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Honda calls their CR-V the “outright benchmark compact SUV.” At first I thought that was just PR hyperbole, but then I thought they might be right – in that segment of the SUV world, I do see a ton of CR-Vs around.
And they do hit a certain demographic. Let’s look closer.
I know a lot of people (they fall into two broad categories) that own CR-Vs. One are people like professional photographers, who seem to either own Honda CR-Vs or Elements, because they can cram a lot of gear inside for client shoots, especially industrial or corporate shoots on semi-bad roads (e.g. construction sites).
The second type are urban dwellers who are also campers. Think of your typical, professional Seattleite, and you’ll get the picture. Even though the Pacific Northwest has weather out of a 4 hour Swedish movie about the pointlessness of life, Seattleites love camping and the great out doors. When the weather does clear (i.e. July 6th through July 7th) the place is right out of Middle Earth. You know R.E.I." They started in Seattle. So all that camping gear: tents, sleeping bags, camp stoves, and what not; that gets wadded into, or strapped on top of the CR-V. The 2017 Honda CR-V in EX and higher trims will feature CR-V’s first turbocharged engine, a more powerful and fuel-efficient 1.5-liter DOHC, direct-injected in-line 4-cylinder, rated at 190 horsepower (SAE net). The new engine is expected t...