2002 Honda CR-V EX 4WD
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