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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2008 Honda CR-V

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Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2013 Honda CR-V

Overview

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2008 Honda CR-V Review

By KBB.com Editors

When the Honda CR-V first appeared in 1997, the SUV landscape had a far different look than it does today. Then, the market offered very few compact four-wheel-drive wagon/SUV crosses, and the new Honda was the head of a very small class. These days, rising gas prices have chased many drivers out of their large SUVs and, in the hopes of downsizing, into smaller, more fuel-efficient transportation. As a result, the roads are now becoming thick with crossover utility vehicles, but the third-generation CR-V continues to prove a resilient competitor.

You'll Like This Car If...

Few vehicles do as many things as well as the 2008 Honda CR-V. As practical as a backpack, this benchmark crossover is an easy, one-size-fits-most car choice.

You May Not Like This Car If...

There's little pizzazz in practical. If you chafe in sensible shoes, a compact crossover may not be the right fit for you. If only Honda hadn't dropped the available manual transmission, there might be some sporty salvation.

What's New for 2008

The luxurious EX-L trim gains dual-zone automatic temperature control, premium audio and an eight-way power driver's seat with power lumbar.

Driving the CR-V

Driving Impressions On the road, the 2008 Honda CR-V has a well-integrated feel. The four-cylinder engine is right-sized for daily driving duties and the automatic transmission shifts smoothly. The only interruption to...

the quiet inside the cabin is some noise from the engine in high-demand situations, such as when the transmission kicks down to a lower gear for passing. Beyond that, there's not much road noise and little wind noise, even when the moonroof (standard on EX and EX-L) is open. The CR-V has a cushioned ride that belies its size and handling is stable and predictable. Visibility is good in all directions, even to the rear. The four-wheel-drive system is automatic, requiring no input from the driver, and shifts up to 70 percent of available torque from front to rear wheels as needed for improved traction.

Favorite Features

Refined Ride Quality
A compact car with a big-car ride, the CR-V has a composed feel, easily rolling over rough roads without ruffling the passengers.

Sensible Size, Flexible Floor Plan
Right-sized, real-world dimensions and a highly adaptable interior are two reasons why the CR-V is Honda's biggest seller worldwide.

2008 Honda CR-V Details

Interior

Like its predecessors, the 2008 Honda CR-V's defining feature is a highly flexible floor plan. Split rear seats fold easily and tumble forward. Doing so increases cargo capacity from a generous minimum of 35.7 cubic feet to a maximum of 72.9 cubic feet. Lift-over height in back is low. Second-row seats also recline slightly and the headrests have been redesigned for a visibility-enhancing low profile when not in use. Rear-seat travel is adjustable fore and aft, front seats have enough travel to accommodate taller folks and all trim levels benefit from fold-down, inside armrests. Rear-seat legroom has been reduced by about an inch compared to the previous generation, but six-footers can still fit front and rear simultaneously, though it's a tad tighter in back now. The CR-V's dual-dial dash is an easy read, controls and switchgear are all within arm's reach and simple to operate and inside storage areas abound.

Exterior

The first two generations of the CR-V made their marks by combining exceptional utility with enviable reliability. They were high function, but low fashion. This time around, Honda aims to lay claim to that portion of the new buyers flocking to this segment who are style-conscious. Toward that end, the 2008 Honda CR-V's still-practical package is wrapped in a more fashion-forward design. The side view is dramatically different than past CR-Vs, with an elliptically-shaped greenhouse. Up front are slash-cut headlamps and a laid-back windshield, while the rear benefits from a large window and the removal of the hatch-mounted spare tire.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The 2008 Honda CR-V is offered in three trim levels: LX, EX, and EX-L. Standard across the board is a tire-pressure-monitoring system, 17-inch wheels, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, an MP3/auxilliary audio input jack, speed-sensitive volume control and a "conversation mirror" on the back of the sun visor. LX and EX models have a retractable center tray table between the front seats, while EX-L versions have a fixed, floor-mounted console. Two covered storage containers are included---the larger of which is big enough to hold 24 CDs. EX and EX-L models gain a folding, removable, dual-level shelf in the cargo bay for added storage options, while the EX-L has an eight-way power driver's seat, dual-zone automatic climate control and an upgraded audio system, with 270 watts of power, a six-disc, center console CD changer, seven speakers (including subwoofer) and a digital audio-card reader.

Optional Equipment

Honda's Real Time four-wheel-drive system is available on all trim levels. A GPS navigation system with a large, six-and-a-half-inch screen, voice recognition and rearview camera function is offered on EX-L models.

Under the Hood

The 2008 Honda CR-V has a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 166 horsepower and delivers its 161 pound-feet of torque across a wider power band than previously. The four-cylinder engine is linked exclusively to a five-speed automatic transmission. Dropping the five-speed manual transmission---formerly standard equipment on the CR-V---may be lamented by mileage maximizers, but Honda says that the demand for stick-shift CR-Vs among buyers is low.

