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Honda / Wieck
John Mendel, American Honda's executive vice president of sales, introduces the all-new 2012 Honda CR-V at the 2011 Los Angeles auto show.
By Dan Carney
REVIEW
Cleverness. Value. Above all else: simplicity. These are the enduring virtues that have endeared Honda cars to drivers since the 1970s.
There are other cars that got good gas mileage; others with impressive durability. But none of them captured Honda’s spirit. Their commercials said it all: “Honda: we make it simple.”
Perhaps simplicity is less valued today. Perhaps it is just more challenging to deliver in a tech-centric world. Whatever the obstacles, while Honda’s new 2012 CR-V compact crossover SUV (even the description is inelegant) is a very good family car, it isn’t a special one. There is nothing about this that puts Honda’s clever stamp on it and says, “No other company could, or would, have done this.”
Instead, the CR-V is increasingly undistinguished in an increasingly competitive segment. That doesn’t make it a bad car, just a dull one.
One feature that comes the closest is the folding mechanism for the rear seats. The back seat is split 60/40 and there are release handles for each side in the rear cargo area. Pull the handle and that side’s seat folds down automatically. That includes flipping the seat bottom forward and folding down the head restraint so it doesn’t foul the back of the front seat while folding forward.
It is pretty cool to watch, and few competitors have much that compares. But a remote seat release is still just a remote seat release.
From the driver’s seat we are greeted by Honda’s current un-simple dashboard design. It’s a cataclysm of plastic materials, colors and grains, made busier by the large number of assembled pieces and the disjointed cut lines between them. Throw in swoopy, lumpy styling of the busy sort that once evoked derision of Japanese automotive exterior design and it just seems like too much.
You want to tell them to relax. Be yourselves. The problem with the dashboard, like the problem with so many Honda products in general, seems to be a desire to be all things to all people, rather than concentrating on being the absolute best at something and sticking to that.
The exterior is similarly busy and lumpy. The rear end is especially osteoporotic, with the forward hunch of a white-haired old lady. With slick styling on the brand new Ford Escape and Mazda CX-5, and with the designers are Hyundai and Kia turning out new winners at every turn, Honda can’t afford to phone in the styling. I’m reminded of a teacher’s admonition of an unmotivated student: “Is this really your best work?”
A hiccup in the climate control of our pre-production test car saw the air conditioning periodically blast us with cold air for brief intervals on cool days with bright sun.
The company promises this was an artifact of pre-production programming of the climate control system in our prototype that has been fixed in production models.
Honda inexplicably continues to eschew the automatic three-blink turn signal at a time when seemingly every other manufacturer has adopted this feature.
Another area where it looks like Honda is coasting: the CR-V has a five-speed automatic transmission. At a time when six-speeds are the norm because of the emphasis on fuel economy, Honda continues its long-standing tradition of being a gear or two short in the transmission. Even in the good old days, part of Honda’s simplicity was to leave extraneous gears out of the automatic transmission (they had two-speed automatics in the 1970s!).
Until Honda upgrades to a six-speed, the EPA city gas mileage of 22 mpg is pretty representative of what to expect. In a week of light suburban, mostly highway use, the CR-V returned a shade under 24 mpg. The (admittedly less powerful) Mazda CX-5 with all-wheel drive scores 25 mpg on the EPA’s city driving cycle.
There is plenty good to say about the CR-V. Its four-cylinder engine is smooth and powerful. The electric power steering is well calibrated, with none of the low-speed numbness that plagues most such systems.
The back seat and cargo area are capacious, which is important in a category of vehicle that serves as a minivan for many families with only a couple kids. On the road the CR-V is smooth, comfortable and its all-wheel-drive is confidence inspiring on rain-slicked roads.
In addition to the test car’s navigation screen, all CR-Vs feature another full-color LCD screen that displays information about the entertainment system and trip computer data. Here Honda has one of the first systems that supports Pandora running on smartphones, with full integrated control of the app and the display mirroring that of the phone to keep the driver’s eyes up and forward when giving a “thumbs down” to one of Pandora’s stupider song selections.
That screen also supplements the optional nav display by showing upcoming turn information when navigating a route plotted by the computer.
These attributes contribute to a solidly favorable impression of the CR-V. Consumers who take one home aren't likely to regret it. But in today’s compact crossover segment, they would be selling themselves short to automatically return to their Honda dealer without looking at the latest entries from Ford, Mazda, Hyundai and Kia, among others.
Vital statistics: 2012 Honda CR-V EX-L 4WD Navi
Base price: $25,445 (2011 EX 4WD)
As tested (including $810 shipping): $29,795
EPA gas mileage: 22 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, 25 mpg combined.
