2.0 i-VTEC SR 5dr 4 X 4

Niggles, niggles and more minor niggles!

What I have to keep reminding myself, is what another reviewer said 'this is a piece of kit, like an ironing board, purchased to fulfill a purpose' and he could'nt have got it more right! Before buying I drove most of the SUVs in this category and all were a disapointment to drive, including the CR-V, but that's in comparison to our previous M-Sport BMW. Which is the big point I would make about the car or any in the class, as the dealer said 'in comparison it's never going to be exciting' once you get over that and realise the CR-V is hugely practical then it really is a very good car.

The CR-V was the only car in the class which had the two main features we wanted, which given the choice is amazing really. It had to be huge enough to cope with a baby (and kit) two dogs (and kit) and two adults (no kit allowed) comfortable and reliable, and importantly, petrol combined with 4wd (we live semi rural and but don't cover the huge mileages needed to warrant a diesel).

Now don't get me wrong, the title would lead you to believe the CR-v has been a problem, far from it and the Honda dealer is great. However, a number of niggles and design flaws are becoming a pain, certainly in comparion to our near faultless BMW (1 minor problem in 3 years).

And so to the list of (perhaps petty) niggles:

1. The stop start technology has never worked! It never did on the BMW, for the same reason, that we dont cover the mileage. The difference being that having taken the BMW on a long run the battery was sufficiently charged for it to start working, not with the Honda, that requires a trip to the dealer and even then no luck. Another known fault apparently.
2. Smells, another CR-V fact of life apparently. Stinks of petrol on start-up and stinks of rubber (occasionally) on the move!
3. The parking sensors are appalling, giving you absolulely no confidence that they are communicating the actual disatance between you and an obstacle. The problem being that they seem to take to long to come on and when they do the sound just is'nt communicating the distance to and progession toward the obstacle well enough.
4. Dirt, an annoying gap between the door and the frame collects and extrordinary amount of muck.
5. The wheel arch liner has also started to detach itself.


To end on a positive, it is a good car, certainly better than most of the alternatives, very comfortable and very practical. It's because I like it that I find the imperfections annoying.

*** Update - today we find ourselves back at the dealer (again! BMW 0 in 3 years Honda 3 times in 6 months) for what an as of yet unidenified grinding coming from the rear wheels/brakes. It may be a Japanese car but clearly not built to their standards...

**** Update on the update - small stone lodged in brake caliper, not sure whether to be annoyed that a stone could get in or not.... However I can only praise Cloverleaf Honda, no fuss, no bother and no charge...better than the appalling West Country based BMW dealer I'm used to!!

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