www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday August 22, 2007 - 23 The new CR-V is more refined than ever By Richard Russell OAKVILLE BEAVER When it came to the fork in the road where SUV and CUV head in different directions, Honda chose the CUV (crossover-utility vehicle) route for its new 2007 CR-V. With heavy emphasis on car-like agility, the third-generation CR-V is lower, smaller, and has less ground clearance and off-road ability than the outgoing model. It has been a decade since the CR-V hit these shores and both first- and second-generation models were square designs with a big spare tire hanging off the sideopening rear door. The third generation is a more stylish vehicle with plenty of curves and an arching window line that sets it apart. The rear door is now hinged at the top and the spare tire relocated below the cargo floor. The entire vehicle sits 20 mm lower and the track is wider. The combination of a lower centre of gravity and wider track plays right into the hands of the suspension engineers who sought more car-like driving dynamics. The drivetrain is carried over from the outgoing model with some tweaks to engine, transmission and all-wheel-drive system. The engine gets 10 additional ponies that cope with 44 kg more weight, so there is little change in vehicle performance. Torque is up a single pound-foot and peaks 600 rpm higher in the rev scale, so the new ratios in the five-speed transmission are the sole saviour in the performance front, in a class where most competitors have the option of a V6. The all-wheel-drive system is now capable of transferring more power to the rear wheels when slip is detected, but otherwise the CR-V operates as a front-driver. No manual gearbox is available and front-drive comes only in the base model. Bigger doors and a lower floor make entry and exit easier. The front seats are a new design with more lateral support. The driver seat is height adjustable and the steering column adjusts for both reach and rake, allowing all sizes to find a suitable fit. A colour-screen navigation system is available, and the audio systems now play MP3s and come with an auxiliary input jack for a personal player. The second-row seat bottom is split 60/40 and the back splits 40/20/40. With a child seat in the centre position the seat can be pulled into close proximity to the front seat, and with the centre armrest lowered, long items like skis can be carried with both outboard seats occupied. The cargo area has a dual-layer cover that conceals items in the lower portion or can be removed and placed flat on the bottom for increased height. The 2007 Honda CR-V comes in LX ($27,700 for front-wheeldrive models), EX ($32,600) and EX-L ($34,600) trim levels. The EX-L with navigation option tops out at $37,400. WE WANT YOUR SERVICE Oil & Filter Change Tire Rotation Tire Rotation & Balance Coolant Flush Brake Fluid Flush Brake Pad Replacement (front or rear) Battery Replacement *Some restrictions apply and all taxes extra. Offer expires August 31, 2007. $49.95 $19.95 from $49.95 from $79.95 from $89.95 $152.95 starting at $159.95 VOLVO OF OAKVILLE 770 Pacific Road 905-825-8088 | service@volvoofoakville.com