2008 Honda CR-V 2.4 4WD - USED CAR REVIEW

The Honda CR-V is very much well known as Honda’s first crossover SUV. It was the company’s answer to the Toyota RAV4 which was the first ever compact crossover SUV, revealed just a year or two before the CR-V.

Today, both the RAV4 and CR-V continue to dominate crossover sales worldwide. The CR-V is now in its fifth generation with a diesel engine and 7 seats. What about what’s currently the middle child of the CR-V family? How does the 3rd-gen stack-up today in the used car market? Let’s find out.

Exterior

When the third generation CR-V first came out in 2007 it was a game changer for Honda. Gone were the slightly bug-eyed looks of the previous generation. The 3rd-gen was futuristic. This was obvious thanks to the split upper and lower grilles. This was also the first time the CR-V didn’t come with a rear tailgate-mounted spare tire.

Over the years, this CR-V has aged very well. It still looks new today as long as it’s maintained well. The HID headlights on this 2.4 4WD variant, and the chrome on the lower grille help in that. At the back, the CR-V’s signature Volvo-like vertical taillights still look good.

The pearl white mica exterior color on this one also looks great. The 17-inch alloy wheels also fill the wheel wells very well.

Interior

The interior of the 3rd-gen Honda CR-V, specifically the dashboard, was not something that you’d say “WOW!” It is however very practical and does not look as old as it actually is.

Once you get in, you’ll be greeted by nice beige leather seats and other beige accents. As with every other Honda interior, everything is laid-out in a well thought-of manner. Materials, despite being all hard-plastics, are all of high build quality. There are no creaking sounds even with this example’s 200,000+ kilometer odometer reading.

The seats are all comfortable whether in front or in the back. The front seats in particular are similar to those in the FD Honda Civic (2006-2012). The inclusion of adjustable armrests for both front passengers is a very nice touch.

What makes this interior show its age is definitely the lack of a touchscreen infotainment system. That isn’t bad though since some people will actually prefer using actual buttons than a touchscreen.

It is also worth noting that the rear doors on the CR-V open at a 90-degree angle making getting in and out very easy.

Storage

Being a CR-V, storage is a very strong point. Inside the cabin, you can find a total of 8 cupholders, or 4 on each row. This CR-V also gets an upper storage compartment above the glove compartment, a shelf underneath the shifter, two storage compartments in the center console, large door pockets, seatback pockets behind both front seats.

The cargo area of the CR-V is by no means small. We don’t have the exact size but you’ll be able to easily fit two large pieces of luggage, and maybe a lot more small or medium sized ones all at the same time. What this generation CR-V has that the others don’t is the hard shelf which helps a lot in organizing cargo. That makes it easier to load more and more stuff in here. It’s too bad that Honda got rid of the feature.

Technology and Safety

The Honda CR-V back in 2008 was basically a car that would take you from point A to point B. The soundsystem this one is equipped with is just a regular Honda soundsystem. Sound is sent through 6 speakers and quality is average.

Other features that can be considered tech features are the auxiliary port, power folding mirrors, and rear parking sensors. Given how old this car is, that isn’t a surprise at all.

Safety features on this CR-V includes dual front airbags, side curtain airbags, ABS with EBD, and electronic stability control.

Engine

The 3rd-gen Honda CR-V was available with a choice of two engines, a 2.0L and 2.4L. This one gets the 2.4-liter DOHC Inline-4 i-VTEC engine with 168 horsepower and 220 Newton-meters of torque. This was paired to a 5-speed automatic transmission and power is sent to all four wheels.

Driving, and Comfort

Driving the CR-V is a pleasant and comfortable experience. While performance isn’t amazing, it was adequate for both city and highway use. Steering is not too light which in my opinion is better as you can feel the road more. Ride quality is also good. You may feel some of the bigger bumps from time to time but the suspension pretty much absorbs most of the roughness on the road. Acceleration is good for driving in the city.

At highway speeds the CR-V still performs well. There is enough power for when you need it for overtaking. The engine also sounds great with Honda’s famous VTEC kick at around 5,000 RPM. Road noise is a problem in the CR-V though especially at speeds of around 80 kph and higher.

The first and second generations of the CR-V were not exactly known for good fuel economy. The 3rd-gen does make some changes. In the city, you can easily average around 7-8 km/l. On the highway I was able go reach 13.4 km/l with an average speed of 80-90 kph. At an average of 100-110 kph, I got around 11-12 km/l.

Conclusion

Despite being almost 12 years old, the 2008 Honda CR-V proves to still be a comfortable city and highway car. Reliability is also not a problem because it’s a Honda. With over 210,000 kilometers driven, it shows that you don’t need to always get a new car precisely for the reason that your old car is reliable and comfortable. It also doesn’t break the bank.