At 103.2 inches, the CR-V's wheelbase is long for its overall size--alittle longer than the Cherokee, 8.3 inches longer than the four-door Rav4.
That's typical of current Honda designs, and it's one of the reasons for
Honda's success with ride quality.
Good ride quality is a CR-V strong suit. It's supple enough to absorb
the nasty little irregularities of warty pavement without excessive compromise
in handling response.
The CR-V isn't quite as quick on its feet as the Rav4, but it's thoroughly
competent, and its steering is precise, with excellent feedback.
Overall, the CR-V feels like a compact station wagon--which is essentially
what it is. There's nothing remotely truckish about its behavior.
Low-end torque, the engine commodity that gets you up and running when
the light turns green, isn't particularly abundant in the CR-V. The torque
peak is 4300 rpm, and standing start getaway is a tad sluggish.
Once it builds up a head of steam, though, the CR-V is significantly