Drive: Honda CRV 2014

There are many reasons to fall in love with the Honda CR-V. Yeah it looks great, fits your family and it’s a Honda. But then every time you look at this beauty, there’s always something telling you that there’s more to the CR-V than meets the eye.

 Over one weekend, Matthew and I decided to test not just one, but both the 2.0L and 2.4L CR-Vs. Back when I was a teen, the Honda CR-V captured me with its aggressive, rugged appearance which I thought resembled a “wolf.” However, the latest, fourth generation CR-V wasn't quite like the wild animal its predecessors appeared to be. Up close, the beast seemed to have settled for an exterior that is much sleeker, elegant, and sexy compared to before. The obvious difference is the front lamp which now has a more feminine touch to it.

Stepping inside the Honda CR-V was a pleasure itself. Unlike most cars that complicate you with buttons, the Honda CR-V’s interior is much more user friendly. You won’t be asking yourself, “What does this button do?” Everything is neatly in place and it does so perfectly that it makes you acclimatise almost instantaneously. Abit of dissapointement though, the 2.0L could've been given and LCD touch screen and bit of a less plastic interior.

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 For the 2.4L variant, you will enjoy loads of tech features - leather seats and side curtain airbags, just to name a few. But the 2.0L wasn't lacking of anything less important either. The 2.0L drove well both on normal highways and off road. So if you're just a everyday calm driver, the extra 400cc wouldn't make much difference.

Where would you bring a sexy suave beauty who looks perfect for your everyday drive yet earning for a little adventure? For a trip of course! It was a hot season, so we decided to drive our two beauties to a nearby waterfall, along the Karak highway.

SPEC SHEET:

CR-V 2.0 (2014)
Engine:  SOHC 4 Cylinder 16 Valve i-VTEC
Displacement: 1997cc
Bore & Stroke: 81.0 x 96.9
Compression Ratio: 10.6:1
Maximum Power: 114kW (155PS) @6 500 rpm
Maximum Torque: 190Nm @ 4 300 rpm
Transmission: 5-Speed Automatic Transmission
Top Speed (estimated): 180 km/h
Price (w/o insurance) : RM 144 763.50

We left early in the morning, in a perfect environment one could ask for. Calm weather, clear traffic and off and on, we were accompanied by convoys of bikers. Being someone who is used to driving small vehicles, I was quite doubtful wether I could handle the CR-V well. But surprising enough, I got used to the CR-V quite well that on my second day with the car. It handled pretty well. Both the 2.4 and the 2.0 liter had no problem dominating the roads. The powertrain was quite responsive without unneeded downshifts; keeping things very quiet while we cruised at different speeds. The electrical steering was adequately responsive, giving us an overall well balanced drive and handling. The CR-V proved that it was ready to deal with whatever was thrown at it. Over taking other vehicles was a breeze, be it the 2.4 or 2.0 variant. If you switch the eco mode on, you can easily notice that the engine revs much softly than it did before. The drive turns fuel economical, slightly lesser fun than it was before, but suitable for those looking to save a little extra in your wallet and the environment.

After about 40 minutes on the highway, we entered into a scheduled village... or forest? I’m not sure. Every where I turned was just tall glasses and abandoned houses.

 It took us quite a long drive before we realised we are in the wrong village. Being Malaysians, asking directions was the last on the list. We tried to test our luck again by getting back on the highway and into another village that wasn't far behind. Luckily this time, it was the right village and wasn't as creepy as the last one. The road throughout the village fits only one car, which had me wondering how do the villagers drive around? I did see cars parked in their houses.

Now we didn't just want to drive our cars to the waterfall, we wanted to drive into it! When we arrived though, the steep, slippery muddy way down to the falls gave us second thoughts about it. But since it's the CR-V, it’s time we put that name to the test.

We took turns to drive down to the waterfall. It was a pretty scary drive down. I didn't even have to step on the pedal. The car just slipped it’s way through the mud while I carefully controlled the brakes and steering, hoping the car doesn't slip and fall off the cliff. A bit too much to the right, I would be crashing on to the hills, and too much to the left, I would be free falling in my car. Ahh, the fun of just thinking about it.

Well, we made it! All the challenge for one reason only. We wanted a photo-shoot no one ever did before. For that, we knew it in our hearts that the CR-V is the perfect beast for this challenge.

After soaking our feet in the chilling falls and snapping some shots, we mingled with the locals who were taking a dip there. They were impressed how the Honda CR-V made it passed the steep track, which they explained was usually traveled by foot or bikes.

Only after our chilling session we realised that the real challenge was just beginning. It’s time to go back up the slippery track with our 1.5 tonne beasts. Since I was in the 2.0, my biggest fear is that the power wouldn't be enough to battle my way back up. But the CR-V didn't fail me. Although the tires did slip several times, the engine packed enough punch to keep us moving. Sensing the challenge, the beast under the hood just pounced aggressively, battling its way up. I wouldn't say it was easily done, but I don’t think most cars could have delivered that much confidence the CR-V did that day.

I couldn't be more in love with the CR-V than I was ever was after the experience. Our drive back home was back to being calm and quiet. Surprising how just a moment ago the Honda CR-V was battling the muddy terrain like a hungry beast and now it’s back being all humble and quiet.

The Honda CR-V proved is self to be more than a beauty that catches the eyes. Beneath that sexy exterior there is an aggressive beast waiting for a challenge. Besides packing a favor for the tech-savvy commuters, the Honda CR-V also delivers ample of space for families to sit comfortably. And the fact it’s an all wheel drive that doesn't burn a hole through your wallet is also a reason you want to put this beauty in your compact-SUV list. If you ask me though, the car would've been much perfect with more gadgets in it, as its competitors are packing a pretty good value at the same price of the CR-V. I did have problem of not having a reverse sensor and fully relying on the reverse camera. It wasn't easy to park during the rain. I thought only my car had no reverse sensor, but it was also the same with Matt's 2.4L. Ride quality? this is HONDA, it delivers.

SPEC SHEET:

CR-V 2.4 (2014)
Engine:  DOHC 4 Cylinder 16 Valve i-VTEC
Displacement: 2354cc
Bore & Stroke: 87.0 x 99.0
Compression Ratio: 10.0:1
Maximum Power: 140kW (190PS) @7 000 rpm
Maximum Torque: 222Nm @ 4 400 rpm
Transmission: 5-Speed Automatic Transmission with paddle shift
Top Speed (estimated): 190 km/h
Price (w/o insurance) : RM 165 187.60