Pros: Quick-folding rear seats, Pandora integration, comfortable ride
Cons: Clunky looks, grunge music-era five-speed trans, no three-blink turn signal
Verdict: The solidly competent CR-V lacks the inspiration that established Honda’s reputation.
Standard equipment: 185-hp, 2.4-liter I-4 engine, five-speed automatic transmission, Real Time All-Wheel-Drive, power moonroof, keyless entry, power windows, door locks, air conditioning, tilt and telescope steering column, Bluetooth hands-free
Major options: leather upholstery, GPS navigation, roof rails, dual-zone climate control, 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat, 328-watt 7-speaker audio
Safety equipment: front, side, curtain airbags, electronic stability control, brake assist, tire pressure monitor, daytime running lights, traction control, anti-lock brakes
Leave a Comment:
HereisTruth4U-I agree, Buy American, like me. I bought a CHRYSLER Crossfire......Oh..wait a minute..What? the Crossfire is made by Mercedes?...............but sir, I "bought American" just like you asked?
40 years ago, your statement was true and made sense, however it hasn't been since, so you might want to climb back in your time machine and come into the 21st Century.
I now buy the best car for my money, not because some yahoo, who really doesn't have any idea where cars are manufactured, thinks it was entirely produced in the USA (which NONE of them are!), and he is supporting our economy.
Instead of trying to convince people to spend more money for a lesser quality car, use your efforts to try to make American workers competitive again (I won't get into the politics of how to do that).
That's right. I had two neighbours that bought vehicles within 3 months of each other. One bought a Honda. The second chastised the first for not "buying American." The first explained that the Honda was built in America, by Americans, with American materials, etc. The second still considered it Japanese becaue of the name. A few months later the second neighbour bought a Dodge mini-PU. After bragging about how he had stayed "true blue American" the first pointed out the placard on the firewall of the truck - made by Mitsubishi Motors, Ltd - ???, Japan.
The first posed the question - Which is more "American" - the hood ornament or the assembly plant?
Why does no one ever challenge the wealthy businessman to "build American"?
I followed that "buy American" philosophy for many years. I finally woke up after realizing that American car companies were outsourcing significant production overseas, reselling foreign cars, and investing overseas. Not unlike the banks who recently taught me that "walking away from a contract was simply good business" I learned to buy foreign . . . just like the big boys . . . but most often from the foreign company's American facility just down the road.
The argument about American workers getting paid too much is more, typical conservative bullsh*t. The simply fact is, more and more foreign workers are demanding fair wages and health care, etc. This economic warfare ends when everyone is paid a fair wage. At that point more manufacturing will simply return to where it is more efficiently made and delivered . . . wherever that is . . . more than likely just down the street. Cost assessment is about energy, training, employee satisfaction, wages, resources, shipping, etc. Greedy businessmen, looking to milk another dollar of profit while ignoring the real value of local workers and their country's best interests will eventually learn. It will take awhile, but it will happen.
Vote out those who protect the 1% and seek to enslave the 99%.
I'd much rather support a company that follows the right to work states. Rather than declaring bankruptcy because they are choking on their army of entitled UAE workers making $40 an hour to put a faceplate on the car. Why do you think Honda and Toyota make better cars? Think... They are able to put more of their money into R&D rather than their payroll. Just saying.
No matter what you think, buying imported goods is costing jobs in this country. If you regularly buy imported goods and do not make an effort to support our own workers, you are part of the problem. End of story.
And you are probably shop at Wal-Mart, right? American companies are the cause of their own downfall!
Sorry but the consumers wanting cheap goods is responsible. Just remember this when your job ends up in China.
Hugh Jorgan....Have you Driven A Ford Lately ? Ford F Series best truck in the world, ever ! Focus and Fusion right up at the top of the heap.
Yes I have. I recently rented a '12 Ford F-150 (by default - last vehicle on the lot). I got a whopping 17.8 mpg on the highway. My '86 F-150 got almost the exact same mileage. Gotta love the advancements in fuel economy. <sarc>
We had a '93 Taurus (dubbed Tortoise) that got an impressive 18 mpg - city. Our '91 Isuzu Rodeo (Chevy motor) only got 19 mpg. Pretty sad when an SUV gets better economy than a sedan.
And the Explorer is one of the best cars/SUVs I have ever owned (first time Ford owner)
The front grill looks like a copy of a Ford. Really original styling!
Why are the foreign makers (Honda, VW) de-contenting their cars and making "US Only" versions that are clones of pre-bankruptcy GM garbage?
