1997 - 2001 Honda CR-V review

 

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Overview

1997 Honda CR-V

Honda CR-V has been introduced in 1996. It was one of the first small car-like SUVs on the market.
Even though it was slightly underpowered (126 hp), many customers appreciated the combination of low fuel consumption, all-wheel drive, spacious versatile interior and reliability.
Thanks to unibody construction, four-wheel independent suspension and light weight (only 3160 lb or 1433 kg), the 1997-2001 Honda CR-V offered very predictable car-like handling.

Inside you will find well-designed, user-friendly instrument panel, easy to use controls, lots of cargo space and many convenience features, including even a fold-out picnic table under the trunk carpet. There are number of cup holders and storage compartments, including a storage box under the front passenger's seat.
The rear seats fold almost flat for extra cargo space.

The CR-V's all-wheel drive system was not designed for real off-road adventures, but it's proven to be helpful on slippery roads. In normal conditions, Honda CR-V is powered by the front wheels. As the front wheels lose traction and start slipping, the rear wheels kick in to help. This is accomplished by the use of a viscous clutch to engage the rear wheels.

In the NHTSA frontal crash tests, the 1998-2001 Honda CR-V received 4 stars for the driver and 5 stars for the front passenger. In the side-impact crash tests, the 1999-2001 models received five stars for both the front and the rear seat. For more details, visit Safercar.gov.

Honda CR-V engine

Models from 1996 were equipped with transversely mounted 126-hp 2.0L 4-cylinder DOHC engine with four valves per cylinder.
In 1999, the CR-V engine was slightly modified and received additional 20 hp. This engine is fairly reliable and easy to maintain. The 1997-2001 Honda CR-V engine has a timing belt that needs to be replaced in recommended intervals.

Pros

- Good fuel economy for an SUV
- All-wheel drive system
- Practical, versatile interior
- Lots of cargo space
- Good crash-test ratings
- Good resale value

Cons

- Road and engine noise
- Slightly underpowered
- No V6 engine
- Rear wheels kick in with a short delay after front wheels start slipping
- Low towing capacity
- Unstable in high winds, as any other light-weight tall vehicle

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