honda cR-V (2001-2007)

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Which? Car review
Honda CR-V (2001-2007)
Jul 2001 Class: 4x4s/SUVs
New price: - Used price: From £2,650
On sale:
Performance:
Ride comfort:
handling:
★★★★★
★★★
★★★★
Boot & Storage:
Safety:
★★★★★
★★★
Reliability:
★★
Total score:
66%
Good interior space.
Smooth diesel engine. Good safety and reliability. Prone to body roll, yet gives a firm ride.
Brakes didn’t perform well in our tests. Reliability on the wane.
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Combined fuel economy:
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Overview
The CR-V is best thought of as a tall estate car rather than a true mud-plugger or off-roader.
It’s practical and spacious, with some good engines and reasonable road manners. Top-spec
versions have a high level of standard equipment. This 2001-2007 model was lightly revised in 2005. It has a powerful diesel engine and a
smooth manual gearbox, this combination capable of 34.4mpg in our tests. It’s reliable for a
4x4, with only a few troublespots to look out for.
This is Honda’s second-generation CR-V, spanning model-years 2001 to 2007. It’s a
medium-sized off-roader, and one primarily intended for on-road driving. This means it’s quite
pleasant and car-like to drive, although it struggles when asked to do cross any seriously
rough terrain. Still, it’s well laid out inside, with comfortable seating and a large boot. It’s worth
contemplating if you must have a soft roader, and Honda’s reliability record ensures it’s one
of the better-behaved used cars. The weakest link for the CR-V is its poor brakes, which are
prone to fading and don’t produce particularly stellar stopping distances.
The 2001-2007 CR-V has dipped to a two-star score for reliability in the latest Which? Car
survey. The most common problems are minor, however, with electric windows, sat nav, clutch
and battery the most likely to cause trouble.
-
Cheapest Model to buy used
2.0i West One 5dr
Used price:
£2,650
Cheapest Model to Run (new)
New price: Running costs: (3 years/36,000 miles)
Owner’s View
Great family do-all.
Spacious with good
luggage capacity. 100%
fault free and totally
reliable.
Which? Car review
Honda CR-V (2001-2007)
4x4s/SUVs
On the road
How we test
The CR-V rides quite firmly and doesn’t feel too much like a high-riding off-roader. It’s not as
sharp around corners as a normal car, but overall it’s pleasant to drive.
Performance
Performance
★★★★★
The 2.2 diesel unit we tested suits the CR-V very well. It’s a relatively high-tech unit with
a healthy 140bhp output, more than enough to propel the weighty CR-V body. Standard
six-speed manual transmission shifts easily and the ratios are well matched to the engine,
providing swift acceleration and quiet cruising - though it’s not quite as quiet as the equivalent
Honda Accord.
Model tested
Acceleration (37-62mph)
diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2005) 6.4 secs
Ride comfort
Rating
★★★★★
We use the sophisticated electronic timing
equipment to record standing-start and
in-gear acceleration, and repeat each test
several times.
Ride comfort
★★★
The firm suspension settings are particularly noticeable over ruts and potholes, where the
body can bounce around unforgivingly. But in the main, the ride is quite comfortable. Model tested
diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2005)
Rating
★★★
Ride comfort is assessed by our laboratory experts who have driven hundreds of
thousands of miles in a myriad of different
models.
Which? Car review
Honda CR-V (2001-2007)
4x4s/SUVs
On the road continued...
How we test
Handling
★★★★
Handling
Unfortunately, its high centre of gravity means the CR-V develops quite significant body roll
around corners, encouraging a slower driving style around country lanes. Electronic stability
control (ESC), which Honda calls Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), was only fitted to post-2005
Executive trim; it’s well worth having.
Model tested
diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2005)
Rating
★★★★
★
Brakes
On-the-limit handling is explored well
away from public roads to ensure a fair
test. Our obstacle avoidance test is one of
the harshest tests in the industry..
