1997 Honda CR-V Test Drive
Taking a cue from Toyota’s RAV4, Honda fired a salvo into the entry level SUV class with its new for 1997 CR-V. Based on Civic underpinnings, this gave Honda its first internally developed sport-utility vehicle on the market. Not intended for hard-core, off road driving, its full -time all-wheel-drive system borrowed from Japanese only version of the Odyssey minivan, had no low range. Only available with a four speed automatic. To save costs, the CR-V shared many parts with the, then recently discontinued Japanese Market Civic station wagon. The only engine was a new for 97′ 2-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder that put out 130 horsepower. Despite its diminutive appearance , the CRV was actually larger than its competitors, with exterior dimensions exceeding those of the Jeep Cherokee.
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While I often see new CRvs, I had forgotten about the original! I like how these first generation of CUVs were rather simple and clean designs (like the first Ford Escape), and were far from the current fully-loaded, overweight inflated-car crossovers that we have now.
More basic but MUCH more expensive too, as was often the case for cars back then.
Their test car adding ABS, alloy wheels and floor mats back in 1997 was $20,781 which translates to over $30,000 in current dollars! The price of the better equipped 2013 CR-V LX AWD w/automatic is under $25,000.
Motor trend again!! 😀
I think I would have stuck with the four door Geo Tracker LSi
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