The Honda CR-V is a great vehicle. We purchased a small SUV last month. We test drove the CR-V, RAV4, & the Forrester. My wife liked the CR-V the best and I favored the Forrester. But honestly you can't go wrong with any of the three. We ended up with the Forrester, it was my turn to get to pick as she chose our last vehicle.
peace,
joe
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It is very nice. Stable, comfortable, and not too bad in terms of fuel efficiency compare to other vehicles of the same size.

The only problem is that it is a little swingy on wide turns, especially in the back seat; you may want to slow down.

I think you'll love it. Remember to check the web for the average price before buying! The Dealership always offer you a couple thounsands more expensive than it actually is.
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I own a '03 CRV-EX. I couldn't say enough praises for it. I live in NYC so it definitely have had taste of snowstorms. All-wheel drive helps to get you out from parking that you don't have to totally dig it out. During normal driving conditions and if it's not necessary, only the front wheels power the car. It's not an all-time all-wheel drive which should be fine. After 5 years of owning it, it still gives me a decent 23-25 mpg on the highway with 3-5 passengers. It's been to Florida twice and every other month to Rhode Island. No major problems, just minor replacements due to wear and tear which is normal. I just do the regular maintenance such as oil changes, fluid flush and replace every specific intervals. Other than that, I would say it's a reliable and practical car.
Source(s):
From experience.

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It strikes me as a girl's car. This is simply because it's "cute." It can be equiped with 4WD, but doesn't have the clearance or tires to seriously go off-road. It seems great for driving through snow or mud on the road. It also has extra space for carring lots of supplies or a pet (or small family). Both my cousin, "M.H.," and my mom (both girls), have one, and they love them. because of the high center of gravity of traditional SUV's, I probably wouldn't put my own family in one due to roll-over tendencies. I'd go with a Suburu Forester or a Volvo. One thing's for sure... It's a Honda, it will never quit running. My civic has 230,000 mi on it! One of my mom's good friends is 6'4, however, and has trouble being comfortable.
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The CR-V's high ranking is based on its excellent combination of a practical interior and a reputation for safety and reliability in its class. Its major competitor, the Toyota RAV4, just can't quite match the CR-V's refinement.

Redesigned in 2007, the Honda CR-V is appreciated for providing a safe driving experience with ample storage space, now packaged in a sleeker design. All-around praise earns the 2008 CR-V a top spot in its large class. It also ranks very highly within the Affordable Crossover SUVs. Though it's closely matched with Toyota's RAV4, the CR-V beats the Toyota in all categories except exterior.

Pros
Thoughtful interior design, high-quality interior materials, versatile cargo hold, quiet and comfortable ride, high crash test scores, agile handling.

Cons
Engine and transmission can be overwhelmed by hilly stretches of highway.

http://www.casanovacars.com/2007/03/15/Honda%20CR-V%20Aero%20Pack%201.jpg
CR-V Performance - 8.1 (Very Good)
The 2008 Honda CR-V provides a competent and comfortable ride that ranks at the top of its class for performance. However, several reviewers point out that the four-cylinder engine lacks power and a few still find the ride stiff.


CR-V Exterior -(Good)
The Honda CR-V has never been one to break ground in the style department, but the 2008 model's redesigned exterior gets some positive reviews. Some auto writers, however, aren't so fond of the SUV's front end, leading to an exterior score in the middle of its class. In fact, the exterior category is the only one in which the CR-V is bested by its arch-rival, the Toyota RAV4.
http://z.about.com/d/suvs/1/0/a/a/-/-/08_Honda_CR-V_driver_view.jpg
CR-V Interior - (Very Good)
Praise is high for the 2008 Honda CR-V's interior feel and features, which rank at the top of its class despite the fact that the CR-V doesn't offer a third-row seat like its main competitor, the Toyota RAV4.

CR-V Safety - (Excellent)
The Honda CR-V does extremely well in federal government crash tests. Additionally, the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety chose the 2008 CR-V as one of its "Top Safety Picks."

CR-V Reliability - (Excellent)
The 2008 Honda CR-V comes with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty.

READ A FULL REVIEW---------
http://www.edmunds.com/honda/crv/2008/review.html
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I have a 2006 CR-V, LX, 2-wheel front drive. It's an incredibly reliable car. I really looked at t2 American cars in earnest: the Chevy HHR and the Chrysler PT Cruiser before buying the Honda. (I wanted a VW, but couldn't afford it.)

The fit and finish (especially the interiors and trim), the ride, interior, power, etc. on the American cars were all inferior to the Honda, imo. And the Honda people treated me MUCH better. The VW people seem to be jerks all over the US. (What's up w/ that VW?)
I have almost 60K miles and the car has been rock solid reliable. Period. On the other hand, I had co-workers w/ the PT Cruiser, and the car stayed in the shop, even though it was only <3 years old. BAD.
Similarly, I had another co-worker w/ a Chrysler 300 and that thing stayed in the shop too.

As a single person w/ little family in the area, I worked a looong way away from home. Couldn't afford to be stuck along the side of the road. I am really thankful for this car's reliability. The 2-wheel drive in heavy snow has never been a problem for me.

The regular maintenance costs at the Honda dealer are reasonable-- unlike my experience at the VW dealer. I loved my VW's (I owned two, bought new). The VWs drove & handled better than the japanese cars, and are built better, look better, imo. This Honda,however, is more reliable and cheaper to own over the same period.
And did I mention the 4-cylinder is fast as hell ? It's worth repeating.

The downside of the Honda LX model is the crappy interior, imo. (But it was still better than the American cars.) Perhaps I was just used to the nicer VW interiors.
The Honda CR-V has what's got to be the crappiest paint job I've ever seen in my life. I admit, I had upgraded metallic clearcoat on my 2 VWs. Honda paint chips easily, it scars easily. It dulls easily. The color isn't as deep. So, if you wax the Honda, it'll look a lot better. And the Hondas take regular gas. Some of the other cars, like Acura, VW etc., all require premium gas-- so I hear.
The CRV ride could be a little smoother and quieter, but it's ok. (Not as good as my VWs.) Didn't like the LX radio, maybe the EX models are much better. If you are REALLY into music, you'll want a better stereo. I was too cheap to upgrade.
But the damn car [Honda] just runs. It's fast for a 4 cylinder (a very underrated feature). And the 4 cyl is easier on the gas vs the 6 cyl. If you practice hypermiling (driving) techniques, you can get 29-32+ MPG on the highway with this CRV. In city driving, it will be a lot less.

I also prefer the Honda looks to the Toyotas. I looked at a Toyota RAV before I bought my Honda, and the Honda is MUCH nicer than the Rav, imo (for the same reasons I didn't like the Amer. cars.)
THe higher end RAV models might be good, but among the lower end SUVs, I thought the CRV was better. The CRV also got Consumers Best Buy for 2006-- over the ToyotaRAV. The Hondas also hold their value longer than cars in the same class.
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