Honda CR-V Wins Top J.D. Power Ranking

J.D. Power and Associates Ranks Honda CR-V and Ridgeline Highest in Segments in Initial Quality Study

Honda’s CR-V, the top-selling CUV in the U.S., and the Honda Ridgeline pickup ranked highest in their respective segments in the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Initial Quality Study℠ (IQS). Honda's East Liberty, Ohio manufacturing facility, which assembles the Honda CR-V, also received a coveted Gold Plant award, ranking it as the top factory in the Americas.

IQS serves as the industry benchmark for new-vehicle quality measured at 90 days of ownership and captures problems experienced by owners in two distinct categories - quality of design and quality of production (defects and malfunctions). The study ranked nameplates and vehicles based on survey reports of Problems Per Hundred (PP100 studied). Honda vehicles averaged only 99 PP100, an improvement of 11 PP100 over 2008. The Honda CR-V ranked highest in the Compact Multi Activity Vehicle segment for the third consecutive year, with an IQS rating of 93 PP100, and the Honda Ridgeline truck ranked highest in the Midsize Pickup segment, with an IQS rating of 81 PP100.

Honda CR-V Delivers Refined and Stylish Approach to Entry-SUV Segment

The Honda CR-V is designed to deliver an ideal balance of style, functionality and features in a versatile and accommodating 5-passenger crossover SUV package.

Three distinct trim levels (LX, EX and EX-L) provide unique styling cues and features to suit customer seeking everything from basic function to premium appointments - yet all come equipped with the same high level of safety equipment. The 2009 CR-V achieves the highest five-star crash safety rating by the federal government for both frontal and side impacts1 , the highest rating possible. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rates the CR-V as a "Top Safety Pick - 2008."

"The right balance of style, refinement and performance is helping the Honda CR-V earn a top spot in the SUV sales charts," says Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Upscale styling, a spacious interior and sedan-like handling appeal to shoppers looking for a crossover sport utility vehicle."

Emphasis on safety
The CR-V highlights the company's ongoing emphasis on safety by implementing features that go beyond conventional industry standards with innovations that include the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, a pedestrian safety design and standard Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®), also known as electronic stability control. Additional standard safety equipment includes side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor; front side airbags with a passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); active front seat head restraints; VSA; an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist; and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Quiet cabin and smooth, agile performance
A highly rigid body and fully independent suspension result in a quiet cabin and smooth, agile handling performance. The 2.4-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine and standard 5-speed automatic transmission provide an excellent balance of power (166-horsepower) and fuel economy (EPA-rated 20/27 city/highway mpg2 , 2WD).

The CR-V's unit-body construction features extensive use of high-strength steel to provide rigidity. Comprised of a front MacPherson strut layout and a rear multi-link suspension, the high-rigidity body and independent suspension offer an engaging driving experience rare for this class of vehicle. State-of-the art noise absorption materials help to reduce engine and road noise for an ultra-quiet cabin.

The inside of the CR-V blends ergonomics and innovative storage integration with modern and efficient styling. Abundant standard and available features like a Honda Satellite-linked Navigation System3 with voice recognition and a rear view camera accentuate the attention to premium details. A retractable center tray table on LX and EX models and a center console with storage on EX-L provide two beverage holders, and EX and above models also contain an additional 12-volt power outlet and house the auxiliary audio input jack.

Sat-Nav
The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System3 with voice recognition and rearview camera, available on the CR-V EX-L, features a 6.5-inch motorized display that opens and closes for access to an internal single-disc CD player and a digital audio card reader that can play MP3 and WMA® files from CompactFlash® cards. The navigation system contains more than 7 million points of interest and can control the audio system. The voice recognition is capable of recognizing and entering numbers, street names and cities.

166 hp, responsive performance, fuel economy
Powered by a 2.4-liter, DOHC, i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine that produces 166 horsepower at 5800 rpm and 161 lb-ft. of torque at 4200 rpm, the CR-V offers refined and responsive performance with good fuel economy* and low emissions (ULEV-2). The Drive-by-Wire (DBW) throttle control works closely with the transmission for extremely smooth shift points and intuitive gear holding on hilly roads. A 5-speed automatic transmission is standard.

Fully-automatic Real Time 4WD available
The available, fully-automatic Real Time 4WD system enhances the CR-V's all-weather capabilities when driving in rain, snow and dirt roads - without the significant weight, fuel economy and handling performance drawbacks of a conventional four-wheel-drive system.

*Based on 2009 EPA mileage estimates, reflecting new EPA fuel economy methods beginning with 2008 models. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.