2007 Honda Civic CR-V EX-L

Head-turning quotient:
The Hyundai Santa Fe is borderline ugly. The Honda CR-V is strikingly handsome. If looks count for something, the CR-V is worth the extra money.

Body style/layout:
The Honda CR-V is a front-engine, compact wagon/crossover utility vehicle designed primarily for driving on paved and other improved roads. People who want a genuine SUV capable of driving in the rough should shop elsewhere. The CR-V has four doors and a rear lift-gate. It is available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. There are three trim levels--base LX, mid EX, and upscale EX-L.

Engine/transmission:
All Honda CR-V models come with a standard 2.4-liter, 16-valve, in-line, four-cylinder engine that develops 166 horsepower at 5,800 revolutions per minute and 161 foot-pounds of torque at 4,200 rpm. The engine is linked to a five-speed automatic transmission.

Capacities:
There is seating for five in the CR-V. Cargo capacity with the rear seats up is 35.7 cubic feet; with rear seats folded, it's 73 cubic feet. Maximum payload, the weight of what can be safely carried onboard, is 1,127 pounds. The front-wheel-drive CR-V can be equipped to tow a trailer weighing 1,500 pounds. The fuel tank holds 15.3 gallons of recommended regular unleaded gasoline.

Safety:
Standard equipment includes side air bags for front-seat occupants, side curtain air bags with rollover sensor, antilock braking system, electronic stability control, traction control, and rigid body construction.

Price:
Base price of the 2007 Honda CR-V EX-L with front-wheel drive and onboard navigation with voice recognition and rearview camera is $26,800. Dealer's invoice price on that model is $24,914. Price as tested is $27,935, including a destination charge of $595. Dealer's price as tested is $25,509. Prices sourced from Honda and www.edmunds.com.

Purse-strings note:
The Honda CR-V is an excellent wagon/crossover utility vehicle surrounded by very tough competition, including the Ford Escape, Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda CX-7, Pontiac Torrent, Toyota RAV-4 and Saturn Vue. You'd be wise to invest some time in comparison shopping.

Complaints:
The CR-V is an excellent wagon. But Honda needs to reconsider its pricing strategy for this model line. The reason is Hyundai. For example, the comparable front-wheel-drive Hyundai Santa Fe Limited has seating for seven and comes with a 242-horsepower V-6 engine, standard electronic stability control and a base price of $26,145. The front-wheel-drive CR-V EX-L has a smaller engine, seating for five people, and a base price of $26,800. The CR-V is smart. But considering its substantially lower price and substantially better warranty, the Hyundai Santa Fe seems smarter.
Ride, acceleration and handling: The CR-V is excellent in all three categories on the highway and in the city. It moves in and out of traffic easily, safely. It is wonderfully maneuverable on heavily traveled city streets. It inspires confident driving in any environment.