I recently took our new long-term-test vehicle, the 2007 Honda CR-V, fresh from the deep gallows of the Motor Trend garage, on its first long-distance road trip through monsoon rainstorms, heavy winds, scorching heat, and twisty mountain roads to Phoenix, Arizona, and back once again.
After our newest Honda had wrapped up a long week's worth of testing in the San Bernardino Mountains, it was my turn to take the SUV home for the weekend. I headed north on Highway 18 to take scenic roads home through the mountains, with the on-board nav having me travel through the town of Running Springs, California. My first stop was at a local hardware store called the ?Rust Hammer? to say hi to family that I haven't seen in years with a surprise visit -- and, boy, were they happy to see me. I stayed a while but had to get going as the sun started to set. I was beat after a long day and just wanted to reach my destination.
My travels started out the next day with a light sprinkle of rain from sunny blue skies. I headed south down Highway 15, making good time. Unfortunately, when I merged onto the 10 East, I became stuck in stop-and-go traffic and now was faced with heavy rain as I sat there and watched the taillights of the vehicle in front of me barely inching forward. After only traveling 45 miles in over an hour, I finally reached the problem: The wet roads had caused a big rig to jackknife. Once I passed the mess, the highway opened back up and the drizzle seemed to fade a way.
I started making good time again and still had over two thirds of a tank full. I'd started this trip with a mere 1916 miles on the odometer, and when I reached the town of Blythe (on the border of California and Arizona), I'd racked up an additional 307 miles. I hit the 2k mark with a quarter tank of gas to spare as I made my first pit stop along the way. That's a huge plus in my book, and this CUV has got the right stuff.
As night began to fall and heavy clouds appeared in the distance, I knew more rain was coming. Giant flashes of white light in the sky became this evening's drive-by entertainment. As I fettled with the radio controls, I realized the vehicle's previous driver had left a CD in the six-disc changer in the center consol. The raspy jazzy sounds of Amy Winehouse soon filled the cabin. As I laughed at her modern takes on relationships and love ideas, the sky grew darker and the rain started to fall.
Suddenly, the highway became a sea of brake lights covered in a blanket of rain. I was stopped in traffic again, but this time in the middle of nowhere. I started to inch along with the traffic as the rain came hard and sideways, pushing sand and tumbleweeds toward the CR-V -- though I remained safe in the comfy heated seats and enjoyed the tapping of rain on the roof of the CR-V, which grooved along nicely with the jazzy bass playing from the radio. Then, as fast as the rain came, it disappeared, leaving the CR-V wet and dirty, but at least I was moving again.
I didn't reach my destination until late in the evening with over 2400 miles on the odometer. The nav had gotten me most the way, but failed to locate the street address. This is the second time a nav system has given me the wrong directions to the same destination. I don't think it's the nav's fault, however, rather the result of a last-minute change of plans from the city when it developed a new housing track in the area. But for what it's worth, the nav on the CR-V is easy to use and informative. It also lets the driver change the background and colors to his personal preference.
My favorite interior feature of the CR-V is the rear hatch cargo divider, by the way. Most SUVs come with a retractable vinyl cover that only functions to cover any cargo you have. The CR-V has a midway cover that's hard plastic and folds up to create a hide-away or to create a second level to put more cargo on. This idea is great for trips to the grocery store, as it eliminates the piling of bags. You can fill up the lower level, shut the cover, and add a second level of bags without wondering if the bread or eggs are being smashed.
As for the rest of my trip, the weather remained seamless. The CR-V withstood rain, wind, sand, the Arizona heat and the mountain roads with plenty of power and nice AWD handling. This is a great 'ute for the family on the go with plenty of room for people and cargo.