Meanwhile, American companies are re-contenting their products.
The reason for "US Only" versions is emission restrictions.
Not actually. The Japanese and now the Germans are making models that just don't appear in their domestic markets, even though emissions and safety standards are very similar now, between Japan, the US, and Europe.
Granted, some low-volume models never make it here because the cost of certifying emissions and crash-testing is very high.
But cars like the Golf and Jetta are mainstream products that VW sells worldwide. Yet, the recent Jetta, now being built in the US, has a cheap plastic dashboard and a twist-beam rear suspension (think: 1983 Chevy Citation). Gone are sophisticated multi-link setups and nice interiors.
The new Civic sold in the US is different now than the car sold in Japan - with a cheaper interior to boot.
Some folks bought foreign cars for their foreignness - the idea that they were DIFFERENT than US cars - smaller, more agile, better appointed, fewer gadgets, longer lasting, better gas mileage.
It seems the foreign makers, in an effort to boost market share, are trying to make their products more "mainstream" and more like a pre-bankruptcy Chevy Malibu.
And the irony is, the US automakers (including Fiat) are now putting MORE content into their cars.
People may end up "buying American" not out of misplaced Patriotism, but because the cars are better.
I thought about buying a Jetta, based on my friend's four-year-old wagon, which is a nice car. But the new Jetta? A piece of junk that handles like a parade float.
Here is the pooch. Here is VW screwing the pooch. Poor pooch!
call it what you want....it is a station wagon
"osteoporotic".
Genius.
Saw one of these this weekend and I must say I am nonplussed.
Thank goodness. Whoever said that three blinks were the right number? First the writer wants simplicity and then the writer wants a gimmick added to the vehicle.
Use your brain and work the turn signal yourself.
I've never been a fan of Honda but I give them a a thumbs up on not having the the three blink signal.
I thought it was a silly gimmick too when I bought my "newer" used car. Turns out, the change lane blinker is one less distraction to keep up with while driving, particularly at highway speeds with lots of traffic. Three blinks is enough to let others know you mean to change lanes and get there attention. I have one car than doesn't and one car that does. On long trips, I prefer the one with 3 blinks. Don't knock it till you try it. If you ever drive in Florida, I can't tell you how many times I see elderly drivers going down the road with their blinkers on from changing lanes miles back and forgot to turn it off. Very annoying....No reason for Honda not to add this feature...certainly can't be a cost saving issue. A lot of elderly drive CR-Vs, Accords, and Odessys and could use this feature.
The pro-rice burner crowd posting here probably have Obama stickers on the rear bumpers, too. Anti-American all the way around.
OBL, is it possible for you to post anything that is NOT political?
What a douche
I have a Cain sticker on my Fiat/Chrysler, because I am a patriotic American and only buy American Cars from American car companies, like Fiat/Chrysler.
Oh wait....
Ciao, baby!
Don't blame it on the unions... That is taking the easy way out.. THe CEO's have done nothing to streamline these companies, nothing to improve..They walked around like dinosaurs collecting their fat fat incomes. By the Way... $48 / hour??? The unionized worker does not see $1920 in a 40 hour week.
You are correct in that GM just "kicked the can down the road" for many years with its pension and health care liabilities. And the SUV craze and cheap gas of the 1990's delayed the inevitable.
And it took the "big 3" a long time to shed their supplier chains and go to independent suppliers (as the Japanese and Germans do).
Today, there is little difference between "American" car companies and "Foreign" ones - and in fact, one of the "Big-3" is owned by and run by, Fiat, which is Italian.
The "Buy American" argument posted by the original poster, is a cut-and-paste post that he puts on EVERY DISCUSSION on MSNBC that mentions the word "Automobile". It may in fact be a Bot and not a real person.
So who is behind this posting? Well, someone with the UAW, of course. Because the ONLY difference between an "American" and "Foreign" car company these days is that the "American" car companies have UAW labor and the "Foreign" ones do not.
So you see where this whole "Buy American" smokescreen is coming from - the Union.
Buying a Chrysler/Fiat is not "buying American" anymore than buying a Honda. Bother are made in America by companies with headquarters overseas.
If you can see a difference, let me know.
Borring, overpriced, just anothe ho-hum hotdog. Plus it gets lousy gas milleage. My old Mazda 626 still gets 40 MPG and runs terrific at high way speeds. Why do the older cars get better gas milleage than the new cars? The engine and drive trains are still about the same. Perhaps the cars actually 100% made in Japan and not the U.S. were better cars.
