While the motor's power upgrades may seem modest, when coupled with shorter gearing and improved aerodynamics, the 2007 CR-V feels quite a bit snappier than the last 2005 CR-V SE that I drove. It's not a rocket by any means, but the motor and transmission are very responsive to throttle inputs and it never feels like it's struggling to accelerate the CR-V's 3400-3500lbs. On the Sea to Sky Highway, the drivetrain performed brilliantly, responding obediently to the whims of our right foot, calling up and holding the appropriate gear whether we were executing an uphill pass or trailbraking through a decreasing radius turn. Acceleration is pretty good - a few informal acceleration runs revealed 0-60 times in the low 9 second range. What's nice is that it keeps pulling pretty well at higher speeds as well, providing ample power for overtaking - a testament to the improved aero efficiency. We found that the CR-V is capable of cruising at 80-90+mph without breaking a sweat, even when climbing fairly steep hills. The icing on the cake is the EPA figures for this package - 23mpg city and 30mpg highway for 2WD models, and a still commendable 22/28 rating for AWD models. According to the trip computer we easily achieved 28+mpg on the brisk drive from Whistler back to Vancouver, at least until the point where we came to a grinding halt after exiting the Sea to Sky highway.

A 40mm drop of the center of gravity may not sound like much, but compared to last year's CR-V, the '07 CR-V behaves like it's been dropped a half foot. The 17" tires provide a commendable level of adhesion and the overall balance of the CR-V practically begs you to probe the limits. The steering is nicely weighted and provides a very natural and intuitive feel through turns. Ride quality is excellent, thanks no doubt to the supreme rigidity of the chassis and the meticulous tuning of the springs and dampers. Road and wind noise are kept at "sedan like" levels, at least on paved roads. There was one situation where the suspension sounded particularly "thwoppy", and that was when my co-driver nosed the CR-V off the paved road briefly for a quick diversion onto a gravel fire road. Based upon this little excursion, the suspension seems to be optimized for the typical low frequency imperfections encountered on a street rather than the high frequency demands of a coarse gravel road or a washboard surface. The ride was fine, but based upon the sounds coming up through the floorboards, the suspension itself was working pretty hard.

As is frequently the case on these types of preview drives, we didn't really get too many opportunities to really test the brakes very hard, but we did have to make one fairly hard and unexpected stop after completing a nice sequence of turns at a very brisk clip. At the time, I was riding shotgun, but from what I could sense from the passenger seat, the brakes hauled us down with authority. I didn't need to use the brakes with that much force while I was driving, but I did make a few deliberately firm stops, and the braking power felt quite good. In more typical braking situations, however, the brake pads themselves seemed a tad grabby at first. Hopefully Honda will fit a slightly more foregiving compound to production CR-Vs.

Conclusions
Overall we came away very impressed with the CR-V and its compelling blend of style, sportiness, refinement, and utility. While sticker prices haven't been announced, we were told that the CR-V LX would start at around $20000, and top out at around $26000 for the EX-L. Add another $2000 if you're interested in the Navi system and a few extra sound system perks. At $28000 for a decked out CR-V, it's beginning to nudge further upmarket, but the core product is strong enough that the CR-V will remain near the top of its class.

Related Links

• All-New for 2007, Honda CR-V Delivers Upscale Style, Refined Dynamics and Advanced Safety in a Versatile Entry Crossover SUV Package
• 2007 Honda CR-V Details
• 2007 Honda CR-V Features and Specs
• 2007 Honda CR-V Photo Gallery