honda-cr-v 2007-2012

OverviewHonda’s 4x4 is well suited to family life, and it’s pretty frugal, too, though it’s not an all-out off-

roader. Chances are you’ll be looking for the more fuel-efficient diesel, which is OK but not as

frugal as some rivals.

The second-generation CR-V had a lot to live up to, given its predecessor’s fine reputation.

Targeted at families, there’s a choice of two engines – a lightly modified version of the 2.2

diesel from the old model and a newer 2.0 petrol unit. We tested the diesel, which pulled well

and returned 39.8mpg, compared with Honda’s claim of 43.5.

This CR-V is 85mm shorter than its predecessor, but the cabin feels spacious, with ample

front and rear space. The interior is well laid out and, at 545 litres, the boot is good, growing to

910 litres if you fold the seats. The CR-V is available with Honda’s Collision Mitigation Braking

System (CMBS) which, at speeds under 10mph, automatically brakes if it senses an impending

crash. But pedestrian protection is actually worse than that of its predecessor.

A mildly-facelifted model with a new diesel engine and, for the first time, the option of

a diesel engine with automatic gearbox, went on sale in 2010; an all-new CR-V (reviewed

separately) was launched in October 2012.

The 2007-2012 CR-V has a three-star reliability score in the latest Which? Car survey.

Commonly-reported issues are with the air con, parking sensors, clutch, braking and battery.

Recommended models in the range

Which? caR TOp chOice MOdel

2.2 i-dTec eS 5dr

New price: £26,175

Used price: £19,650

FaSTeST MOdel

2.2 i-dTec Se+ T 5dr

New price: £26,305

Used price: -

0-62mph: 9.6 secs

MOST eFFicieNT MOdel

2.2 i-dTec Se+ T 5dr

New price: £26,305

Used price: -

combined fuel economy: 43.5 mpg

cheapeST MOdel TO bUy NeW

2.0 i-VTec Se 5dr

New price: £21,645

cheapeST MOdel TO bUy USed

2.0 i-VTec Se 5dr

Used price: £11,795

cheapeST MOdel TO RUN (NeW)

2.0 i-VTec Se 5dr

New price: £21,645

Running costs: £18,702(3 yeaRS/36,000 MileS)

High-quality build.

Well-equipped, with standard four-wheel drive.

Spacious cabin and boot.

Poor rear visibility.

Poor pedestrian protection.

Large turning circle.

Which? car review

honda cR-V (2007-2012)ON Sale: Jan 2007 claSS: 4x4s/SUVs

NeW pRice: £21,645 - £33,675 USed pRice: From £11,795

75%ToTal score: peRFORMaNce:

bOOT & STORage:

Ride cOMFORT:

★★★★

★★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★

★★★★ ★★★★SaFeTy:

haNdliNg:

ReliabiliTy:

OWner’S VieWThis car is the second CR-V I have owned - nothing else comes close.

Which? works for you

We use the sophisticated electronic timing

equipment to record standing-start and

in-gear acceleration, and repeat each test

several times.

Ride comfort is assessed by our labora-

tory experts who have driven hundreds of

thousands of miles in a myriad of different

models.

On the roadThe CR-V is one of the easiest 4x4s to get comfortable in and drive, with easy controls and an

excellent driving position. However, rear visibility and parking can be awkward. Performance

from either engine on offer is strong and, although the CR-V is safe and secure around corners,

it feels like an average hatchback to drive.

performance ★★★★You can opt for an all-new 2.0-litre petrol engine or a revised version of the old model’s 2.2-litre

diesel. The standard gearbox is a six-speed manual, or there’s a five-speed automatic option if

you buy the petrol.

We tested the 2.2 diesel version and found that it pulls very strongly. Overtaking is easy

and you don’t need to change gear often. The powerplant is impressively smooth for a diesel

and the six-speed manual gearbox is very easy to use, with well-chosen ratios.

Model tested acceleration (37-62mph) Rating

diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2007) 6.5 secs ★★★★diesel 2.2 i-DTeC (150bhp) manual 5-door (2010)6.1 secs ★★★★

Ride comfort ★★★★The CR-V’s chassis set-up is well-balanced. Although fairly stiffly sprung, ride comfort is good,

absorbing bumps with ease. Body roll while cornering is also well controlled for a 4x4 vehicle.

Model tested Rating

diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2007) ★★★★diesel 2.2 i-DTeC (150bhp) manual 5-door (2010) ★★★★

how we test

performance

Ride comfort

Which? car review

honda cR-V (2007-2012)4x4s/SUVs

On the road continued...

handling ★★★★In a straight line, the CR-V has good stability. In normal conditions, it’s front-wheel drive only but

the four-wheel-drive system can transfer some of the power automatically to the rear wheels

when required to boost traction.

