Those rev-hungry Hondaheads over at the Temple of VTEC have persuaded spyshooter Brenda Priddy to part with a couple of images of the 2007 Honda CR-V, giving readers the best look yet at the popular crossover's pending replacement.
The glimpses show a vehicle remarkably similar to that of a rendering we showed you a few days ago. Even more car-like in execution than the outgoing CR-V, the mule in the photos does away with the rear-mounted spare, which will likely improve repair costs in rear-enders, but goes some way toward making the new model look exceedingly hatchback-esque.
[Source: VTEC.net]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
laserwizard @ Jun 7th 2006 8:19PM
Honda is stuffing as much ugliness into one car as any company in recent memory. That front end looks like a design committee couldn't figure out what grill to throw on the vehicle so it used at least three different ones on it.
The new CRV is a station wagon! LOL! Maybe Honda wants to become this century's Rambler! Bwhahahahahah
doug @ Jun 7th 2006 9:33PM
FUGLY! Try again Honda. There are many other good looking small SUVs out there,
C ertainly R epulsive V ehicle ?
Lithous @ Jun 7th 2006 9:48PM
So GM one upped (actually two upped) Honda. The VUE's 2.4L makes for 177 HP and it is a hybrid a year earlier than the CRV. Nice.
chriseh @ Jun 7th 2006 9:55PM
So those previous China spyshot releases of upcoming Honda products are true! This new Honda has that same snout shown in those spyshots, and I thought only China car designers would have come up with such an ugly beast. Looks like the Honda CRV just got hit with the ugly stick.
Alex @ Jun 7th 2006 10:05PM
Oh please, american cars are known for "ugly", has anyone seen an aveo...just the name makes me sick, yes this crv looks bad but its just one, I can make a list of ugly american cars but that would be a waist of time, all i would have to do is walk to a chevy dealership and write down all the names. P.S. I
laserwizard @ Jun 7th 2006 10:27PM
Honda is stuffing as much ugliness into one car as any company in recent memory. That front end looks like a design committee couldn't figure out what grill to throw on the vehicle so it used at least three different ones on it.
The new CRV is a station wagon! LOL! Maybe Honda wants to become this century's Rambler! Bwhahahahahah
Jake T. @ Jun 7th 2006 11:18PM
Awesome SUV, awesome looks, should be awesome price, awesome honda! Blows the door off of all the other SUVs out there. I know the technology in this vehicle is going to be tops, now can you dig that you low paying country boys.
Robert @ Jun 8th 2006 12:30AM
"So GM one upped (actually two upped) Honda. The VUE's 2.4L makes for 177 HP and it is a hybrid a year earlier than the CRV. Nice."
And do you know what company makes the VUE's V6?
Clue: It's also in the Pilot
naugahyde @ Jun 8th 2006 2:08AM
Darn, for a second there I thought it said, "2007 CR-X"
(puts checkbook back in drawer...."
PJ @ Jun 8th 2006 3:55AM
Puh-leeze, you guys, you can see hardly any of this vehicle under all of its black-and-white plastic wrap. Anyone care to comment on the specific styling cues you find distasteful? 'Cause, you know, you can't really see any.
I'm not saying that the new CR-V *won't* necessarily be ugly. But the comments above mostly amount to the knee-jerk domestic/import fanboyism I've grown so accustomed to here on Autoblog.
I personally don't find it problematic that Honda's ditched the trunk-mounted spare tire. CR-Vs (and most compact sport-utes) aren't off-roaders to begin with, so macho styling pretense means nothing to me in this class. In real-world use, a trunk-mounted spare means a heavy tailgate and reduced rear visibility (if it cuts into the window line).
170 HP isn't much in a vehicle of this size and weight, so this CR-V is likely to remain pokier than many of its rivals. I'd be surprised if Honda didn't consider a V6 option, as Toyota did in the new RAV4. But keep in mind, Hondas are typically lighter than their domestic rivals, which helps narrow the performance gap some.
There's something to be said for tough looks when you want to attract a certain audience. But most SUVs are looking (and driving, and being used) more and more like cars, especially the compact ones. So this styling trend seems a logical enough progression to me.
Wins @ Jun 8th 2006 4:40AM
Nice :) Try again Honda!
Lithous @ Jun 8th 2006 7:30AM
"And do you know what company makes the VUE's V6?"
