21 June 2011
The Scoop
It’s true women (particularly Mums) love driving SUVs, and there’s good reason for that. Sitting pretty above other traffic, the trusty SUV allows you to feel safe and in control; fits in the kids, their bags, and friends and throw a mother-in-law in to boot. If you’re after a family car that retains some style factor before selling out to the people mover, the SUV is your saviour.
And the pick of the SUV bunch? With consistent sales and an avid female fan-base, we think it’s the Honda CR-V.
The drive
As women love choice, there are three models of the Honda CR-V to choose from – a starter at $30,990, the mid-range Sport at $38,790 and the Luxury model selling for $42,790.
With the starter model, as standard you get full-length curtain airbags, while the Sport gets you alloys wheels, while the range-topper Luxury has leather seating, five-spoke alloys, a quieter cabin (thanks to sound deadening) and automatic headlights and wipers.
The cabin is roomy seating five, and the boot extremely spacious with 40/20/40 split rear seats. The seats are pleasant enough, parking is a breeze, and the turning-circle aid manoeuvrability and overall vision is good. There are plenty of smart storage options (including a fabulously large centre consol and a funky sunglass holder), the trim is pleasing and the dash is easily-laid-out and functional.
Drive-wise, the CR-V is faultless. If life is all about balance, the CR-V gets it right with just the right amount of everything – the drive is not too heavy – yet not too light; the fuel economy is decent, there’s just enough pick-up and torque; and the CR-V offers flexibility around town, strength on the highway and impressive off-road capabilities.
Safety
The Honda CR-V has a five-star ANCAP crash safety rating. Also included is dual front, side and curtain airbags; active headrests, electronic stability control, traction control, anti-skid brakes, rear parking sensors, front seatbelt pretensioners.
3 words to describe this car
Appealing, versatile, intelligent.
What are the best things about this car?
Its reliability in all aspects and ease in the transition of moving from city to country, with the family in tow.
What are the downsides of this car?
The interior trim isn’t A1 in quality – it’s a little tacky and plastic-not-so-fantastic.
What kind of petrol does this car use?
Unleaded with a 10L/100km.
Green factor?
The Honda CR-V sips 10L/100km and emits 237g of CO2 per km.
Soundtrack of choice for the Honda CR-V?
Happiness – Alexis Jordan.