Honda’s popular CR-V four-wheel drive is now safer, smoother and more refined.

The company’s biggest-selling 4WD has a number of technical, equipment and styling enhancements to freshen it for 2005, including driver & passenger side airbags (Sport only), a new 5-speed automatic transmission, revised Dual Pump 4WD system, Drive-By-Wire throttle and more aggressive styling to enhance the CR-V’s refined “toughness”.

Honda’s Real Time four-wheel drive system – which automatically engages all-wheel drive only when required – now delivers better acceleration and hill climbing performance on slippery (particularly snow covered) surfaces, as well as a swifter response when accelerating around corners or turning out of slippery intersections. The new system uses a one-way ball cam and pilot clutch to transmit torque instantaneously and responds to even the slightest amount of wheel spin. Thicker stabiliser bars also contribute to greater stability.

The CR-V automatic transmission is upgraded to an electronically-controlled five-speed, aiding fuel economy and performance. Honda has matched the transmission to engine performance with new ratios, ensuring smooth shifts and power delivery.

A new drive-by-wire throttle ensures a smoother and more instantaneous response to accelerator pedal inputs, particularly from standstill.

Cruise control has been added to manual transmission CR-Vs, making cruise standard across the range. For ease of use, cruise control switches are located on the steering wheel.

CR-V wheels are also upgraded to 16” – steel wheels on CR-V and 10-spoke alloy on CR-V Sport – and matched to larger disc brakes all round. The front brakes are increased to 300mm with 305mm discs at the rear.

Honda has tweaked the CR-V’s exterior styling to give a bolder impression – the headlights, bonnet and front bumper are more prominent. The grille is also more striking, with a silver surround and two silver bars through the centre, offsetting a large Honda badge. Round fog lamps sit beneath the headlights on the Sport model.

The new 16” inch wheels also fill out the flared guards.

The rear bumper has been neatened with slim line reflectors in the lower area while new, clear indicator lenses feature at the top of the tail light stack.

Inside, the CR-V boasts a higher level of standard equipment. Audio on the CR-V Sport has been upgraded to a new 6 CD tuner which plays MP3s, and steering wheel mounted buttons on both CR-V models make the audio easier to operate.

As with Accord Euro, Accord and Odyssey, the CR-V dashboard now lights up when the door is unlocked, with even brighter illumination when the ignition is switched on. The instruments have white numerals and red needles with a titanium fascia surround.

The CR-V’s digital trip display now includes ambient temperature and instantaneous fuel consumption, which are accessed by flicking through the screens with the toggle button next to the display.

Storage space and convenience get a boost, with a seatback map pocket added to CR-V and rear luggage cover added to both CR-V and CR-V Sport.

Honda has improved rear visibility by introducing “tear drop” type headrests in the second row to avoid obscuring rearward vision when fully retracted.

The CR-V’s security improvements include a security alarm and in-key keyless entry.

The CR-V's pricing and model range remains unchanged - the CR-V manual is priced at $31,990, the CR-V automatic is $33,990 (with metallic paint $259 extra), while CR-V Sport manual is $36,749 and the CR-V Sport automatic is $38,749

A CR-V Sport with Leather is also available at $38,249 with manual transmission and $40,249 with automatic transmission. The CR-V Sport Leather also gains leather seats and door trims, a leather steering wheel and two-stage heated front seats in addition to CR-V Sport standard features.

New colours are available, which includes exterior colours Light Opal Metallic and Royal Ruby Red Pearl. Light Opal Metalllic, Premium White Pearl and Tafetta White CR-Vs are matched with an ivory interior, while all other exterior colours have a black interior.

Main Features

CR-V:

• 2.4-litre i-VTEC LEV 4-cylinder engine producing 118kW and 220Nm.
• Choice of two transmissions – 5-speed manual or electronically controlled 5-speed automatic.
• Honda Real Time 4WD dual pump system.
• 16” steel wheels.
• ABS brakes with EBD.
• Front driver & passenger SRS airbags.
• Cruise control.
• Single in-dash CD player with steering wheel-mounted controls.
• Three-point seatbelts in all seating positions.
• Front seatbelt and buckle pretensioners.
• Security alarm.
• 527-litre cargo space.
• Luggage cover.
• Picnic table.

CR-V Sport, as CR-V plus:

• Side SRS airbags.
• Sunroof.
• Alloy wheels.
• Body-coloured front and rear bumpers, mirrors and side protectors.
• Hard spare wheel cover.
• Fog lights.
• 6-CD tuner with MP3.

CR-V Sport Leather, as per CR-V Sport plus:

• Leather seats.
• Leather steering wheel.
• Leather door trim.
• Two-stage heated front seats.

What’s New

CR-V:

• Improved dual pump 4WD system.
• 5-speed auto transmission upgraded from 4-speed.
• 16” wheels.
• 300mm front disc brakes, 305mm rear.
• Fewer turns lock-to-lock – 3.26 improved to 3.22.
• Thicker stabiliser bars.
• Drive-by-wire throttle.
• Improved NVH.
• More rugged exterior styling.
• Cruise control available on both manual and automatic transmission models.
• Steering wheel-mounted audio and cruise control buttons.
• Illuminated meters.
• Titanium instrument panel surround.
• Instantaneous fuel consumption meter.
• Outside temperature display.
• Seatback pocket.
• Improved rear visibility via revised rear centre headrests.
• Luggage cover.
• Keyless entry in key.
• Security alarm system.

CR-V Sport, as CR-V plus:

• Side SRS airbags.
• 6CD tuner with MP3.