The interior is quite friendly.Gauges are easy to read, white numerals on black background, avoiding the twilight wash-out afflicting the black-on-white array so much the fad today. Cruise control is standard, as is the adjustable steering column.
Seats are comfy. The rear bench has three-point belts and head restraints at all three positions.
Numerically, the new CR-V not only improves on its predecessor, but it also bests the competition in virtually every measure. Only the 2002 Toyota RAV4 beats the CR-V's 40.9-inch front seat headroom, and by less than half an inch. The '02 Ford Escape joins the RAV4 in providing more front-seat leg room, by 0.3 and 0.9 inches, respectively, over the CR-V's 41.3 inches.
Otherwise, the CR-V is the Emporer of the chart in roominess, including cargo space. Here, in every configuration, with the rear seat in whatever position, it's the champ by more than 7 cubic feet over the second-place '02 Ford Escape's 64.8 cubic feet, and by more than 26 cubic feet over the Freelander's 46.6 cubic feet. It also has 3.9 cubic feet more cargo space than the '01 CR-V.