• A very functional sedan – built for the family or for the office
• Great interior and lots of trunk space
• Efficient four cylinder engine mated to a well matched transmission

Cons

• Front seats almost as hard as a park bench
• Mid-year refresh actually made the rear less attractive
• Styling does not stand out over the competition

How does a Japanese automaker, or for that matter any automaker, build a car that will appeal to American families or office workers who just don’t have the means to lay out fifty-large for a four door luxury sedan? Well you build a car (or try to) that has the looks and quality of those $50k+ sedans at half the price… in other words you try and emulate. This has been a winning strategy for Toyota and more recently Hyundai, where they chisel the body to emulate a Mercedes, stuff the interior with leather faced seating, shoehorn a diminutive 4 cylinder or barely satisfying 6 cylinder under the hood, and add all the usual bells and whistles, all for under thirty-large.

For the most part, this strategy has worked well and Honda took note by jumping into the fray in 2008 with their redesigned Accord. The next Accord revamp isn’t due until 2013, so for the final two years Honda has come out with a revamped front and back end along with a mid tier SE version which sports leather heated seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, power lumbar support, and special badges for only $23,730. But can this car survive the 800 mile family road trip and is this the closest thing to the starter cars coming from Germany?

Driving Impressions

At first glance, here is a family sedan that is fairly large in size but equipped with relatively narrow wheels and tires, and void of body add-ons that might hint that it is trying to compete with the European sedans of similar size. It’s larger than a C-Class or 3-Series and pretty close to the E-Class or older version of the 5-Series. When you walk up to the car and get ready to jump in, there’s nothing that stands out, so you’ll get into the car having no high expectations.

We took the Accord SE on a road trip from Northern California to Southern California and back, and the Accord still feels more connected to the road than its main rivals, such as the Camry. When driving the Accord in town or on the highway there is a high level of composure, with confidence inspiring handling and good ride quality. Honda has done a great job of giving the driver a better feel for the road than Hyundai or Toyota, and this really helps to engage the driver, whether on short trips or long ones. It all comes together; decent power, impressive handling for a front-wheel drive car, and a surprisingly comfortable ride.

Build

The Honda pedigree shows well in the build quality. Fit and finish is what you would expect from the top Japanese brands, with even door and trunk lid gaps, solid closing doors, no interior squeaks or rattles when going over bumps, and little wind noise at speeds. There is plenty of insulation in the proper places so that road noise and wind noise are suppressed but not fully eliminated. About the only disappointment is near the trunk, where you have the pass through for the center arm rest. The lining around that area looked to be somewhat unfinished, which is not something you’d likely find in any of the European sedans. While we are discussing the trunk, it was the only lid/door that had a cheap or tin-like sound when it closed.

Interior Comfort and Ergonomics

Let’s get this out of the way; the front leather seats are hard. This is mostly due to the padding Honda chooses to use in the seats, which is quite firm, and you feel it the moment you sit down. If you have anything in your back pocket such as a wallet, remove it before you suffer a lack of blood flow to that leg. The other quirk I would like to get out of the way is the steering wheel and its limited adjustability. The steering wheel seems a bit small and it has limited telescope and level adjustments, so much so that it was less than ideal on long drives. I seemed to have my arms fully extended when my legs were properly adjusted for the pedals. The smaller steering wheel also tends to hide the gauges when it is adjusted to the lower position. Hondas have been some of the easiest cars for someone of my stature to fit into, but this one just wasn’t and it was a little perplexing.

One other half quirk is the lack of outside temperature reading anywhere on the dash, the screen only shows time and audio settings (does one really need a screen this size for those two functions?). Outside of these two and a half things, the comfort and ergonomics were just fine. Once my wallet was removed, what initially seemed like park bench hard seats turned out to be very supportive and appropriate for the business of driving, although passengers might find the accommodations a bit harsh. My wife kept complaining how it was difficult to sleep in the passenger seat due to the hardness of the seats and the lack of fore/aft adjustments in the headrest. For a car of this size, the back seat, trunk, and headroom are closer to a large sedan than what the mid size category would normally yield. If you need to haul around adult passengers along with some luggage, this is about as good as it gets.

