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Steering and Handling Belying their high stance and ground clearance, these three wagons are nimble machines. The RAV is the most fun to throw around corners. The steering effort is perfectly weighted, and there's plenty of grip from the fat tires. As a result, it feels quick and confident when executing turns. Handling runner-up is the Escape. The Ford's steering has a weighty, sharp feel to it that thankfully translates to its road manners. It's quick to react to steering inputs, especially near the center position, and feels firmly planted in all conditions. The Escape feels like a much bigger car when it’s going straight—it’s smooth and stable—and it hangs on to corners with determination. The CR-V won't call the highway on-ramp or twisty flyover its second homes; handling is adequate for traffic-light cornering but it resists fast, sweeping turns. Steering is responsive enough for lane-change maneuvers, but on long highway trips, keeping it pointed straight tires the hands. It's quite easy to spin a front wheel when accelerating during a turn, such as highway merging. Turning quickly while braking in the CR-V is like yanking the tail of a sleeping Rottweiler: you might be able to get away with it, but it's not recommended. Ride and Cabin Comfort The RAV’s handling superiority comes at a price: it gives the bumpiest ride. Need to detect potholes or road joints? Take the RAV. The firm ride is alleviated somewhat by the softly-padded driver's chair. From there, you’ll see that it flaunts its sports car pretensions: silver trim, central tach, and the best steering wheel of the bunch. The adventurous trim continues to the bright blue carpeting, seat fabric and door panels, as well as the silver and exposed-screw look of the dashboard. The RAV also provides the best driving position and perfect ergonomics. It's nearly sports-car intimate, too: just enough for four adults. The rear passengers can recline and slide their seats in a 50-50 split, but even with the seats slid all the way back, the legroom is just enough for the average Asian man. Front visibility is excellent, with a clear view of the hood, but the rear view is hampered by the spare tire and rear headrests. The CR-V's cabin boasts of a flat floor throughout and loads of space. So much space that there's room for a third row of seats. We recommend a maximum of seven in this car, in a 2+3+2 configuration. Our only complaint about that useful third row is its lack of seatbelts and locking hooks that stick out from the floor. The third row doesn't lock when folded up, but the second row seats are easy to fold and tumble. What's not easy about the second row is actually sitting in it. This bench is divisible by three but not by four, and the four seatbelts qualify as cruel and unusual punishment. Even if you're alone on the second row, you will be squeezed into a space fit for Mini-me. Taller outboard passengers will find their heads near the door frame. The second row is higher than the first, allowing you to peer over the front headrests. Driver visibility is not as good, with the hood disappearing from view and the spare tire crowding the small rear window. The all-black interior is not helped by the cheap looking plastics. It's almost gloomy in here, saved by clever positioning of controls: the dash-mounted automatic gearlever and handbrake free up a lot of space and are fun to use. Storage spaces abound in the CR-V, from the large bins above and below the aircon knobs to the shelf above the glove box. They're all rattle-free, even if you toss in some maracas. As for the other sources of noise, there's bothersome tire howl at speed, but engine noise is well-suppressed. |
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