After the impressive proof of my partner Pepe Gimenez to the McLaren MP4-12 c, have the task of making you go back to the real world. I understand that “short roll”, but cars like the Honda CR also deserve a hole in Diariomotor. In many ways, Honda CR has been one of the forerunners of the SUV fashion. Its first generation was released in 1996, and along with the Toyota RAV4, were the first approximation to the concept of all-terrain vehicle adapted to the city and motorways.
Poor off-road was an SUV without slimming, with monocoque bodywork and a few levels in their Honda CR principles. Despite only having a 2.0 petrol engine DOHC in the range, was a global sales success. It on good authority that it was a good car: in my family there is a first generation CR Honda and 350,000 km has not required of more than routine maintenance. More serious that it has happened it has been has been necessary to replace light bulbs melted.
With the arrival of the new Millennium SUV culture started to take off, and all brands aimed at launching vehicles campero aspect, whose owners just had the intention to take the asphalt. Nowadays the SUVS are a market segment that continues to grow in sales despite the economic crisis. Maybe is due to the versatility of the car make by tracks, for having behavior almost of tourism and for becoming more savers, even to you have versions 4 x 2.
In the particular case of the Honda CR second generation leave aside its Spartan look and received a diesel engine, more refinement and a design more current. The third generation lost the wheel spare rear porton, has sold mainly with motorizacion diesel and has positioned itself to a market halfway between the practitioner and the premium. Laanzada in 2007 as a 100% global product, is a modern and mature product that has triumphed in the international markets.
There is a curious paradox with the Honda CR. Although they have been increasing weight, their size has remained constant to be phased generational jumps: 4.56 m of its first generation 4.57 meters in the third generation. In a few months will launch the fourth generation in Europe, which decreases a couple of inches, breaking a trend of the more peculiar. We tried one of the last units of the third generation.
Despite being on the verge of retiring, continues to be a vehicle of it more valid that you also can be achieved with fairly strong promotional discounts. We have tested a Honda CR of very recent enrollment with a 2.2 engine i-DTEC 150 HP turbodiesel. The finishing of the test unit is the Elegance, and collecting in the South of Madrid the odometro marked little less than 3,000 km.
The truth is that Honda CR does not have a too passionate design. As global product must satisfy the tastes of disparate consumers such as the Japanese, Americans and the Spaniards. Despite this, Honda has done a good job with its aspect, maintaining its recognizable Asian origins. In general, could be classified as Discreet appearance. It doesn’t call attention, but has quite achieved design details.
The front has received a mild facelift in 2010, with a roller press more aggressive and a few lighthouses more sharp. The chrome roller press continues to have the leading role. The side profile, thanks to the evening light, it was possible to check the nerves that run through. The metallic paint adquiria tones of the most varied with different tonalities, starting from a base light. The 18-inch diameter wheels take a proportionate aspect to the dimensions of the car.
Behind we are seeing a curious form carved in the metal of the porton. Little more importantly, except to comment that the porton is absolutely normal: opens a piece. It would not be something relevant if two previous generations had not allowed the separated from the glass and the door opening. Only if we are very observant we will see a small logo under the limpialuneta, a sticker which reads i-DTEC as unique motorizacion distinctive.
Since its origins the Honda CR has been a car designed with ease of use in mind, and that can be seen in details we’ll be humming. As soon I climb to the driver’s seat, from which dominates the road thanks to a position of high conduction, typical of an SUV. The front seats are the same as those who carry the Honda Accord: excellent lined armchairs in Alcantara, really spacious and which is impossible to stick at the level of regulation or ergonomics. I loved the detail of the integrated armrests.
The driving position is natural thanks to the adjustment of the steering wheel. Flipping the gearbox is very simple: the lever located in the central console, exactly one inch of the steering wheel, so you just have to drop the steering wheel to shift gears. I am not constrenido, and I have plenty of space both legs and head. Before my extends a dashboard finished in hard plastic of very good fit and look good, without being particularly showy.
The instrumentation is simple and good reading, but the vision of the velocimetro partially blocked when this wheel in the position appropriate for my. The level of the water temperature and fuel meters are digital. It has recommendation of shift system. The central console this organized approach and all controls are close at hand. The multifunction steering wheel brings together functions of infotainment and the management of the on-board computer.
At the level of practicality, Honda CR is notable for several curiosities. Firstly, it has two glove. This illuminated bottom but is not enough for documentation. The superior not this enlightened, but has several litres of capacity and a non-slip floor. Center console has several holes in its lower part, and does not extend to join with the console located between the seats. Between these two elements there is a flat, ideal space for a bag, for example.
The console between the seats is controls for the heating of seats, auxiliary audio sockets and the hand brake, which seems most own a plane. Also can leave drinks and there is a room with sliding lid where you can leave things as discs of music, in this case a fantastic double album by Avantasia. In the doors it is possible to locate large bottles and more personal items. To the left of the steering wheel there is another gap of similar features.
Best of all is that this practicality goes hand in hand with a sensation of pleasant relief: the interior is diafano and broad, and empty us the pockets without problems contributes to this process.
Honda CR also stresses in its rear seats, whose access is simple. But no doubt, it is best that there are acres of space. As passengers, we can stretch your legs without becoming remotely play the front seats. We do not have the typical small tables in the back of the front seats, but to change the floor is flat, there are three belts of three points and three adults do not suffer from narrowness shoulders or head, usual bounds problems.
They are individually reclining seats. The central armrest is home to two cupholders.
The trunk of the Honda CR has 524 litres. It is a high capacity for a vehicle of its size. Access from the mouth of load is optimal and its dimensions are regular. The bottom of the trunk can be placed at medium altitude, dividing into two the trunk. It is ideal for compartmentalize the burden, for example, if come loaded with few bags from the supermarket and we don’t want that they roll by all the boot, which is empty.
Folding seats Gets a surface flat load with a total volume of no less than 1.523 litres. Under floor we find a wheel spare type cookie which seems taken from an agricultural tractor for its appearance. It is better than an antipinchazos kit. Morning look at the dynamics of the four-cylinder 2.2 turbodiesel, as we can see has a correct consumption and a great pleasure of operation.