Performance

These days, most people are spoiled by sedans that can do 0-60 in under 6 seconds. They would risk falling asleep if they test drove something like this 177 hp sedan which barely clears 60 in under nine seconds. Southern California is notorious for jack-rabbit starts and a fast car is almost a necessity, but in Northern California this sedan’s acceleration is actually adequate for most needs. On the freeway, the 2.4L performs admirably; it has the capability to climb elevations of over 5000 feet while keeping up at 70-75 mph cruising speeds. The only major shortcoming is accelerating at speed when passing, or getting back up to speed if you happen to slow down a bit (heaven forbid). This is where displacement is going to win, but if you can foresee the road ahead, you should be satisfied with the performance of this naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine.

The biggest plus of this engine is the fuel economy, rated at 23 city and 32 hwy, and we averaged 29 overall for the trip. Honda has also done a great job getting the most out of their four-speed automatic. Fourth gear is really long and provides that great mileage on the freeways, while third is great if you want to climb hills or slow down and not show your brake lights. We found them (the gears) perfect for long distance freeway cruising.

Handling

Thankfully Honda has kept their flagship midsize sedan on the European side of the suspension spectrum. By this I mean that in comparison to the Camry, the Accord has a more responsive and firm ride, which yields less body roll in the turns and more feedback when it comes to bumps and dips. Suspension is a matter of taste and some might wish for a softer ride, and hopefully manufacturers will find a way to get active/adjustable suspension in something less than $50k. Until then, I prefer the sharper steering and suspension of the Honda just for the responsiveness, but if you are located out in an area of bad roads, you might be better off with the Accord’s competition.

The Accord cuts through turns with ease and the suspension is up to the task, but the SE unfortunately comes with relatively narrow wheels and tires in comparison to the European cars it is trying to emulate. If Honda would only put on decent wheels and tires and maybe lower the Accord a bit, they would have a Euro-wannabe that was closer to the real thing.

source from: carreview

What Edmunds.com says

The 2010 Honda CR-V remains one of our favorite compact crossover SUVs. More power this year should help with its traditionally sluggish performance; however, the absence of an optional engine upgrade continues to be an Achilles heel.

Pros

Spacious passenger and cargo areas, straightforward interior controls, nifty family-friendly features, agile handling, exemplary crashworthiness.

Cons

No optional engine upgrade, elevated road noise, transmission lacks manual mode.

What’s New for 2010

The 2010 Honda CR-V receives its first slate of significant changes since being redesigned four years ago. The engine is enhanced with 14 more horsepower and 1 more mpg, the exterior and interior have been given minor detail changes, and Bluetooth and a USB audio port are added to the options list.

2010 Honda CR-V Vehicle Overview

Introduction

“It needs more power.” This label has stuck to the Honda CR-V like industrial Velcro for as long as this compact crossover has been sold. Though its four-cylinder engines have been upgraded throughout its three-generation lifespan, never has a loaded-down CR-V been able to scale long grades without breaking a serious sweat. The 2010 Honda CR-V’s four-cylinder gets a welcome infusion of power, but a V6 option like so many of its competitors offer remains an unfulfilled desire.

Yet this power outage has never seemed to hurt the humble CR-V, a compact crossover that is now the best-selling SUV in the country. Credit a long list of attributes that most consumers value over “It needs more power.” Safety? Crash test scores don’t get much better. Versatility? Seventy-three cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity and innovative storage solutions are at your disposal. Comfort and convenience? The backseat reclines and slides, while features like power heated seats, navigation and an iPod interface are options. Quality? Honda’s reputation for reliability is still one of the strongest in the business. Drivability? The CR-V offers some of the most responsive handling in its class. These all make the CR-V easy to recommend in a year where it gains a mild face-lift inside and out, plus a few additional optional features.

However, there are areas that should give you pause and warrant a trip to a rival dealership. “It needs more power” is, of course, one of them. While sluggish acceleration may not be a big deal for you in this congested world, it’s important to note that engine upgrades in the Chevy Equinox (V6), Subaru Forester (turbocharged four-cylinder) and Toyota RAV4 (V6) provide more thrust with negligible fuel economy penalties. Road noise is also an issue with the CR-V, and some may find its ride to be on the firm side. The Equinox and Subaru Outback in particular are more serene highway cruisers.

The compact-to-midsize crossover category seems to gain a member every single day as manufacturers clamor to get a piece of the action. While choices are abundant, we suggest sticking with the aforementioned models and the 2010 Honda CR-V, which remains just as strong an entrant today as it was when it helped pioneer the segment back in the 1990s. It may still need more power, but for more than 100,000 crossover buyers every year, the CR-V will be more than enough.

