Filed under: SUVs, Plants/Manufacturing, Crossovers/CUVs, Honda
Honda to double North American production of the CR-V
Recently, Honda has had issues with keeping supply and demand in check with its newest products. Waiting lists for everything from the Civic Si to the Honda Fit have become bones of contention with consumers, and the recently redesigned Honda CR-V was among them earlier this year. Sales of Honda's cute 'ute have been on an upwards trajectory during 2007, with over 167,000 units sold thus far -- a 44-percent jump over the previous year. Analysts contend that buyers who used to flock to the Ford Explorer are now looking at smaller, more fuel-efficient offerings, bolstering sales of the CR-V along with Toyota's RAV4.
Honda is constantly trying to keep a balance between imported and domestically made products, so it's considering doubling the North American production of the CR-V. The move would come at a perfect time, as CR-V sales have officially eclipsed sales of the Explorer, the U.S.'s best selling SUV for 14 years.
[Source: Detroit News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
the marais 5:16PM (10/09/2007)
Can potential CR-V drivers be persuaded to purchase a Saturn Vue instead?
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VK 5:31PM (10/09/2007)
Yes please that would be a very nice idea. there are already too many CR-Vs on the road. Even if it wasnt completely hidious i'd already be sick of it.
fireblade 5:32PM (10/09/2007)
Why? The honda is a better built cuv with better
reliability.
JMa 5:28PM (10/09/2007)
GM mechanicals + Kia looks < CRV
AlexP 5:29PM (10/09/2007)
When we stop hearing stories of domestic vehicles shitting themselves, then yes.
AlexP 5:32PM (10/09/2007)
(in other words: public perception is the issue here, while the Vue is clearly a superior product (okay, this is quite arguable, but the CR-V is rather weak and overrated), I've only seen one here and seen plenty of new CR-Vs... I've even seen a new Accord Sunday)
BILL 6:56PM (10/09/2007)
No.
Ducky 12:45AM (10/10/2007)
No.... if you're a soccer mom and you sit in the CR-V, it's pretty much everything you want, it's a great price for what you're getting (and for those arguing about the V6 in the RAV4, keep in mind it costs "extra"). As for the Saturn... maybe in a couple of generations, but not right now.
DesiAuto 5:30PM (10/09/2007)
Is Saturn Vue better than CR-V? Customers will answer that question with their check books.
Image, styling, MPG, quality, everything matters.
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AlexP 5:34PM (10/09/2007)
They won't visit Saturn dealerships if that dealership provides customers (reputation - something marketing can hardly fix) with sub par service and if they've had a bad overall experience with domestic products.
Laughing at you 5:46PM (10/09/2007)
The CRV is a great product and all those that say it is weak have never driven one and simply go by the cylinder numbers and hp numbers on paper.
The CRV 4 cylinder with the quick shifting 5 speed auto feels more powerful than the 4 banger of RAV4, the 4 banger of Escape and the heavy VUE.
Anyways, according to Edmunds 88% of RAV4 are sold with the 4 cyl. Just like how 60% of mustangs are V6 but we always talk about the top end models on blogs.
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AlexP 5:51PM (10/09/2007)
I'm going by Edmunds' review of the segment to say this, as I'd never personally buy an SUV/CUV.
Fat Bastard 6:40PM (10/09/2007)
Honda does it research on it's buyers. Autobloggers do their research on themselves and what only they think. Honda is a bit smarter than many of the anti jap, full of themselves, "I" know more about cars than you cuz I post online autoblog posters.
Honda makes cars that that many people want. They just don't make cars that many autobloggers want and there lies the problem with the posters on here.
MikeW 8:31PM (10/09/2007)
It is the best of a crappy segment.
Toyota should have made the RAV4 4x2 a 2.5 liter V6 & 6 speed automatic, and the 4x4 the 3.0V6 & 6 speed auto.
Nope a 2.4 & 4 speed auto or the 3.5V6 and 5 speed auto.
Ford really hasn't done much to the escape, still a 4 speed auto.
and the VUE, somebody needs to send this to Jenny Craig. Even if GM offered the 6t40 with the 2.4 it would still be slow. This is why GM has the 3.5V6 & 6t70, leave the 2.4 & 4t45 for fleet duty.
Honda still has a useless transmission interface. P R N D5 (Button for D3) 2 1. It should be: D5 (1-5) I (2-4) L(5-1) (with the button on the selector that locks out top gear when in D5, locks out 4th in I, and starts in 2nd in L)
The Nissan Rogue is a viable alternative. It doesn't have dual beam headlights.
Vivek 5:49PM (10/09/2007)
I get the appeal of the Accord and Civic. I just can't understand the logic between the numbers for the CR-V? 99% of those sold are the one with those hideous rims that a construction worker's truck would be ashamed of. i drive one and even the interior (W/O navigation) is very subpar for a Honda.
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Stephen Lang 6:13PM (10/09/2007)
I think it looks okay, seems to be a solid car overall, and gets 24/30 MPG. That's pretty good for crossover wagon (even if pretty small.)
The base Vue (which is decent looking as well, actually same cutesy look as the CR-V) gets 19/26 with similar HP and probably similar acceleration.
These are all utility vehicles anyway, so I'd probably go with the better gas mileage.
Brad West 5:54PM (10/09/2007)
I agree: the CR-V is no looker.
But, as some one who is in the market for a compact CUV, I now understand why Honda is selling these things faster than they can make them. It has a boatload of cargo room, a very nice interior, and a very reasonable sticker price.
And unlike the Vue, the CX-7, the RDX, and so many others in this segment, it actually gets decent mileage.
Nobody else, save for Toyota with the RAV-4, is "gets" this segment better than Honda.
I wish it weren't so hideous and so popular, because we'll likely be buying one in a month or two. If we can find one.
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slik06 6:13PM (10/09/2007)
I found it interesting that the CRV is assembled in Japan.
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danno 6:25PM (10/09/2007)
I'm in the market for a small, RELIABLE, and quality vehicle with all wheel drive as i live in and work in a ski area. My current choice is between the crv, rav4 and the forester. The big 3 offers nothing even close to the competition in terms of reliability, quality or resale value. The forester has the best awd system, which might make it the overall decision maker, but i'd be more than happy with any of the three. The Vue isnt even in the running.
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AlexP 6:33PM (10/09/2007)
You're saying that new GM vehicles are unreliable?
Perception =! reality, fix yourself.