2.4-liter in-line 4
166 horsepower @ 5800 rpm
161 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/27 (2WD), 20/26 (4WD)

To compare current market prices, check out KBB.com's car classifieds to view the new and used Honda CR-V vehicles for sale near you.

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2008 Honda CR-V Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.7

Out of 10

Based on 548 Ratings for the 2007 - 2011 models.

Review this car

Value

8.9/10

Quality

8.9/10
Reliability

9.2/10

Performance

8.6/10
Comfort

8.6/10

Styling

8.8/10

Asked what other car I want, I just want this one.

By Lady in Blue (GA) on Monday, July 22, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 71,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 7/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 8/10

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I got this car new and never want it to go away. It is steady as a rock, has nice big side mirrors, convenient controls, and space for garden gear and grands. It is one of the zillions of blue Honda CR-Vs one sees on the road. This is a great car."

1 person out of 1 found this review helpful

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Fun & sporty, yet hauls its share of stuff!

By phungi20 (OH) on Saturday, July 20, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 172,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 7/10
Comfort: 8/10

Pros: "Good cargo space, maneuvers well, comfortable."

Cons: "Needs more power, unimpressive mpg without load."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 8

"If you need a comfortable ride yet need a good amount of cargo space this may be the vehicle for you. On the downside, depending on terrain and load, the engine could use a bit more power. On hills and long upgrades, it needs to downshift to supply the power to maintain highway speed a fair bit of the time, thereby limiting your mpg. It also needs a more imposing horn - it makes sound just fine, but if it sounded more like a semi people might actually behave like it matters that they are about to hit you. Also, the interior fabric stains substantially when you get WATER on it - makes keeping the seats clean an exercise in futility. Oh, and about that mpg - it is just fine on flat highway, but for basically being an Accord with extra cargo space you can hardly get 20 mpg off the highway. At almost $4/gallon, that doesn't help. But, on the upside, except for the aforementioned hills, it is peppy and maneuverable enough to help avoid those drivers who aren't impressed by the horn - it is really a car, after all. The 4-wheel disc brakes make pad changes easy for those comfortable with doing that yourself - no drums to cope with. The back seats fold forward, opening up a cargo space that beats much of the competition - having rented other similar vehicles, I know this first-hand. The space is below the bumper, not level with or raised like some other makes. For those who actually need a sport utility vehicle, this can make all the difference."

1 person out of 1 found this review helpful

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This is my first Honda but it won't be my last.

By Nichhonda (OH) on Saturday, June 29, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 45,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Great vehicle--averaging 28+ mpg after 7 months"

Cons: "Compass and outside temp--Standard on new models"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"This car was a Honda certified vehicle--nicest used car I have ever bought. This CUV is solid, quiet, and was in near showroom condition. This will not be my last Honda--quality is remarkable!"

4 people out of 4 found this review helpful

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Great gas mileage, nice riding

By Amgarcia (MI) on Monday, June 24, 2013

I owned and sold this car
Reason: Lease was up - My approximate mileage is 40,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 8/10

Pros: "Reliable, great gas mileage, great trunk"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"My in town gas mileage average was 26.4 miles a gallon. I only work about 5miles from my job so I wasn't on highway much. The gas mileage for in town driving I thought is excellent. The CR-V is comfortable for road trips, the furthest mine went was about 350 miles Three of us went with no problem. I'd say four is max for passengers. I loved the trunk area. Double shelf was great for shopping. This car handled very well in the snow. I had no problems getting to where I was going all winter. I owned car for three years, the only time it was in the shop was for regular routine maintenance. We did have to put new tires, all four tires, at 36,000 miles. I enjoyed driving the CRV and would recommend to anyone. My mother in law is getting one for herself actually."

3 people out of 3 found this review helpful

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Perfect family car!

By Katie (MI) on Tuesday, May 28, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 54,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 7/10
Comfort: 7/10

Pros: "Great body style, sporty!"

Cons: "Uncomfortable back seat"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I love the CRV! It has great space, nice features, decent gas mileage. I have a dog gate in the back and carry my two bernese mountain dogs with me, along with having the ability to have my son and husband in the car, and two other passengers if I wanted. It does not have a lot of the bells and whistles, but I like that everything is simple and it has what you need for a comfortable ride."

3 people out of 3 found this review helpful

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Love it

By MyHonda (TX) on Sunday, May 26, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 58,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Reliability, comfort, economy, audio"

Cons: "Can't think of any."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"My previous vehicle was a 1993 Honda Accord with 186,000 miles which I bought used at 150,000 miles. Soon after I got it, most features quit working: power windows, windshield washer fluid (kinked line that could not be fixed), interior lights, etc. For almost 5 years I could not go to a drive-thru. Otherwise, a few major repairs at first and then nothing more than regular maintenance until July 2011 when several things went at once. I hated to get a car payment after years without one, but I LOVE THIS CAR. After almost two years, absolutely no repair bills and only regular maintenance."

5 people out of 5 found this review helpful

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See all 548 reviews