For Pricing information, see our Pricing page.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2010 Honda CR-V is a crossover SUV that straddles the line between compact and midsize. It is available in LX, EX, EX-L and EX-L with Navigation trim levels, and each can be equipped with front- or all-wheel drive.

The LX comes standard with 17-inch steel wheels, keyless entry, full power accessories, air-conditioning, cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, driver seat height adjustment, 40/20/40 sliding and reclining rear seats, a retractable front center tray table and a four-speaker stereo with CD/MP3 player and auxiliary audio jack. The EX adds 17-inch alloy wheels, a sunroof, rear tinted glass, a dual-level cargo area, steering-wheel audio controls and a six-speaker stereo with six-CD changer.

The EX-L adds automatic headlights, heated side mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power driver seat, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a fixed front center console and a seven-speaker stereo that includes a subwoofer, USB audio jack and satellite radio. The EX-L with Navigation adds a (surprise!) navigation system along with voice control, Bluetooth and a rearview camera.

For more Style information, see our Compare Styles page.

Powertrains and Performance

Every 2010 Honda CR-V comes with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 180 hp and 161 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed automatic and front-wheel drive are standard, while all-wheel drive is optional. The latter sends power to the front wheels exclusively until slippage is detected, at which point the car transfers torque to the wheels with the most traction.

In terms of fuel economy, the CR-V is about average for the segment; EPA estimates for the front-drive model are an estimated 21 mpg city/28 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined. AWD CR-Vs drop slightly to 21/27/23.

For more Performance Data, see our Specifications page.

Safety

The 2010 Honda CR-V is equipped with antilock disc brakes, stability control, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. A back-up camera is available on the EX-L with Navigation, and Honda dealers can install parking sensors on lower trim levels. In our brake testing, a CR-V EX-L came to a stop in a tidy 119 feet, which is above average for this segment.

In government crash testing, the CR-V achieved a perfect five stars for side protection. Last year’s model achieved a perfect five stars for frontal protection in the government test, while achieving the best possible rating of “Good” in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety frontal-offset and side crash tests. It achieved the second worst rating of “Marginal” in the IIHS’s new roof strength test.

For more Safety information, see our Safety page.

Interior Design and Special Features

The CR-V’s cabin is both functional and attractive. Gauges are clear, controls are where you’d expect them to be and materials quality is good. Parents will appreciate the wide-opening rear doors, the sliding and reclining backseat, the two-tier cargo area and the lightweight rear liftgate, all of which ease the process of loading small children and the many items that go along with them. A “conversation mirror” built into the overhead console’s sunglasses holder enables front seat occupants to keep an eye on the backseat without turning around.

Luggage capacity with the seatbacks up measures 35.7 cubic feet. With the rear seats folded, the CR-V can hold an impressive 73 cubic feet of cargo.

For more Interior Features information, see our Specifications page.

Driving Impressions

The increase in power for 2010 makes the Honda CR-V more competitive against other four-cylinder-powered crossovers; however, there’s no getting around the fact that there’s no upgrade available for those who value the thrust of a strong V6. Nevertheless, the CR-V sets itself apart with remarkably nimble handling thanks to a relatively firm suspension and sharp steering. Even braking is quite good, which is unusual for a Honda. The ride is slightly busier than the norm and road noise can be excessive, making the 2010 Honda CR-V feel a little less polished and sophisticated than some competitors.

source: edmunds.com

2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser

Daimler and Chrysler may have gone their separate ways back in 2007 but the two companies are still closely linked, especially since several of their models share common parts. It is because of this sharing of parts that has led to the latest squabble between the two, with Chrysler accusing Daimler of refusing to honor contracts to supply components and thus threatening production at some Chrysler factories.

The latest allegations are contained in a lawsuit filed last Friday in a U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York but so far Daimler has rejected all the claims. The claims say Daimler is refusing to supply steering columns and torque converters in order to pressure Chrysler to make payments for stemming from a previous dispute between the two companies.

In the previous dispute, Daimler claims that Chrysler still owes it around $78 million to compensate for reduced volume for a 2.2-liter diesel engine designed for the PT Cruiser in Europe. Daimler says it is owed this amount because Chrysler didn’t buy as many of the engines as it had said it would.

Source:motorauthority.com