Give me a break. Any body who knows anything about cars knows the answer. But what does that have to do with the 4 CYLINDER? Or the 4 CYLINDER hybrid?
Cameron @ Jun 8th 2006 8:37AM
I think it looks a bit like a minivan. It doesn't necessarily look bad, but nothing extraordinary. Then again, I hate SUVs/Crossovers, anyway.
MikeW @ Jun 8th 2006 9:20AM
To bad GM styfiled the VUE with a 4 SPEED AUTOMATIC.
Even the element (last in honda's pecking order) will get the 5 speed auto for m.y. 2007, the CR-V has had it since m.y. 2005.
MikeW @ Jun 8th 2006 9:26AM
To bad GM stifled the VUE with a 4 SPEED AUTOMATIC. Even the Element (last in honda's pecking order) will get the 5 speed auto for m.y. 2007, the CR-V has had it since m.y. 2005.
fuscob @ Jun 8th 2006 9:58AM
Okay, Lithous, do you know where some of the FOUR CYLINDER engines (the same one as the gas component of the FOUR CYLINDER HYBRID) used in the Vue (2.2L) and other GM vehicles are made? Germany.
The V6 engine (SIX CYLINDER), you ask? That would be a Honda unit, made in OHIO.
Drewboy @ Jun 8th 2006 10:34AM
Well at least I now know what NOT to get! I have a black 2003 CR-V EX, and it gets the job done. I hate how it handles though, and while the AWD system can be nice at times, it tends to make torque steer seem small. When the AWD system activates in a corner, be ready to fight the wheel! In all seriousness, when the income picks up I'll be looking at the RDX, RAV-4 V-6, or one of Subies XT models.
SteveW @ Jun 8th 2006 3:37PM
WOW! Soooo very similar to the new Acura RDX. That front end is nearly identical.
JarryHames @ Jun 8th 2006 4:35PM
You people are nut jobs or too old to drive a CR-V or lives on another planet. There is only so much that you can tell from the photos. We also know that the CR-V has never been sold as a sexy vehicle. We also know that most Americans prefer "bland" over "radical" anyway. Think Nissan's Quest or their constantly fighting over the upcoming Sentra. The CR-V has always been a leader in its class, including sales. Soccer moms could care less about having the most sexiest compact SUV in the pick-up line at school.
Lithous @ Jun 8th 2006 9:34PM
"Okay, Lithous, do you know where some of the FOUR CYLINDER engines (the same one as the gas component of the FOUR CYLINDER HYBRID) used in the Vue (2.2L) and other GM vehicles are made? Germany."
Yes, most design was done by GM Europe but they are made in New York. Since GM has owned Opel since 1929 (IIRC) AND at least 50% of Saab since 1990 (the two main ecotec players) THEN MY STATEMENT IS STILL AS VALID AS EVER - GM (whether it is GM Europe design and GM U.S. assembly) two upped Honda. Have a nice day.
"The V6 engine (SIX CYLINDER), you ask? That would be a Honda unit, made in OHIO."
Maybe or maybe not. Go look at the sticker of the V6 VUE. Transmission: Japan Engine: Japan. The trade (i.e. the reason) GM uses Honda engines is because of another GM interest made diesels Honda was interested in or was it so Acura could use OnStar, I forget.
"To bad GM stifled the VUE with a 4 SPEED AUTOMATIC. Even the Element (last in honda's pecking order) will get the 5 speed auto for m.y. 2007, the CR-V has had it since m.y. 2005"
More is automatically (pun?) better? GM makes some of the best automatics in the world and Honda makes some 5 speeds which need extra warranties (i.e. Oddysey). Sure is nice of Honda to up the warranty of their known bad transmissions. I guess somehow the warranty will make the owners feel better when they are on the side of the road. Honda won't fix the bad transmission completely just add an extra warranty.
You see, Honda made so few vehicles compared to GM for so long that now you see when GM and Ford didn't fix a known bad part, just made the warranty longer and then the owner is out of luck, it was because of the number of vehicles they would have to replace. Now that Honda has made millions of these things it would be too costly to just fix everyones transmission to make it right without a break down. Most of you have no clue about the NUMBERS GM and Ford were dealing with and why it was easy for Toyota and Honda in the past to have less recalls and fix known problems, etc. But your bias leaves you blind.