In our obstacle avoidance test, the CR-V performed OK, nothing more, with initially

accurate steering, followed by a slight breakaway, mitigated by the effective electronic stability

control (ESC) system, which Honda calls ‘VSA’. Understeer is the main cornering characteristic.

Model tested Rating


brakes ★★★In our tests, the CR-V’s stopping distances were about average for this class. The brakes

respond well and pedal pressure can be easily adjusted. Standard ABS with brake assist helps

less-experienced drivers make full use of the braking potential.

Model tested braking distance (62-0mph) Rating

diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2007) 40.5m ★★★diesel 2.2 i-DTeC (150bhp) manual 5-door (2010)40.5m ★★

Refinement and noise ★★★★Cabin noise was low in the diesel version we tested. We were impressed with the

workmanship of the CR-V with its well-constructed body panels and solid cabin materials. The

list of standard equipment is also impressive, particularly in high-spec versions. On the plus

side, the plastic bumpers are not body-coloured so they’re easy to repair but, on the down

side, the flanks are poorly protected against car park scratches.

Model tested cruising noise Rating

diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2007) 69dB ★★★★diesel 2.2 i-DTeC (150bhp) manual 5-door (2010) 70dB ★★★★

Which? car review


On-the-limit handling is explored well

away from public roads to ensure a fair

test. Our obstacle avoidance test is one of

the harshest tests in the industry..

The Which? Car braking test measures

stopping distance from 62-0mph and is

repeated ten times in quick succession to

highlight any brake fade issues.

The Which? Car experts use a decibel

meter to record interior sound levels

at common UK motorway speeds, and

combine this with subjective assessments

to arrive at an overall score.

how we test

handling

brakes

Refinement and noise

On the road continued...

cabin and controls ★★★★★It’s very easy to drive the CR-V. The reach- and height-adjustable steering wheel is well

positioned, as are the pedals (although the clutch protrudes somewhat). The gear lever and

unusual hand brake lever are also well placed and easy to use.

The centre-console-mounted climate control switches are easy to access, as are the

electric window switches. When fitted with the optional navigation system, the audio system is

simple to operate via a touch screen, while the audio and cruise control (where fitted) can be

adjusted via steering-wheel-mounted buttons.

Model tested Rating

diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2007) ★★★★★diesel 2.2 i-DTeC (150bhp) manual 5-door (2010) ★★★★★

Visibility and parking ★★★★The high-up seating position provides an excellent view of the road, while the exterior mirrors

are large and heated. The rear headrests are retractable for a better rear view but the wide

B-pillars and huge C-pillars really make the ‘over shoulder’ view very difficult. The optional

advanced safety pack (£2,000) includes adaptive cornering lights.

At around 12 metres, the turning circle is rather wide for this class – almost one metre more

than its predecessor, so parking can be tiresome, although front and rear parking sensors are

standard on all versions except the entry-level SE.

Model tested Turning circle Rating

diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2007) 11.9m ★★★★diesel 2.2 i-DTeC (150bhp) manual 5-door (2010) 11.9m ★★★★

Which? car review


We penalise cars with difficult controls,

and we look for things like backlit light

switches and easy-to-use heating and

ventilation adjustments.

Visibility is a major issue for motorists

today, so each car gets a 360-degree

swivel view test to reproduce the driver’s

eye view and any obscured areas.

how we test

cabin and controls

Visibility and parking

We take measurements all around the

driver and passenger’s door apertures

and note the height of the seat, door sills

and step down onto the car floor. The

best cars don’t require too much bending

or stretching to get in and out.

We assess seat comfort subjectively,

using our road testers’ expert knowledge

and experience from thousands of differ-

ent cars. And we measure the head-, leg-

and elbowroom on offer in every seat, to

see how well the car caters for people of

all shapes and sizes.

how we test

getting in and out

Seat space and comfort

comfort and practicalityOne of the CR-V’s main attractions is the sheer space inside, both for front and rear

passengers. The boot is also bigger than the class average, with easy access.

getting in and out ★★★★Access to the seats is good, although the high sills get in the way a little. The door stops are

much stronger than the old-model CR-V’s, and keep the doors open well.

Model tested Rating


Seat space and comfort ★★★★There is lots of space up front in terms of head, leg and shoulder room. Front passengers up

to 1.85m tall will be comfortable. It’s the same story in the back: lots of space and comfort for

people up to and beyond 1.90m tall.

