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On
the other hand, the DOHC, non-VTEC Honda produces a more spirited level
of driving experience, but at a noisier level.
Although the re-tuned 150-bhp engine lacks the punch of the
Toyota’s VVTi (186 Nm @ 4500 versus 192 Nm @ 4000) if mated to
Honda’s 5-speed manual the CRV produces the same acceleration
sensations as its sedan brother, the Honda Civic.
In fact, like all other Honda engines, this one loves to rev, and
it is no surprise that to get the most out of the CRV’s engine it
requires heavy pressing of the right-most pedal. Leveling
the playing field and comparing automatic to automatic, the only
advantage of the Honda’s transmission is during uphill climbing, where
the heavier CRV frequently downshifts to give more acceleration.
Besides that, once again the RAV4 dominates with a smoother
experience, but at a rather sedate pace. The
RAV4 also has the upper hand in passive safety devices with brakes that
are more responsive and quicker reacting than the CRV.
In fact, the RAV4 offers an array of safety equipment that’s as
long as the CRV’s optional stereo kit: anti-lock brakes, electronic
brake distribution and four-wheel disc brakes.
Though the ABS response could have been more refined as it
activates more than it’s required, the RAV4 is sure-footed in braking
to a halt.
The Honda on the other hand is a bit nervous and spongy. Mechanically,
the suspension design for both of these cars is nothing special.
In fact, both the RAV4 and the CRV owe their chassis, albeit
reinforced and slightly modified, to the Corolla and the Civic.
In effect, the ride of these two vehicles owe very much to their
humble 1.6-liter origins.
However, it is still surprising how some tweaks with the springs
and shock settings could really tip the balance around. The older Honda CRV should suit Miss Daisy very well with its soft and supple ride. Using double wishbone front and rear, it easily absorbs any sort of Quezon City pothole imaginable. Of course, the obvious trade-off to this wonderful ride quality is not-so-good handling. Though it’s not noticeable in a straight line, the CRV becomes more and more flat-footed when it comes to twisty roads. The body roll becomes very noticeable and during extreme cases: dangerous. In fact, in the light of the Ford Explorer snafu in the US, authorities there have begun to test SUVs on their chances of a rollover during hard cornering. The conclusion? The Honda CRV posted a 30-percent chance of rolling over, while the RAV4 (the older model) showed a result of less than 25-percent chance. Add to this the fact that the CRV suffers from vague steering which, doesn’t offer any sort of intelligible feedback regarding the road conditions. |
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