All of Honda's new SUV's -- which are just cars under SUV bodies -- miss the mark. They are stamped aluminum, which makes them light, but seriously easy to squash. They have wonderful bells and whistles, but no really functional off road ability, since they are essentially front wheel drive, which may be good on pavement, but you can't tow anything substantial. A friend of mine had a low speed collision with a deer that did $8000 worth of damage and took a month to repair. If you want a real SUV, buy American. At least they're made of steel and not recycled beer cans.
I beg to differ. I had a Jeep Grand Cherokee which was under an "American" company made and it literally fell apart before my eyes. In the three years I owned it, it was towed at least once a month for the last 1.5 years I had it, gas mileage was awful. Granted, it did feel fairly solid and the 4x4 capability was excellent, but honestly, how many Americans truly need an SUV to begin with? No one really does off roading like they were originally intended for and the government should honestly start phasing them out to be banned until they can run on clean sources of energy and not wasting the valuable oil resources that are dwindling at an expedited rate. My Hondas have always help up extremely well and the one accident I had with my Accord, the Chevy I hit suffered more damage than I did and my car was fixed quickly and still ran solidly until I sold it. You might want to get your facts straight before spouting off and realize one person's experience doesn't equate to hundreds more having excellent and great reports.
did you buy the jeep new or used? what year was it and what part of the country did you live in? it sounds like you didn't take care of the vehicle our neighbor has a 2005 jeep cherokee and the only thing wrong with it was the passenger side window went off the track because the kids playing with it and broke it..its great in the snow too, most of the honda's I've seen were stuck in the ditch cause they drive too fast
Bottom line, nothing is completely American anymore. So buy what you like to drive. My personal preference is German handling and performance. I like quick sport sedans with 5 or 6 speed manual shifters. That said, when I shop for cars and compare Hondas, Toyotas and most American sedans to German brands, I find them to be as exciting to drive as watching water boil. Yet there are people that love boring cars and refuse to try any other brands...and they are missing out on the joy's of driving in my opinion. Toyota and Honda have lost their excitement in design and performance in exchange for "reliable" automotive appliances. With today's technology in manufacturing, reliability of most brands is now near equal. There are still differences in quality, ammenities and performance between many brands, but for the most part, you can't go wrong with what ever you end up liking the most.
My Subaru Outback gets up to 35mph on the highway with a superior AWD system, while holding more cargo, the CRV looks pretty unappealing to me. The outback is built in the US for the most part. I looked at the CRV and some other vehicles in the same class, the full-time AWD of Subaru was the winning factor.
Older cars have better mileage than the newer ones. I suppose that is because they were lighter and built simpler. With the new safety regulations, the cars have gotten bulky.
I personally don't like the "gimmicks" on the newer cars any more - all the tech stuff and if something goes wrong, you just can't fix them yourself or at a cheap cost. Also, most new cars look horrible, especially Honda and Acura. They made lovely looking and reliable cars back in the days. Not any more.
I used to own a fully optioned 2007 BMW 3 series coupe that would be at the dealership 3-4 times/year (not counting regular maintenance) to fix issues with iDrive, TPM failures, sunroof and satellite radio issues. I got rid of that car and the $850/mo payments. I now drive an old Jeep with 193K miles on the clock that has not seen the shop in 2 years except for regular maintenance (oil changes and brakes/shocks). Not the best mileage out there, but it is rugged as hell and so is that engine. I don't miss most of the features of the BMW iDrive. I have a $10 tape adapter that I hook my phone to. That gives me access to (better) navigation, Pandora, various other Internet streaming radios, my personal 32 GB of music library, "bluetooth" like hands-free phone calls, etc. Compare to the usual $1500-$2500 option for such a system on most cars (and they don't always work well even in this day). It is easier to change/set a radio station or a/c controls in the old school Jeep than it was in the BMW iDrive with all the menus and sub-menus to go through. $6 for small external blindspot mirrors. Compare to the blindspot detection feature on some luxury cars that cost quite a penny. $14 for the headlight assembly compared to the ~$1500 per headlight assembly on the BMW. Cost of ownership = ~$70/mo (including property tax, insurance and maintenance but not gas). Compare to $850/mo on the BMW (not including gas). I always wanted a BMW since I was 4, but after owning one, no thanks. I'd rather spend my money on travel.
You can complain all you want about foreign cars, but, the bottom line is that most people prefer a solidly built, dependable car that won't self-destruct once it hits 25K miles or so. I have owned just about every make and model of American car over the years (and had very few good ones) - I am presently driving a 10 year old Lexus and a 25 year old Mercedes, both of which I bought used and both of which have given me ZERO problems. I will gladly buy American when they improve their quality so that I can depend on them to give me good service with few problems. Purchase price isn't really a factor - you can find equally priced American and foreign cars in just about every price bracket. The quality, however, is vastly different.
