Honda CR-V Atlanta GA

BY ROBIN WARNER

A decade after Honda introduced the original CR-V in 1997, the third-generation of the entry level ute enters showrooms at the end of September. The new CR-V is more rigid, more powerful, and wider than the outgoing model. But it's also 3.1 inches shorter due to the relocation of the spare tire from behind the rear liftgate to under the cargo floor. Those changes add up to a much tighter and sleeker-looking body that's now far more impressive should you been spotted by your golf buddy while cruising around the mall parking lot.

The 2.4-liter, inline-four-cylinder engine carries over from the previous generation, but benefits from a slight bump in compression as well as tweaks to the intake, exhaust, and valvetrain. Horsepower is up 10 to 166, and peak torque leaps by a whopping pound-foot to 161. The engine mates to a smooth shifting five-speed automatic transmission, which is your only choice since a manual gearbox is no longer offered. Like the previous CR-V, both front and all-wheel-drive configurations are available.

The 2007 CR-V comes in four trim levels, starting with the base LX and capping off with the loaded EX-L (the L stands for leather) with navigation. We drove an all-wheel-drive EX-L around Detroit, and the suspension was ideally tuned to soak up Detroit's worst potholes without trouble without allowing excessive lean while cornering. The interior is much quieter while cruising, with engine noise nicely isolated. The seats are quite comfortable for short trips, with excellent lumbar and side bolster support. Acceleration is adequate and fuel economy improves slightly to 23 city/30 highway for front-drive models and 22/28 for all-wheel-drive models.

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