Unsung Hero: Honda CR-V

Fuel-efficiency is top of mind for all drivers these days.  Choosing a fuel-efficient vehicle, however, is not a one-size-fits-all solution.

Our colleague The D is a case in point. An avid recycler and generally green guy, he is also a soccer parent who needs to haul kids and gear. With The D in mind, our Unsung Hero of Fuel Efficiency for today is the Honda CR-V, an SUV whose gas mileage stands out in its vehicle class. Couple its fuel-sipping nature with its unceasing Honda quality and there you have it: a hero, unsung and definitely worth singing about.  We stopped at Checkered Flag Honda yesterday to learn more about the CR-V and sales consultant J.R. Staton, pictured here with the vehicle, gave us the scoop.

A signature of the Honda CR-V is the ease in opening its tailgate. You can swing it up with just a nudge of your fingertips. The CR-V comes in three trim levels: LX, EX, and EX-L. The EX and EX-L have a dual-deck cargo shelf that provides storage flexibility and keeps stuff covered. Other storage features include an overhead compartment for stowing things such as sunglasses and dual glove compartments.

The CR-V can seat five people and there are a lot of ways to configure the seats. When the rear seats are folded forward, there is more than 72 cubic feet of cargo space.

Safety features are abundant. Dual-stage, dual threshold front airbags, front side airbags, and side curtain airbags are standard on all models. The passenger-side front airbag has what is called the Occupant Position Detection System to keep it from going off if a small person is sitting there.

As to the gas mileage? The Honda CR-V has an in-line four-cylinder engine.  It gets 27 miles to the gallon highway and 20 in the city. It goes 405 highway miles on a tank of gas (the tank is 15 gallons) and it takes regular gas. (FYI: These numbers are for the two-wheel-drive CRV. It also comes in four-wheel drive and the numbers are almost the same: 26 miles per gallon highway and 20 miles per gallon city.)

Color choices inside and out are a range of hues and textures. There are nine exterior colors, from Taffeta White to Tango Red Pearl and Nighthawk Black Pearl. The interorior comes six cloth and three leather colors.

The Honda CR-V starts at about $22,000. The car-evaluation web site Edmunds.com says this about the vehicle: "The list of merits is a long one. Its interior is intelligently thought out and boasts high-quality materials. Its ride is comfortable and quiet, its handling is nimble and its crash test scores are superlative." Of course, the best opinion is your own, so take a moment to check out this Unsung Hero by stopping in at Checkered Flag Honda, 6541 East Virginia Beach Blvd., Norfolk or call Checkered Flag at (757) 490-1111.