The firmly-padded front seats are well-contoured and provide a good combination of

support and comfort. The rear seats too are good but feel less comfortable, because they’re

set comparatively low.

Model tested Rating


Which? car review


Carmakers give official stats for boot

space, but our tests are more realistic. We

load the boot up with measuring blocks

only as far as the rear window line, so

that luggage is well secured and won’t

obscure rear visibility. We repeat the test

with the rear seats up, and folded down

(where possible).

Feel sorry for the tester who has to warm

each car up from a frosty -10 degrees in

our climate chamber. Starting with a cold

engine, we measure how long it takes to

warm up the front and rear of the cabin.

Diesel cars usually take longer. We also

check the effectiveness of air condition-

ing, where fitted.

how we test

boot and storage

heating and ventilation

boot and storage ★★★★★At 545 litres, the boot is very large for this vehicle class, and it can be expanded by folding the

60/40 split rear seats to a capacity of 910 litres (measured to the windowline). The rear seats

can also slide to boost legroom or luggage space.

The large tailgate opens and closes easily, allowing access to a low, flat boot area. There’s

a separate panel to allow you to create a handy two-tier boot floor. As for cabin storage, there

are many practical bins and cupholders front and rear, plus an oddments compartment above

the glovebox.

Model tested boot space (seats up/down) Rating

diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2007) 545 litres / 910 litres ★★★★★diesel 2.2 i-DTeC (150bhp) manual 5-door (2010)545 litres / 910 litres ★★★★★

heating and ventilation ★★★Air conditioning is standard in the entry-level SE trim, with easy-to-operate dual-zone automatic

climate control standard on all other models. However, it takes rather a long time to achieve

the right temperatures in the front, and particularly in the rear, in cold weather. The rear side

windows only open two-thirds of the way.

Model tested Rating

diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2007) ★★★diesel 2.2 i-DTeC (150bhp) manual 5-door (2010) ★★★

Which? car review


comfort and practicality continued...

We test fuel economy under strict lab

conditions – using realistic test cycles – to

reveal the facts behind the figures. Our

figures rarely match manufacturer claims

as, unlike the official mpg test, we mea-

sure economy with both a hot and cold

engine, and on the motorway.

how we test

Fuel consumption

Running costs and depreciationThe CR-V is one of the easiest 4x4s to get comfortable in and drive, with easy controls and an

excellent driving position. However, rear visibility and parking can be awkward. Performance

from either engine on offer is strong and, although the CR-V is safe and secure around corners,

it feels like an average hatchback to drive.

Fuel consumption Although fairly stiffly sprung, ride comfort is good, absorbing bumps with ease. Body roll while

cornering is also well controlled for a 4x4 vehicle.

petrol (combined mpg, claimed) 33.6 mpg - 34.9 mpg

diesel (combined mpg, claimed) 38.2 mpg - 43.5 mpg

Model tested Urban (claimed/tested)

diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2007) 34.9 mpg/34.0 mpg

diesel 2.2 i-DTeC (150bhp) manual 5-door (2010) 35.3 mpg/34.0 mpg

Model tested extra urban (claimed/tested)



Model tested Motorway (measured)

diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2007) 34.0 mpg

diesel 2.2 i-DTeC (150bhp) manual 5-door (2010) 36.2 mpg

Model tested combined (claimed/tested)



Which? car review


While testing fuel economy, we also

collect exhaust gases to enable us to

measure the amount of carbon dioxide

(CO2) emitted. We also check whether

particulate filters are effective at removing

sooty emissions from diesel engines.

We rate cars for safety using Euro NCAP

crash test scores (where available),

alongside our own comprehensive safety

checklist. Uniquely, we also feed in results

from our accident avoidance test – after

all, it’s far better to steer around a crash

than rely on the airbags...

Security scores come from the security

experts at Thatcham, who break into

hundreds of cars each year. Most modern

cars are very difficult to drive away, but

are still too easy to steal from.

how we test

emissions

Safety

Security

emissions

The CR-V’s chassis set-up is well-balanced and in a straight line, the CR-V has good stability. In

normal conditions, it’s front-wheel drive only but the four-wheel drive system transfers some of

the power automatically to the rear wheels when required to boost traction.

