2014 Honda CR-V TestDrievNow.com Video Review

2014 Honda CR-V Video Review

The couple across the street owns 2. My next door neighbor drives 1…so does my sister. Pass any school faculty parking lot and you’ll see one in every color. It’s the crowd pleasing, ever popular Honda CR-V. But what makes it so? Well, it’s the top rated compact CUV in JD Power’s Dependability Study…further cementing Honda’s public image as an infallible brand. It’s one of the original, small, road-going sport utes so it has a legacy and name recognition. It’s sized just right for most people, especially women, and it’s been engineered for simple operation. It’s reasonably priced, doesn’t cost much to operate and not to be overlooked – is easy to buy. I would imagine that for the person who dreads new car shopping, the CR-V would go down nice and smooth. No needing to text a friend over engine and transmission choices as you peruse the lot. No 2 page option sheets to consider. Nope, when it comes to the CR-V all you basically have to ask yourself is “do I want leather and a navi?” And in the case of my tester this week, the answer is yes and yes. This is the top of the line CR-V AWD priced at $31,450.

It’s been a couple of years since I first tested this 4^th generation CR-V and during that time Honda has stayed pat. And in this quickly evolving automotive landscape that’s just not good enough. So the excellent CR-V of 2012 feels noticeably less impressive in 2014, starting with this antiquated key and fob.

More so than ever, time is not kind to new cars…which is why we’re seeing manufacturers constantly updating their product. But this CR-V is ostensibly no different than then the last one I drove making it a bit stale, particularly from a feature standpoint. If you want high-end tech like blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert and park assist you’ll have to go to the Ford store. Ditto for the foot-activated tailgate.

The rear seats are very spacious and with a completely flat floor they can comfortably seat 3-across…but there’s still no hands-free way to get into the cargo area.

Expanding that space is super easy. Just pull the lever in the back or at the seat itself and entire process handles itself. There’s ample carrying capacity and the low floor makes lifting that 40 pound box of kitty litter into the cargo area that much easier.

Don’t get me wrong; all CR-Vs come standard with the one-pull fold-flat rear seats, Bluetooth, rearview camera, and an audio system with Pandora. But the 2 screen approach to the infotainment system misses its mark and is the only demerit to the CR-V’s otherwise excellent ergonomics. It also looks quite dated.

The powertrain matches a 185-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder and a 5-speed automatic to produce a smooth, capable drive. But more sound-deadening is needed as almost everyone who rode with me this week commented on how loud the cabin was. Gas mileage is rated at 22mpg city/30mpg highway for this AWD model. To boost those numbers the 2015 CR-V will turn to the continuously variable transmission, so if you’re opposed you’d better get one of these.

I know many people who own a CR-V and they all love its practical side, though some will admit to me that it’s a bit boring. But Honda has mined gold here and they seem Teflon to the competition’s advances.

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