Shady Shots: 2007 Honda CR-V
These lo-rez shots of the new, 2007 Honda CR-V came floating across the web last night and, although their origin is a mystery, it doesn't take much imagination to see these images splattered across a brochure at your local dealership.
This newest CR-V shares a platform with its up-market sibling the Acura RDX and many of the styling cues are reminiscent of their mutual lineage. Although we've already shown you an uncamouflaged spy shot and our commenters have passed judgment on the CR-V's newly developed dental problems, a few other design cues are of note. The floor-to-ceiling taillights are an obvious carryover from previous generations, with a little Volvo wagon thrown in for good measure. The steeply descending rear-side window may be an attempt at smooth styling, but the resulting pillar will require serious body contortions to check the blind spot. The chrome surrounds, although a nice touch, seem to add a level of flash that just doesn't seem to fit a mild-mannered cute 'ute.
The interior, in true Honda fashion, is an homage to functionality and bears a similarity to the new Civic's dash and instruments, sans the top mounted speedo. Thankfully, and in no small part to customer complaints, the transmission selector has been moved from its odd dashboard mounting to a more traditional home below the air and radio controls.
We'll hold off on making further judgments until the 'official' shots are released and if Honda decides to drop off a CR-V in the Autoblog Garage, we'd gladly take it for a spin.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
dejal 7:13AM (8/21/2006)
Why was the transmission selector odd? It was just fine for a auto. Stick it in gear and leave it there.
Why take up room on the console/floor for it. Having a manual on the column is odd.
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Travis Bickle 7:14AM (8/21/2006)
Unlike Snakes on a Plane that was all hype and no snake bite at the BO, I think this CRV will be a huge hit for Honda.
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Jason 7:35AM (8/21/2006)
The rear quarter screams Buick Rendezvous to me.
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electro^plankton 7:45AM (8/21/2006)
Damn, how big is it? It looks almost RX size from the exterior shots.
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J. Ray 7:56AM (8/21/2006)
it seems to be morphing into a sedan
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Josh 7:57AM (8/21/2006)
Overall I think the 2007 CR-V is a winning design. I think it lost some of it's SUV-ish, or Cute-Ute look on purpose. Public perception of a utility vehicle is poor gas mileage. Honda softened the lines and made it appear more sleek.
Now, things that could change... that grille/front bumper looks goofy. It's as if the vehicle has an under-bite. Oh, and the rear-quarter with that circular window is odd, it could have been better. However, if I were in the market for one of these the CR-V would be near the top of my list.
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Steve C. 8:02AM (8/21/2006)
Honda is never a leader in styling or functional design, and never designs a vehicle that looks out of place when put alongside competitors.
Said a different way, this looks like a Honda and will no doubt sell like a Honda.
As for the transmission selector, it's an exact duplicate of the Element's selector -- size, shape and location. Nothing new, but something that Honda believes works.
The tough question for buyers about which "small" SUV to buy is getting tougher.
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Jay 8:10AM (8/21/2006)
thanks for this information
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sk 8:38AM (8/21/2006)
I think it looks like the new Opel Antara/Saturn Vue 08 with Volvo XC90 rear lights.
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DJ 8:59AM (8/21/2006)
I think they have done an exceptional job moving it slightly upmarket, especially the interior. Now they can slide a small Fit based Ute in below it and have strong lineup from top to bottom.
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Richard Warren 9:07AM (8/21/2006)
Hmmm, not too bad and I'm not a big Honda fan.
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Todd 9:10AM (8/21/2006)
Dear Honda,
I'll overlook the front grill if you offer a turbo diesel engine option. That would be a great replacement for my wife's Golf tdi in a few years.
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Mike Homeniuk 9:28AM (8/21/2006)
Does this thing float? Looks like one of those weird amphi-cars from the front!
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laserwizard 9:38AM (8/21/2006)
Honda just released its first Cat Litter box. No longer rectangular, it looks like a swimming pool and will no doubt sell because it is a Honda. Just be careful not to swim in this lest you mistake the floaters for a candybar.
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GW 9:39AM (8/21/2006)
I'm a current owner of a CR-V, like it allot...With that said, when is a car company going to stop making a "compact" SUV bigger, hello....Gas prices....over $3 a gallon.... BTW, not interested in an SUV that looks like a bubble, if I wanted a bubble, I'd buy a car.
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JB 9:55AM (8/21/2006)
That thing is just bizarre. What is with the grille area? Scary. Did one guy work on the top and the other the bottom, and they ran out of time? Maybe it will look OK in black.
I hate the stupid rear quarter window. You could lose an FJ Cruiser in that blind spot. Why not square it off? It is safer, and makes more sense from the inside. This looks like styling overdone. Great Volvo taillights, but they stole that for the first one, so may as well keep on stealing.
I think Honda has jumped the shark on styling. I like the current CRV, this one should just have been an enlarged current model, with some tweaks. Not all change is good.
Yuck - the front reminds me of the Isuzu Axiom.
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blah 10:01AM (8/21/2006)
look like cr-v are moving up market a little. leather didn't come in until after mid-market refreshment with SE trim level on last two models. Given civic is making it's way up for fit to fit in their model range (pun intended) maybe they're gonna bring in something like the HRV or a small mpv.
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SPIVY 10:14AM (8/21/2006)
It looks too much like the Volvo XC90 to me. It will mostlikely sell, but it is not siting right with me.
E
http://www.brandpremium.com
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PuffyC 10:47AM (8/21/2006)
Another bland, forgettable, generic Kar(tm) from Honda. But hey, that's what everyone wants, right?
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JarryHames 10:52AM (8/21/2006)
I no longer looks like a CRV. I think that thats a good thing. They were never that pretty in the past. This upcoming model is really nice. I'm sure that everyone will get use to the overbite and Volvo butt. The first generation CRV and RAV4 were ungly and they did quite well for Honda and Toyota. I do not think that they will have a problem in selling this car. The Honda Pilot is beyond boring and it's one of the best sellers in its class. So the oddness of this one should not be a problem.
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