Have do-anything Honda, will travel
THE OLD CAR
There have been CRVs since 1995, and the outgoing third-generation car accounts for 24 per cent of Honda’s car sales in Europe. In the US it was the number one best-selling SUV for ive straight years, but last year it fell to third place, clocking up 377,286 sales: impressive, but Honda knows it can do better.
THE NEW CAR
This ifth-generation car is wider, with a longer wheelbase for more interior space, more reinement, more tech, cleaner engines. That bodes well. But of course Honda isn’t the only car maker keen to exploit the global enthusiasm for real or pseudo 4x4s with a choice of ive or seven seats. Competition includes the trusty Nissan XTrail, slick Land Rover Discovery Sport and well-equipped Hyundai Santa Fe.
THE BIKE
Specialized’s Stumpjumper range runs from £1500 to £5000 – we grabbed one worth £2200 and popped it up on the roof with the help of o icial Honda roobars and bike rack. Essential stu if you’re to understand the CRV’s do-anything, ‘lifestyle’ appeal. ‘Hey, is that a twenty-niiine?’ yelled one guy as he was illing up his Ford Explorer at a fuel station. ‘Where are you going?’ ‘Pikes Peak,’ we replied. ‘Haha! Bust a gut, bust a lung, enjoy!’
THE PLAN
Slide aboard, pop a giant root beer in the cupholder and set the nav to the kind of mountain roads made famous by the opening credits of The Shining. Thrashing up the tortuous Pikes Peak hillclimb route will be a stern test of new CRV’s powertrain and dynamics, while 1000 miles across just a couple of days will give its comfort and reinement time to shine.