Honda CR-V History, Information & Models
VehicleGuide.net
CR-V is a product line of
Honda and has the category SUV.
Overview and History of Honda CR-V
It’s hard to believe that Honda originally thought that its CR-V would be a niche vehicle with low sales potential. Instead, the CR-V has taken off around the world, outselling Toyota’s RAV4 in America and Toyota’s ever-popular Land Cruiser in Australia.
The CR-V is a compact crossover SUV with a front-mounted engine and either four- or front-wheel drive (although this option is restricted to certain countries). Its name can mean Comfortable Runabout Vehicle or Compact Recreational Vehicle. Apparently, you are free to choose!
The CR-V appeared on the motoring scene in 1996 and has since had complete makeovers to produce second and third generations. With the first generation, Honda exercised a certain amount of caution: there was just one level of trim (later called LX) and one available engine, the 2.0 litre B20B, producing 126 bhp and 133 lb-ft of torque.
Internally, the car featured folding rear seats and a picnic table concealed in the floor. Outside, the vehicle was wrapped with a plastic cladding that covered the bumpers and the wheel wells. In America, this plastic was also the material used for the grille (elsewhere, the grille was chrome).
Honda produced the first generation CR-V until 2001. Along the way, however, it changed the engine to the 2.0 litre B20Z in 1999. This provided the vehicle with greater horsepower and gave the car the power that many thought was lacking in the earlier version. And thanks to a higher compression ratio, a higher lift on the intake valves and a revised intake manifold, Honda was able to maintain the fuel consumption of the original.
Other features of the 1999 revamp for the American market included redesigned seats and modifications to the 4-speed automatic transmission. For the rest of the world, Honda gave the CR-V new paint options, revised bumpers and a new radio antenna fixed to the back of the roof.
The second generation CR-V was in production from 2001 to 2006. The cars continued to be produced at Suzuka in Japan and Swindon in England but were set apart from their predecessors in a number of ways. There was a new body shape and a new stronger chassis. Honda also gave the CR-V three of its latest engines: the 2.0 litre L 14; the 2.2 litre L turbodiesel 14; and the 2.4 L 14.
The CR-V continued to be as popular as ever. And Honda ensured that it maintained the impetus in sales with a 2005 upgrade that improved the trim and the mechanics.
Honda launched production of the third generation CR-V in 2007 after a successful debut at the Paris Motor Show the previous year. The changes to this current version are extensive and reflect technological advances not just in engines but in equipment such as satellite navigation and entertainment systems.
Most notable, though, is the confidence Honda has in the future of the CR-V. Production and assembly will continue in Japan and England but is also due to start in Thailand, Mexico and the USA. The CR-V is set to become as established a part of motoring life as other long-running Honda models.
The CR-V is a compact crossover SUV with a front-mounted engine and either four- or front-wheel drive (although this option is restricted to certain countries). Its name can mean Comfortable Runabout Vehicle or Compact Recreational Vehicle. Apparently, you are free to choose!
The CR-V appeared on the motoring scene in 1996 and has since had complete makeovers to produce second and third generations. With the first generation, Honda exercised a certain amount of caution: there was just one level of trim (later called LX) and one available engine, the 2.0 litre B20B, producing 126 bhp and 133 lb-ft of torque.
Internally, the car featured folding rear seats and a picnic table concealed in the floor. Outside, the vehicle was wrapped with a plastic cladding that covered the bumpers and the wheel wells. In America, this plastic was also the material used for the grille (elsewhere, the grille was chrome).
Honda produced the first generation CR-V until 2001. Along the way, however, it changed the engine to the 2.0 litre B20Z in 1999. This provided the vehicle with greater horsepower and gave the car the power that many thought was lacking in the earlier version. And thanks to a higher compression ratio, a higher lift on the intake valves and a revised intake manifold, Honda was able to maintain the fuel consumption of the original.
Other features of the 1999 revamp for the American market included redesigned seats and modifications to the 4-speed automatic transmission. For the rest of the world, Honda gave the CR-V new paint options, revised bumpers and a new radio antenna fixed to the back of the roof.
The second generation CR-V was in production from 2001 to 2006. The cars continued to be produced at Suzuka in Japan and Swindon in England but were set apart from their predecessors in a number of ways. There was a new body shape and a new stronger chassis. Honda also gave the CR-V three of its latest engines: the 2.0 litre L 14; the 2.2 litre L turbodiesel 14; and the 2.4 L 14.
The CR-V continued to be as popular as ever. And Honda ensured that it maintained the impetus in sales with a 2005 upgrade that improved the trim and the mechanics.
Honda launched production of the third generation CR-V in 2007 after a successful debut at the Paris Motor Show the previous year. The changes to this current version are extensive and reflect technological advances not just in engines but in equipment such as satellite navigation and entertainment systems.
Most notable, though, is the confidence Honda has in the future of the CR-V. Production and assembly will continue in Japan and England but is also due to start in Thailand, Mexico and the USA. The CR-V is set to become as established a part of motoring life as other long-running Honda models.
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