Earlier this year the Honda CR-V received a facelift with some very minor revisions to its bodywork but at the same time it was fitted with an evolution of Honda's turbodiesel with, for the first time, an automatic gearbox coupled to it.
There was also some work done to the fascia involving the radio's ease of use and some improvements were made to interior insulation but it's the diesel and auto box combo that's important here.
It's a very uncomplicated five-speed with an old-school torque converter as used in automatics of decades gone by.
There are no manual shift features or flappy paddles behind the wheel and I applaud Honda for it because in a car like this they'd be a waste of time and money; the average SUV buyer isn't fussed with the ability to choose a gear manually. There's a "P" for park, an "R"' for reverse and a "D" for drive. Finished and klaar.
Honda has, however, included a little button on the gear shifter for overdrive in third gear. Almost unnoticeable, but quite handy in those compromising overtaking situations we all know.
Hold the button in and the transmission will hang on to third for a few more seconds before hooking fourth, allowing you to slip back into your lane before that oncoming truck-driver starts to panic.
The updated 2.2-litre i-DTEC makes 7kW and 30Nm more than it did when it debuted in the CR-V midway through 2007. It's not an explosive motor by any means, especially mated to a five-speed auto, but the torque outputs pull the package along nicely. The diesel sounds and feels refined, considering Honda's relative lack of experience in this department.
Remember, it's the same engine powering the diesel Accord that's impressed us so much and rivals top dogs such as BMW's 320d. As a whole the CR-V exudes a sense of high quality inside and out. - INL Motoring