside. That makes it all the
better to hold people and more stuff in comfort, without sacrificing
ease of use in the CR-V's natural habitat, crowded urban and
suburban roads and parking lots. And the interior has been
redesigned for increased versatility. The new engine has more
power, but uses less gasoline, with lower emissions. The new chassis
structure is more rigid, benefiting comfort, handling, and safety.
Like other members of the small ``crossover'' car-like SUV class,
the CR-V is not meant for serious off-road use. But it can handle all
of the hazards of urban and suburban use, where ground clearance is
important when someone's muffler suddenly appears in the road in
front of you, and the city may not plow snow all that frequently in
the winter. With the ``Real Time''(tm) four-wheel drive system and
eight inches of clearance, it can handle slippery roads, paved or dirt,
and get to places where you can use that CR-V trademark, the picnic
table that is stored under the rear cargo area.
The 2002 Honda CR-V is offered in well-equipped LX, LX 4WD,
and EX 4WD trim levels, all with the new 160-horsepower 2.4-liter
engine. I've been driving an EX for the past week. While true to the
first-generation CR-V in concept, and still conveniently-sized
outside, I'm impressed by its increased interior size and even better
design. There's plenty of space, and there are plenty of ways to use
that space. The new engine improves performance, with no loss of
economy. The 2002 Honda CR-V may not be the SUV of back-of-
beyond fantasies, but it is definitely a real, any very useful, vehicle
for the everyday world.
APPEARANCE: The second-generation CR-V's styling is
evolutionarily descended from the original. It's only an inch or two
larger in any given measurement than its forebear, but seems larger
and more solid because of its sculpted looks. It's a two-box SUV in
basic shape and proportion, with clean, well-defined styling. The
front end sets the motif, with fenders higher than the hood and
delineated by sharp creases. Large, bright, pointed multi-element
headlights and the trapezoidal grille establish it as a Honda, even
without looking at the ``H'' badge on a chromed horizontal bar in
the middle of the grille. The ``higher sides'' theme is carried back to
the tail of the vehicle by the dark-colored integrated roof rack, which
complements the black bumpers and lower cladding. The rear has
the familiar vertical taillights, framing a side-hinged tailgate with an
externally-mounted spare tire.
COMFORT: Honda has done a masterful job of increasing and
rearranging space inside of the CR-V. There are no pretensions to
luxury, no leather and ersatz wood trim packages, just good, honest,
synthetic materials and plenty of room for five people and luggage.
It could be a Civic or Accord wagon, but the CR-V is taller, for
great head and cargo room. It is at the top of its class for interior
space, and the interior layout takes advantage of that. The floor is
flat, and there is no console between the front fully-reclining
buckets, only a useful compartmented tray that folds down to allow
walk-through access to the rear seat. Two adults fit comfortably in
the rear seat, or three more snugly - but not too snugly. The rear
seat is split 60/40, and each section has 6.7 inches of fore-and-aft
travel and a semi-reclining back. When the rear seat isn't holding
people, each section may be folded flat or tumbled forward, and
there is enough for a bicycle to fit without removing its front wheel.
There are more than 21 small to medium storage spaces, and, yes,
there is still a folding picnic table covering the space under the load
floor. Back up front, the driver is treated to a well-designed
instrument panel and tilt-adjustable steering wheel. Manual
transmission CR-Vs have their shift levers on the floor, but
automatics have in coming out of the instrument panel much like the
Odyssey minivan. That makes for a conveniently flat front floor.
SAFETY: The 2002 Honda CR-V EX has driver and front
passenger front and side air bags, front and rear crumple zones, side
impact protection beams, three-point safety belts for all positions,
and an immobilizer antitheft system.
ROADABILITY: The CR-V's carlike nature shows on the road.
Although the high seating position gives great visibility, the center of
gravity is low and the fully-independent suspension is standard
modern car specification, with toe-link control MacPherson struts at
the front and a double wishbone setup at the rear. It's as comfortable
as any comparably-priced midsized sedan, and handles nearly as
well. It is higher than a Civic Si or S2000, so fast cornering is not in
the program, but 8.1 inches of ground clearance and the ``Real
Time'' (tm) four-wheel drive system allow it to go places that sports
cars can't. In normal use, the CR-V is front-wheel drive; power is
automatically transferred to the rear wheels when necessary, without
driver intervention.
PERFORMANCE: More power with better fuel economy and lower
emissions may seem contradictory, but not for Honda. The 2002
CR-V's 2.4-liter alloy twincam four-cylinder engine uses ``i-
VTEC'', the newest variation on Honda's VTEC variable valve
timing and lift control system to accomplish those seemingly
conflicting ends. i-VTEC adds continuous cam phasing on the intake
camshaft to the existing VTEC technology to generate a maximum
160 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 162 lb-ft of torque at 3600 rpm,
with a very broad torque curve for easy drivability. That's noticeably
more than the previous 146 horsepower and 133 lb-ft, so even
though the new CR-V is heavier than the old one, it's quicker,
faster, and more efficient. It also meets LEV II emission standards.
A five-speed manual transmission is standard, but mine had the
optional four-speed automatic. Because of the engine's fine, broad
torque spread, it works very well and uses ``Grade Logic Control''
computer circuitry for better shifting performance.
CONCLUSIONS: The second-generation Honda CR-V starts where
the original left off, with more power, more space, and more
refinement.
SPECIFICATIONS
2002 Honda CR-V EX 4WD
Base Price $ 22,300
Price As Tested $ 22,760
Engine Type dual overhead cam, 16-valve,
aluminum alloy inline four-cylinder
with ``I-VTEC'' variable valve timing
and lift control
Engine Size 2.4 liters / x cu. in.
Horsepower 160 @ 6000 rpm
Torque (lb-ft) 162 @ 3600 rpm
Transmission 4-speed automatic
Wheelbase / Length 103.1 in. / 178.6 in.
Curb Weight 3347 lbs.
Pounds Per Horsepower 20.9
Fuel Capacity 15.3 gal.
Fuel Requirement 87 octane unleaded regular gasoline
Tires P205/75 SR15 Bridgestone Dueler H/T
Brakes, front/rear vented disc / solid disc,
ABS standard
on EX
Suspension, front/rear independent toe-control link
MacPherson strut /
independent double wishbone
Ground clearance 8.1 inches
Drivetrain front engine, all-wheel drive
PERFORMANCE
EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon
city / highway / observed 22 / 26 / x
0 to 60 mph est. 10 sec
Towing capacity 1500 lbs
OPTIONS AND CHARGES
Destination charge $ 460