Comparsion review: eight compact SUVs (third place)

The 2009 Honda CR-V does most things well and isn't too expensive, but it's noisy and didn't ace all its crash tests.
See more photos of the CR-V below the article in today's slideshow.
 

In many of the market classes they compete, Hondas are very nice but overpriced compared to the competition, as the automaker can use its reputation to charge more than a competitor can for a product that’s as good or better. 

But although the CR-V is hardly unpopular – it’s the best-selling of these eight and the top-seller among all SUVs in the country – it isn’t any more expensive than the competition, at $20,610 out the door. And even despite a decent discount off the sticker price, the CR-V is projected to retain its value very well. 

However, the CR-V’s somewhat stiff and noisy ride makes it less refined than some competitors, and its mediocre IIHS score for roof strength costs it points on the safety front. These two flaws separate this generally pleasant and fiscally sound vehicle from the two SUVs that outrank it here. 

Inside, the CR-V’s rich-feeling cloth seat trim and high-quality plastic trim make it feel solid, though the lack of soft-touch materials on the dash and door panels keeps it from feeling luxurious. Few light-colored accents brighten up the tested car’s black interior; beige and gray are also offered. The front seat is high, spacious, and well-shaped, but some might prefer it to be softer. Visibility is excellent in most directions; small windows impede the ¾ rear view. 

Like the front, the rear seat is high and well-shaped, but very firm. It’s wide enough for three adults. The seat tumbles forward in three sections instead of the usual two, which offers extra versatility when you’re compromising between cargo and seating capacity but adds an extra step when you’re maximizing cargo volume. Its 35.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat that grows to 72.9 cubic feet when the rear seat is folded is comparable to the roomiest compact SUVs, despite the CR-V’s relatively compact exterior dimensions. 

The CR-V is mostly a pleasant car to drive, with accurate, responsive steering and a compact feel, but the firm suspension tuning lets bumps punch through. The ride is stable and well-controlled, but some would likely prefer to have those bumps better smothered. The engine is rather noisy under acceleration, but it sounds smooth and its racket is subdued when cruising at a steady speed. However, the excess of wind and road noise contribute to its lack of overall refinement.

Despite its less than perfect ride comfort, the CR-V isn’t any sportier than the average compact SUV. It feels small and it’s maneuverable, but the steering is light and lacking in feel.

The base CR-V LX AWD comes nicely-equipped and sells for $20,610 at Sport Honda, a discount of about $2,500 from its sticker price. The Automotive Lease Guide nonetheless awarded the CR-V its highest ranking of five out of five stars for depreciation, which is significant because the organization measures loss of value from a car’s sticker price rather than what the buyer actually pays for it, which hurts the perceived depreciation in cars that offer discounts. The CR-V offers both a decent discount and a high ALG rating.

However, as noted, the CR-V was outperformed by most of its competitors – all but the Ford Escape in this comparison – in the IIHS test of roof strength that simulates how well the vehicle structure would hold up in a rollover. Its performance earned the CR-V a rating of Marginal, the second-lowest of four possible ratings. It earned top scores in all other crash tests, but so did the competition, leaving the CR-V a step behind most of its class’s safety ratings.

But nonetheless, the CR-V is generally pleasant and user-friendly, isn’t overpriced, and should hold its value well. But without higher levels of refinement, luxury, or safety, it’s not quite a winner.

Overall grade: B