DRIVEN: Honda's All-New CR-V Takes A Beating, Is This Another Disappointment From Honda?

I am pretty confident that 001 was one of the first to call Honda's downfall but it seems to be soaking in across the board with the brand lately, even with products that were perennial winners.

Take, for example, the all-new Odyssey and all-new Civic. Loved by most for their specific strong points, Consumer Reports -- one of Honda's biggest advocates -- turned its back on BOTH products deducing that both missed the mark, essentially.

While Honda's products are considered well-rounded, they're just lacking that extra oomph, if you will.

And according to MSNBC's Dan Carney, that's not changing with the all-new CR-V. Considering this is one of the brand's top selling products, this could mean more pain for the brand. We were expecting the all-new 2012 CR-V to be a move in the right direction but it doesn't look like Honda got the shining star it's used to.


There are other cars that got good gas mileage; others with impressive durability. But none of them captured Honda’s spirit. Their commercials said it all: “Honda: we make it simple.”

Perhaps simplicity is less valued today. Perhaps it is just more challenging to deliver in a tech-centric world. Whatever the obstacles, while Honda’s new 2012 CR-V compact crossover SUV (even the description is inelegant) is a very good family car, it isn’t a special one. There is nothing about this that puts Honda’s clever stamp on it and says, “No other company could, or would, have done this.”

Instead, the CR-V is increasingly undistinguished in an increasingly competitive segment. That doesn’t make it a bad car, just a dull one...

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Agent00R - 12/25/2011 5:31:20 PM

-7 Boost

@senorgato

If I was in Honda product development, I don't think I'd want to read this:

[On the Honda CR-V's overly complicated dashboard design]: "You want to tell them to relax. Be yourselves. The problem with the dashboard, like the problem with so many Honda products in general, seems to be a desire to be all things to all people, rather than concentrating on being the absolute best at something and sticking to that."

There's a difference between something that's "Good enough," and "Insanely great."

Agent00R - 12/25/2011 5:33:47 PM

-8 Boost

Different strokes for different folks but c'mon even you have to admit that you're comparison likening the CR-V to the Hamptons is a bit of a stretch...

Realistically, they're all good cars it's about WHICH one fits the specific buyer and their values.

A.K.A. if you're concerned about warranties you have to get the Hyundai, for the higher quality interior I'd wager the Escape wins.

Agent00R - 12/25/2011 5:49:45 PM

-6 Boost

Notice MSNBC's headline "...Misses the Mark..."

I'd say that's a bold claim that backs up my point.

BTW, punctuation goes inside quotes ;)

mini22 - 12/26/2011 12:03:24 AM

+7 Boost

I think this journalist is over-reaching a bit to critisize this SUV. He admits it drives well,has good calibrated steering, and good awd handling and ride. He never said the interior felt cheap. He critisized the 5 speed transmission, the stereo I-pad interface, and the fact that is only has a 5 speed tranny. He also felt the styling was to busy both inside and out.The only thing I could possibly agree with him on was the 5 speed transmission.Everything else he said I disagree with him on. I like the styling of this car.It is also practical with a decent sized rear window so you can see out the back of this thing. So many SUV have tiny rear windows that succumb to that fast back styling.I like the fact that Honda did not make this SUV bigger unlike the Rav 4.
This car is still a good value.

gkearns56 - 12/26/2011 8:14:08 AM

-2 Boost

The butt-end of the new CR-V looks awful. Here we go again with the ugly styling from Honda. A few years ago it was their "bird beak" fronts ends. They then gave us the wonderful looking Crosstour (or whatever that thing is); now it's the big butt CR-V. I use to own an Acura TL when it didn't have the bird beak front end. Recently Honda's CEO said they were going to have to do a quicker refresh on the Civic since that car got tore up in reviews for too much interior plastic and gimmetry. Come On Honda FIRE the designers. Reliability is one thing but I also want to drive a vehicle that looks nice too. If I wanted to drive the UGLY Crosstour, I'd buy a Pontiac Azztec (not). You can do better!!

Agent00R - 12/26/2011 3:32:13 PM

-6 Boost

Ah, 1911.

What do you have to be sour about? Jeez.

_43LE - 12/27/2011 6:57:50 PM

+5 Boost

I wonder if the agents have ever owned a Honda. There's something about the ownership experience that makes you appreciate the quality and engineering.

MorePower - 12/26/2011 11:17:29 PM

+6 Boost

Because MSNBC is where I go for all of my automotive news and product reviews. . .

iamdabest1 - 12/27/2011 12:16:38 AM

+4 Boost

i still think this car will sell like hot cakes.. ( and i still like it no matter what the reports say)

vdiv - 12/28/2011 6:35:36 PM

+1 Boost

What's a turn signal? ;)

No, seriously, the 3-blink is probably for people who can't count, or whose ADD is so strong they can't hold the turn-signal stalk for three seconds. And other than BMW and maybe a few other makes, who else really offers a 3-blink turn signal?

As far as the styling and performance are concerned, considering that the CR-V is driven mostly by middle-aged women who don't care much about those, but do care about utility, ease of use, and reliability, I'd say the new CR-V stays on the mark.