STRENGTHS:
A compact SUV with plenty of power and interior space; style and flexibility; fuel economy; reputation for reliability
VALUE:
The Honda CR-V, solidly in the compact SUV category, was the best-selling SUV in the United States in 2008. For 2010, Honda felt it was time for a number of small but important changes. The CR-V's spacious interior and capacious cargo space have always been one of the CR-V's outstanding features. The 2010 Honda CR-V competes directly with the Ford Escape and Toyota RAV4.
WHAT'S NEW:
For 2010, the Honda CR-V gets numerous upgrades and improvements: a more powerful engine, a restyled exterior, an updated interior and an improved standard feature list. The liftgate has been redesigned and is now one piece. It opens upward for easy loading and unloading. Wide rear-door openings and a lower height allow for easy passenger entry and exit. The engine has been fine-tuned so that it offers an additional 16 horsepower for the 2010 model year. Smooth, sleek lines accent the CR-V's refreshed exterior for 2010. The front fascia's upper grille has just one horizontal chrome-style cross bar instead of two from previous years. The hood's sheet metal now flows into the upper grille. The lower portion gets a honeycomb design for 2010, which replaces a 3-bar horizontal cross design. Optional fog lights are now enveloped within the front bumper's painted surface, which now extends lower on the vehicle. In back, the reshaped rear bumper's painted surface area now encompasses the red rear lights. Inside, the 2010 CR-V has a wider center armrest, a new door handle design with rubberized grip and some new fabric choices. The rear seat now splits 40/20/40 instead of the conventional 60/40 split. Two new exterior colors are available for 2010: Opal Sage Metallic and Polished Metal Metallic. On the EX and the EX-L, a new center console replaces the retractable center tray table. Both trims get standard restyled 17-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels. Navigation is optional on the EX-L trims.