Brakes
We weren’t very impressed with the CR-V’s brakes, which exhibited signs of fade after
repeated heavy use (after eight of our 62mph emergency stops). The stopping distance was
also disappointing: an average of 43.5m.
Model tested
Braking distance (62-0mph)
diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2005) 43.5m
Rating
★
★★★★
Refinement and noise
Cabin noise is quite hushed, and the CR-V remains quiet at all legal speeds. The build quality
is impressive, although we were surprised to find that the engine isn’t covered underneath,
which increases air turbulence and therefore wind resistance. It also tends to attract dirt onto
the engine. Roof rails will accept just 40kg of luggage, which isn’t very much once the weight
of a roofbox is accounted for.
Model tested
diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2005)
Cruising noise
68dB
The Which? Car braking test measures
stopping distance from 62-0mph and is
repeated ten times in quick succession to
highlight any brake fade issues.
Refinement and noise
Rating
★★★★
The Which? Car experts use a decibel
meter to record interior sound levels
at common UK motorway speeds, and
combine this with subjective assessments
to arrive at an overall score.
Which? Car review
Honda CR-V (2001-2007)
4x4s/SUVs
On the road continued...
How we test
Cabin and controls
★★★★
Cabin and controls
The unusual handbrake position sprouts from the dashboard by the driver’s left knee; it’s
easy to use but hard to understand why Honda put it there. The majority of controls are easily
located and operated, although some minor controls are unlit and hard to find in the dark.
The glovebox is small and is only lit once the driving lights are on. You might struggle to
find the control for the electric sunroof (not all models) which is confusingly situated to the right
of the steering wheel.
Model tested
diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2005)
Rating
★★★★
Visibility and parking
★★★
Visibility and parking
The high-riding driving position may suit some people, as it gives a feeling of confidence
especially on minor roads. The large rear view mirrors are excellent and contribute to a feeling
that you can see the extremities of the car. However, the rear headrests sit directly in the
driver’s line of sight which isn’t helpful, and the lack of parking sensors is really noticeable
when parallel parking. We measured the CR-V’s turning circle at 11.3m, making it a bit unwieldy
for manoeuvring.
Model tested
diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2005)
We penalise cars with difficult controls,
and we look for things like backlit light
switches and easy-to-use heating and
ventilation adjustments.
Turning circle
11.3m
Rating
★★★
Visibility is a major issue for motorists
today, so each car gets a 360-degree
swivel view test to reproduce the driver’s
eye view and any obscured areas.
Which? Car review
Honda CR-V (2001-2007)
4x4s/SUVs
Comfort and practicality
How we test
The CR-V is comfortable and fairly practical, with a generously-sized boot. Make sure you can
cope with the step up into the cabin before parting with your cash.
Getting in and out
Getting in and out
★★★★
Large doors aid entry and exit into the CR-V, but there is a noticeable step up into the cabin;
this may be a problem if you have reduced mobility. The rear is commendably easy to climb
into, however. The door stays are a bit weak and are prone to falling shut if parked on a slope
or caught by a gust of wind.
Model tested
diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2005)
Seat space and comfort
Rating
★★★★
★★★★★
We take measurements all around the
driver and passenger’s door apertures
and note the height of the seat, door sills
and step down onto the car floor. The
best cars don’t require too much bending
or stretching to get in and out.
Seat space and comfort
The firmly padded front seats offer surprising comfort over long distances. They’re well shaped
and offer reasonable side support. Adjustment is fairly easy, too. Things aren’t so good in
the rear, where the shape of the seats isn’t particularly comfortable. Space is good for all
passengers but three adults across the back seat is perhaps a bridge too far.
Model tested
diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2005)
Rating
★★★★★
We assess seat comfort subjectively,
using our road testers’ expert knowledge
and experience from thousands of different cars. And we measure the head-, legand elbowroom on offer in every seat, to
see how well the car caters for people of
all shapes and sizes.
Which? Car review
Honda CR-V (2001-2007)
4x4s/SUVs
Comfort and practicality continued...