I say this with all sincerity, why in the world would car dealers cater to you? you own a 10 year old car and a 25 year old car both of which you bought used...it doesn't look like you are the type of person who would buy a new car or even a rental return since you play in the used car sandbox and it's a bit silly to expect a quality car when you buy an older vehicle such as a 10 year old lexus or a 25 year old mercedes...both of those cars could have major issues and you wouldn't know since you aren't the original owner
of course I'm not much better We own a 87 chevy pick up truck, a 96 ford taurus and a 2002 chevy cavalier, the most I've paid was for a new transmission and that was because WE put in the wrong transmission fluid but that was our fault none of those vehicles have left us stranded on the side of the road :)
It's better than any turd that comes out of "motor city"...
My favorite Honda vehicle, hands down, is the new Odyssey. Screams Hearse! I have yet to see one from any angle that does not immediately bring a hearse to mind. As always - Honda got it right! (And YES this IS SARCASM)! As for styling overall, Honda just does not have it. Then add in all the plastic and trying to be "everything to everyone" and it all adds up to a big "fail". Not to mention their cars, on average, are more expensive to buy and maintain than other manufacturer's products that do not fail on styling and performance and cost - one wonders what Kool-Aid Honda hands out with their products? (Or is it both Kool-Aid and blindfolds???) As for buying American...nothing (from appliances to electronics to cars and on and on) is truly made here (maybe Viking Ranges, but the list is definitely a short one). Being that is the case - buy what makes you happy and gives you the biggest and most effective bang for the buck. If driving a hearse is your desire - Honda graciously provides you that option. Enjoy!
it's not just the CRV the rest of their line up is Fugly too, I've driven a toyota, Honda and Nissan...those cars are gutless I can't understand why anyone would want something like that but to each his/her own...I'd rather have an Ford or Chevy
Ford, GM, Dodge they are all made in Mexico. My wifes Ford Focus was made in part from Mexico and Canada. If they moved to Mexico because it saved money why am I still paying 30,000 for a car? I'll buy american when you charge mexico prices.
Honda and Toyota won over the masses because you didn't have to worry that you car was going to break-down or refuse start...plus far superior ergonomics.
The criticisms in the article are lame, at best. A 5-speed instead of a 6-speed?, OH-NO!!
I don't understand what this article is talking about when it say's the Honda is boring. About 90% of the cars today are boring and 100% of the SUV's are boring. I think a young person today trying to choose a career path would do well to learn auto design. Anyone who can draw a box with wheel on it can design most of the cars we see on the road today.
Kind of a strange love/hate article. The headline is decidely negative, yet the article itself really isn't, and even concludes with a summary paragraph that starts out with: "These attributes contribute to a solidly favorable impression of the CR-V. Consumers who take one home aren't likely to regret it." It almost seems like the reviewer actually liked the car, despite himself.
I agree. It seems the writer simply didn't like the look of the dash. As for the hatch angle, it's about the same as the current model and is reminiscent of the early 70's Honda 600 (I'll guess the author didn't know Honda made cars back then!).
The typical American car companies (the Big 3) surely did punish the American public for years. That is now over. Their offerings are as good, or better, than 'japanese' products no matter where they are made. This doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement though.
Beyond that, the honda 4 cylinder is noisy as h*ll. It's NVH is terrible for a car company that calls itself "an engine company". Their quality isn't all that either. Hondas are typically ugly these days. The CRV doesn't look like the concept enough for it to be unique. But hondas don't thrive on unique - they like mundane and uneventful (toyota has the award for boring).
Honda still uses the 1970's model of a 5'8", 150 lb man as a model for their interior. Forward thinking indeed.
Having worked for honda for a number of years, I'm glad someone finally sees and says the truth. But the masses will flock to this car. The public is, admittedly, stupid.
We own a 2000 Accord with 130K miles and it runs great...changed the timing belt at 100K and the oil every 4,000 miles. Made in America with great MPG. We also purchased a 2011 Ford Escape and think it is also great, 16K miles and no problems. The gadgets (back up camera, blue tooth capabilities are really nice) and the 6cyl got 26.3 MPH yesterday driving on the highway 120 miles.
Both American cars keep Americans working and Ford never took a dime and the reason I purchased the Escape.
The ugliness of this new Honda CRV rivals that of the now defunct Pontiac Aztec,
Talk about angry appliances ( Bob Lutz of GM ).