Spotlight: 2007 - 2010 Honda CRV
If you’re in the market for a compact SUV with clean design good mileage and excellent resale value then you’ll find it all in Honda’s excellent 2007-2010 CRV.
The 2007-2010 CRV is a big improvement on the previous generation. Beginning in 2007 Honda replaced the earlier CRV’s side hinge rear gate with an easy lifting overhead door and moved the spare wheel under the floor. The flip forward rear seats provide almost 73 cubic feet of luggage space and the rear doors swing open 90 degrees. It’s also easy to reach any of the three latched down positions for child seats.
If you don’t need to transport more than five passengers or tow heavy loads then the CRV is just about the most practical car you can own. Its 2.4L 4 cylinder engine certainly isn’t big on power but it’s easy on fuel. Depending on the model year and the optional equipment you can get between 18-21 mpg around town and 23-28 mpg on the motorway.
There are three derivative of the CRV. There’s the entry level LX, the mid-range EX and the top of the range EXL. All three modes come with great standard equipment like electric windows and mirrors, font and side airbags, anti-lock brakes, stability and traction control and a tyre pressure monitoring system. Standard features also include air conditioning and cruise control all of which are made with good quality materials. You’ll also get a 4-speaker FM/AM stereo with MP3 compatible CD player and a tilt and telescoping steering wheel. The EX model will give you a sunroof, tinted rear windows and upgraded radio with controls on the steering wheel. The EXL model has heated front leather seats and a fixed centre console. The only other option for the EXL, aside from the 4-wheel drive which is available for all models, is Honda’s voice activated navigation system with rear view camera.
If you have a little more to spend then you may want to look out for the 2010 CRV as this version got an entire facelift in 2010. This includes a classier looking front end and upgraded alloy wheels. The engines also got an upgrade in power from 166bhp to 180 bhp. The EXL model also gained USB audio, Bluetooth connectivity and an upgraded navigation system.
What’s extra special about the 2007-2010 Honda CRV is that it’s extremely easy to drive and the handling is brilliant especially for the size of vehicle that it is. It’s also got brilliant high safety ratings which mean lower insurance costs. The 2007-2010 CRV has no known recalls for repairs or replacements and no common complaints on consumer websites. The only downside to the CRV is that the leg room is a little tight for passengers over 6ft. The rear visibility is also slightly limited because of the large pillars and the high rear window.
If we had to choose a model then we’d go for the EX with all-wheel-drive as it provides the best value, safety features and all around drivability. Feel free to search Honda CRV cars for sale on the DesperateSeller.co.uk website.