How we test
Boot and storage
Boot and storage
★★★★★
Boot space at 490 litres is excellent and among the best for this type of car. The boot lid
is hinged on the right-hand side, which gives great access but you need to be aware of
this when parking to ensure you can open it afterwards. Folding the seats down is an easy
operation, and they can be folded to give a completely flat floor. Once this is done, there’s 825
litres available up to the window line. There are plenty of storage bins in the cabin, although
the glovebox is a bit small.
Model tested
Boot space (seats up/down)
diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2005) 490 litres / 825 litres
Heating and ventilation
Rating
★★★★★
★★
Air conditioning is standard on all post-2002 CR-Vs, but many versions feature climate control
as well. The diesel version we tried took ages to warm up from cold; 19 minutes to get warm air
after a -10degC start. Air distribution to rear seat passengers could be better.
Model tested
diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2005)
Carmakers give official stats for boot
space, but our tests are more realistic. We
load the boot up with measuring blocks
only as far as the rear window line, so
that luggage is well secured and won’t
obscure rear visibility. We repeat the test
with the rear seats up, and folded down
(where possible).
Heating and ventilation
Rating
★★
Feel sorry for the tester who has to warm
each car up from a frosty -10 degrees in
our climate chamber. Starting with a cold
engine, we measure how long it takes to
warm up the front and rear of the cabin.
Diesel cars usually take longer. We also
check the effectiveness of air conditioning, where fitted.
Which? Car review
Honda CR-V (2001-2007)
4x4s/SUVs
Running costs and depreciation
How we test
The CR-V remains quite a desirable medium off-roader, thanks to Honda’s good reputation for
reliability. It’s not the cheapest secondhand SUV of its type, but it does hold its value quite well. Insurance groupings range from 11-12 depending on model. Servicing and maintenance
aren’t too expensive, and the CR-V can be cared for by independent garages at a reasonable
cost. Fuel consumption
The 2.2 diesel we tried averaged a respectable 38.7mpg; Honda claims 42.2mpg. The 2.0
petrol CR-V is predictably thirstier, officially averaging 31.4mpg.
Petrol (combined mpg, claimed)
29.1 mpg - 31.4 mpg
Diesel (combined mpg, claimed)
42.2 mpg - 42.2 mpg
Model tested
diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2005)
Urban (claimed/tested)
34.9 mpg/34.4 mpg
Model tested
diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2005)
Extra urban (claimed/tested)
47.9 mpg/47.1 mpg
Model tested
diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2005)
Motorway (measured)
34.4 mpg
Model tested
diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2005)
Combined (claimed/tested)
42.2 mpg/38.7 mpg
Fuel consumption
We test fuel economy under strict lab
conditions – using realistic test cycles – to
reveal the facts behind the figures. Our
figures rarely match manufacturer claims
as, unlike the official mpg test, we measure economy with both a hot and cold
engine, and on the motorway.
Which? Car review
Honda CR-V (2001-2007)
4x4s/SUVs
Running costs and depreciation continued...
How we test
Emissions
Emissions
The diesel’s carbon dioxide output of 177g/km is high but not outrageous for this tall, heavy
vehicle. The petrol’s 215g/km puts it in a high VED band for annual road tax. Petrol (CO2, claimed)
215g per km - 229g per km
Diesel (CO2, claimed)
177g per km - 177g per km
Model tested
diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2005)
Emissions (claimed/tested)
177g per km/191g per km
Safety
Safety and security
Euro NCAP score
★★★★
Here is the video of the 2001-2007 Honda CR-V Euro NCAP frontal crash test.
Please enable JavaScript to access this content.
★★★★
★★★
Adult occupant
Child protection
Pedestrian protection
While testing fuel economy, we also
collect exhaust gases to enable us to
measure the amount of carbon dioxide
(CO2) emitted. We also check whether
particulate filters are effective at removing
sooty emissions from diesel engines.
We rate cars for safety using Euro NCAP
crash test scores (where available),
alongside our own comprehensive safety
checklist. Uniquely, we also feed in results
from our accident avoidance test – after
all, it’s far better to steer around a crash
than rely on the airbags...
