2014 Honda CRV: The 4th Generation (2014) Honda CR-V is a good looking and spacious cross over SUV. It is also very well priced and very reliable. It’s a vehicle that will not break down easily if well taken care of.
However, why is it not as popular as it used to be?
With the current Crossover SUV hype in Kenya, the Honda CR-V has been overshadowed by it’s close competitors; the Mazda CX-5, The Subaru Forester XT and the Mitsubishi Outlander.
In spite of that, the CR-V is a great car, and has lived up to Honda’s legacy of reliability.. It is also well priced (Prices start from about 2.2M) and well equipped..but there is something I have to say about this vehicle.
I have driven the 2014 Honda CRV for around 1000km on road and moderate off road, but I was not impressed. Reason being; it feels grossly underpowered, even with the eco mode of driving put off. For a driver who wants some driving thrill and not just move from point A to point B, it’s slow and it’s nowhere near exciting to drive.
The CR-V is powered by 2.4-litre (2400cc) i-VTEC inline-four engine that churns out around 185 hp and 220 Nm of torque at 4,400 rpm . From the power figures, you can easily identify that you need to rev the engine harder to enjoy the power which is at the expense of fuel economy. Power is transferred to the wheels through a CVT transmission to all 4 wheels courtesy of an All Wheel Drive system that Honda calls Real Time All Wheel Drive which has an intelligent control system.
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Now if you want to get stuck in the mud or in the sand or loose ground, take a CR-V with you.
It’s AWD system does not do a good job off road..it’s designed mostly for on road use; assisting the vehicle corner better and handle better, and it handles very well for a crossover it’s size.
The build quality is good with an interior that is not very bad.
My verdict about this car:
It is the best Crossover SUV for someone who doesn’t care about enjoying the driving experience. Like most Hondas it’s not very likely to break down. It has commendable space in the interior but please note:
IT IS A VERY BORING CAR TO DRIVE and you have to rev it hard to make the best out of its power .
