So we head out to Tagaytay for a whole-day shoot, road trip and several rounds of shots (in no particular order). The weather wasn’t cooperating — it was cloudy, a little drizzle here and there and not a ray of sunlight.

Before I proceed, let me just state again that this isn’t a car review and I’m no car expert. This is more like sharing my driving experience and a little bit of tech behind the Honda CRV.

In fact, the very day the car was handed out to me, it took a full 10 minutes before I was able to figure out where the hand brake was (turns out it’s a footbrake). I Googled it to no avail; should have just tweeted and gotten an answer in 3 minutes.

My only experience with driving an SUV is with the Hyundai Tucson I got a year ago so there’s not much to compare the Honda CRV with. The variant that we tested was the 2.4 S-X AT 4WD (Brilliant White Pearl).

Now that all the disclaimer is out of the way, let me just share some of my personal observations after using the new CRV for over a week.

First time I saw the new CRV, I thought the body was a bit small for the SUV category and somewhat had low clearance. The interior is spacious though and there are a lot of storage compartments everywhere.

The cargo area is spacious as well with a second platform that serves as a cover so you can stock and organize more stuff at the back. The seats at the back can also be adjusted to give more room to the cargo area. There are a lot of safety and tech features that came along with the model it’s even a shame to try to compare it with my own car.

The CRV drives comfortably and pretty agile sometimes it feels like I’m just driving a regular sedan. It’s got a smooth ride and not bumpy at all. I especially liked the arm rests that makes it feel I’m seated on a pilot chair.

For an SUV, the 2.4L engine isn’t that very powerful but it’s got more than enough horsepower inside the hood to give it a good kick and decent acceleration when needed. We were driving between 80 to 120kmph on the highway without noticeable effort from the engine. Too bad traffic these days are so terrible we couldn’t even go past 120kmph and sustain it for a minute.

If there’s one thing I found lacking in this unit, that would be the inclusion of a manual mode in the transmission. It’s not really that essential but sometimes, I’d like to switch control to manual especially if I’m weaving thru traffic and want better maneuverability of the vehicle.

Over-all, it was a pretty great ride and we wish we had more time with it.

Honda CRV 2010 2.4L S-X AT 4WD
170 ps @ 5800 rpm max power output
22.2 kgm @ 4200 rpm torque
5-speed automatic
McPherson Strut-Type Suspension with Stabilizer
17″ alloy wheels
Fuel Consumption meter
Anti-Lock Brake System
Vehicle Stability Assist
Electronic Brake Force Distribution
Dual-Zone Climate Control
Price: Php1,525,000

The CR-V is uniquely designed for those who appreciate the finer things in life. It now comes with new front grille, bumper and alloy wheel designs to bring out a tougher and more distinct look. Its revitalized front end styling balances smoothly with the CR-V’s clean lines and premium finish.

Beyond good looks, the CR-V is a vehicle of substance. Under its hood lies the same i-VTEC engine that cleverly combines powerful performance with fuel economy. It comes in 2.4 liter and 2.0 liter variants which produces maximum power of 170 ps and 150 ps, respectively. As per U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA), the 2010 CR-V with 2.4 liter engine has an estimated fuel efficiency rating of 27 miles per gallon (11.48 km/li) under highway condition and 21 miles per gallon (8.93 km/li) under city driving condition. More than good fuel efficiency, the CR-V is also engineered to meet the stringent EURO 4 emission standard level.

The CR-V has been a breakthrough model since the introduction of the first generation model in 1997, consistently leading its class to higher levels. Successfully introducing the crossover concept with the launch of the third generation model in 2007, the CR-V provides sedan-like comfort and performance, ample SUV space and exquisite design. With the market’s warm appreciation of the CR-V’s premium quality and styling, the third generation CR-V leads the compact SUV category with cumulative sales of 8,945 units. Honda’s undying passion to present new values to the market brings forth further improvement on the CR-V’s suspension system and NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) levels for better ride and passenger comfort. 3812, 3202, 1831

As a manufacturer of high quality vehicles fitted with modern technologies, Honda products are known for its reliability and high resale value. The Kelley Blue Book, one of the most trusted resources in the U.S. for used car values, recognizes the Honda CR-V as the Best Resale Value Awardee under the compact utility vehicle category for years 2009 and 2010.

The CR-V comes in different colors to match your modern lifestyle:
Urban Titanium
Crystal Black
Taffeta White (2.0 li variant only)
Sparkle Gray (2.0 li variant only)
Polished Metal (2.4 li variant only)
Brilliant White Pearl (2.4 li variant only)

Crossover to the new Honda CR-V. Bookings are now accepted at any of Honda’s 26 authorized dealerships all over the country. The first batch of CR-V delivery should commence on the first week of February 2010.