In our obstacle avoidance test, the CR-V performed adequately, with initially accurate

steering followed by a slight breakaway, mitigated by the effective electronic stability control

system, which Honda calls VSA. Understeer is the main cornering characteristic.

petrol (CO2, claimed) 190g per km - 195g per km

diesel (CO2, claimed) 171g per km - 195g per km

Model tested emissions (claimed/tested)

diesel 2.2i-CTDi (140bhp) manual 5-door (2007) 173g per km/186g per km

diesel 2.2 i-DTeC (150bhp) manual 5-door (2010) 171g per km/183g per km

Safety and security

euro Ncap score ★★★★Here is the video of the 2007 Honda CR-V Euro NCAP frontal crash test.

Please enable JavaScript to access this content.

Adult occupant ★★★★Child protection ★★★★Pedestrian protection ★★

Which? safety rating ★★★★

Active (crash avoidance) 65%

Passive (crash safety) 79%

Child 61%

Pedestrian 55%

Security

The CR-V merited five stars for ‘theft of’ and four for ‘theft from’ in our security assessments, a

good result.

Theft of car: Theft from car:

★★★★★ ★★★★

Which? car review


Running costs and depreciation continued...

Everyone who takes part in the Which?

Car survey tells us about their car and

the dealers who sell and service it. We

analyse this feedback across all cars to

give top-level satisfaction ratings for each

brand, including the brand’s reliability

record over the last eight years. All star

ratings are out of five.

These show how owners score this car

in 12 different areas, from performance to

heating. Owners’ ratings are subjective –

so may differ from Which? Car test scores

– but they give a good idea of what the

car is like to live with. Where relevant, cars

are scored against other cars in the same

class (e.g. for space).

about our survey

brand ratings

Model ownership ratings

OWner’S VieWQuality of fixtures & fittings. Smooth, punchy diesel engine. Solid (if a tad stolid) dependability.

OWner’S VieWThe car is very good at pulling our touring caravan on holidays and is a good all rounder the rest of the time.

Which? car Survey resultsThe Which? Car Survey is the UK’s biggest and best reliability and owner satisfaction survey.

In 2013, drivers told us about 57,182 cars, covering more than 450 million miles in the previous

12 months (that’s equivalent to driving 18,398 times around the world). This unique feedback

allows us to rate satisfaction and reliability for hundreds of new and used cars.

Note Star ratings below are from 1-5 (1 is very poor and 5 is very good). Percentages shown

under ‘Most common faults’ indicate the proportion of owners reporting each problem in the

past 12 months.

brand Sample size: 5,117 people

honda ratings

Overall owner satisfaction for this brand 87%

Brand reliability -

Dealer Sales Service ★★★★

Dealer Servicing & repair ★★★★★

Which? car review


Model: Honda Cr-V (2007-2012) Sample size: 628 people

Ownership ratingsOverall owner satisfaction for this range 87%

Driving enjoyment ★★★★

ease of driving ★★★★

Comfort ★★★★

Dash layout and controls ★★★★

in-car technology ★★★★

Styling ★★★

Build quality ★★★★★

Practicality ★★★★

Value for money ★★★★

We split reliability into breakdowns (in-

cluding failure to start), faults (where parts

need replacing) and problems (minor is-

sues e.g. squeaks and loose trim). Where

the car has been on sale for some time,

and we have numerous survey responses

from owners, we also split scores by the

age of car and fuel type. Star ratings are

out of five – the more stars, the more reli-

able the car.

Want to know what’s most likely to go

wrong as the car gets older? These are

the five most common faults reported by

owners, grouped by age into new, recent

and older cars. A score of 40% means

four out of 10 owners reported problems

with that part of the car over the previous

12 months. Engine electrics and non-en-

gine electrics (e.g. windows, stereo) cause

more headaches than mechanical parts in

most modern cars.

about our survey

Reliability ratings

Most common faults

Which? car Survey results continued...

Reliability ratingsOverall Reliability ★★★

Up to 3 years old 3-8 years old

petrol cars Reliability ★★★★ -

breakdowns 4% -

average annual repair cost £6 -

diesel cars Reliability ★★★★ -

breakdowns 1% -

average annual repair cost £9 -

all cars Reliability - -

breakdowns - -

average annual repair cost - -

breakdowns: Percentage of cars suffering a breakdown in last 12 months

average annual repair cost: Average annual cost of repairs (not servicing), in past 12

months

Most common faults

Up to 3 years old

Battery (P) 4%Clutch 2%interior - Other 2%Parking sensors 2%non-engine electrics - Other 2%

3-8 years old

- -- -- -- -- -

Failure rate: The proportion of owners reporting this problem in the last year

Which? car review


honda-cr-v 2007-2012

Documents

drnew price

roadthe crv

secondgeneration crv

drused price

4x4ssuvsnew price

allnew crv

car reviewhonda cr

new diesel engine