Security
★★★
Which? safety rating
Active (crash avoidance)
Passive (crash safety)
Child
Pedestrian
-
Security
Honda made a big effort to improve the security of this CR-V over that of its predecessor, and
fitted a new alarm, immobiliser and deadlocking system. It achieved five stars for ‘theft of’ in
our assessment, and four for ‘theft from’: a good result. Theft of car: Theft from car:
★★★★★
★★★★
Security scores come from the security
experts at Thatcham, who break into
hundreds of cars each year. Most modern
cars are very difficult to drive away, but
are still too easy to steal from.
Which? Car review
Honda CR-V (2001-2007)
4x4s/SUVs
Which? Car Survey results
About our survey
The Which? Car Survey is the UK’s biggest and best reliability and owner satisfaction survey.
In 2013, drivers told us about 57,182 cars, covering more than 450 million miles in the previous
12 months (that’s equivalent to driving 18,398 times around the world). This unique feedback
allows us to rate satisfaction and reliability for hundreds of new and used cars.
Note Star ratings below are from 1-5 (1 is very poor and 5 is very good). Percentages shown
under ‘Most common faults’ indicate the proportion of owners reporting each problem in the
past 12 months.
Brand
Sample size: 5,117 people
Honda ratings
Overall owner satisfaction for this brand
Brand reliability
Dealer Sales Service
Dealer Servicing & repair
Model: Honda CR-V (2001-2007)
Sample size: 317 people
Overall owner satisfaction for this range
Ease of driving
Comfort
Dash layout and controls
In-car technology
Styling
Build quality
Practicality
Value for money
Everyone who takes part in the Which?
Car survey tells us about their car and
the dealers who sell and service it. We
analyse this feedback across all cars to
give top-level satisfaction ratings for each
brand, including the brand’s reliability
record over the last eight years. All star
ratings are out of five.
Model ownership ratings
★★★★
★★★★★
Ownership ratings
Driving enjoyment
87%
Brand ratings
These show how owners score this car
in 12 different areas, from performance to
heating. Owners’ ratings are subjective –
so may differ from Which? Car test scores
– but they give a good idea of what the
car is like to live with. Where relevant, cars
are scored against other cars in the same
class (e.g. for space).
87%
★★★
★★★
★★★
★★★
★★★
★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★
Owner’s View
This car is indestructible.
Nothing ever goes wrong
with it and it can be trusted
not to let me down.
Owner’s View
Space inside, ride height,
reliability: 9.5 years before
battery replaced!
Which? Car review
Honda CR-V (2001-2007)
4x4s/SUVs
Which? Car Survey results continued...
About our survey
Reliability ratings
Reliability ratings
★★★
Overall Reliability
Petrol cars
Reliability
Breakdowns
Average annual repair cost
Diesel cars
Reliability
Breakdowns
Average annual repair cost
All cars
Reliability
Breakdowns
Average annual repair cost
Up to 3 years old
3-8 years old
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
We split reliability into breakdowns (including failure to start), faults (where parts
need replacing) and problems (minor issues e.g. squeaks and loose trim). Where
the car has been on sale for some time,
and we have numerous survey responses
from owners, we also split scores by the
age of car and fuel type. Star ratings are
out of five – the more stars, the more reliable the car.
Most common faults
Breakdowns: Percentage of cars suffering a breakdown in last 12 months
Average annual repair cost: Average annual cost of repairs (not servicing), in past 12
months
Most common faults
Up to 3 years old
-
-
-
3-8 years old
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Failure rate: The proportion of owners reporting this problem in the last year
Want to know what’s most likely to go
wrong as the car gets older? These are
the five most common faults reported by
owners, grouped by age into new, recent
and older cars. A score of 40% means
four out of 10 owners reported problems
with that part of the car over the previous
12 months. Engine electrics and non-engine electrics (e.g. windows, stereo) cause
more headaches than mechanical parts in
most modern cars.