2003 Honda CR-V

Submitted on 5/4/2011 2:52:27 AM

Ok, but...

Pros: the quickness

Cons: the car itself

Should get better mileage. 4wheel dr. twists and jolts on snow and ice. Somewhat uncomfortable on long drives. Quick response and good visibility.

• Recommend this vehicle to a friend? Yes
• How long have you owned this vehicle? 5 years

2003 Honda CR-V

Submitted on 5/6/2010 4:28:20 PM

Good car

Pros: 6 disc cd player

Cons: Spare on back a little hard to unlatch and clean

Good vehicle, wheel base is short, turns on dime, but makes it a little unstable at highway speeds - especially in cross winds. Ride suffers due to short wheel base.

• Recommend this vehicle to a friend? Yes
• How long have you owned this vehicle? 5 years

2003 Honda CR-V - EX (M5) 4x4

Submitted on 5/21/2007 10:16:50 AM

Pros: Style & Honda Reliability; All Time Four Wheel Drive

Cons: Needs more insulation to block out road noise; Seats are not comfortable on a long trip

Advice: Test drive the CR-V before you buy it. Drive it over various terrain.

CR-V rides like you're sitting inside a tin can. Lots of road noise and seats are not comfortable on a long trip.

2003 Honda CR-V - EX (A4) 4x4

Submitted on 1/19/2004 10:48:13 AM

Pros: Reliability, handling, style.

Cons: When seats are folded down, can't get my large dog in the back using side door.

Advice: Test drive it and keep in mind what you need in a new vehicle, then shop around.

It was love at first drive! I already loved its sexy looks, but the CRV also handles like a dream in snow and ice. This was the first time I owned a vehicle that was not a V-8 and I was very surprised at how little it mattered. I love my new CRV!

2003 Honda CR-V - EX (M5) 4x4

Submitted on 11/10/2003 8:52:56 PM

Pros: Excellent interior and exterior design with terrific cargo capacity

Cons: Slight body lean in harder cornering which is still second best only to Subaru

Advice: Reviews + major awards + value for dollar = easy decision

The Honda CRV is not the best in any one category with the exception of quality and resale value. Need slightly better gas milage and sport car like handeling? Get the Subaru Forester. Need a more serious off roader? Get the Jeep Liberty. Need serious V6 power for towing? Get the Ford Escape. Want to pay more for less? Get the Toyota RAV4. But if you want plenty of passing power, a smooth ride with a commanding view of the road, great milage, plenty of customizable storage space, a thoughtfully laid out roomy high quality interior, and enough off road capacity to get you down that muddy dirt road or unplowed snowy side street, this is the car for you. You won't be offered a huge bargain, but some bargains are not worth taking. I recommend the very sporty 5 speed manual transmission with its short precise throws to work the most out of the engine. If you need an auto....it is no slouch either. As with any vehicle in this class....a front wheel drive model means you are shopping in the wrong segment. Save your money and get a station wagon. But where I live in stereotypical northern Canada (ignore the US addess), front wheel drive models are not even made available. If you are still reading, the Honda offers many other thoughtful features including a fold down centre tray which allows easy back seat access walk through, reclining rear seats, outside temperature guage, rear privacy glass, 6 CD exchanger, and a pic-nic table which folds into the rear floor. Get the dealer to throw in the custom rear cargo tray and the custom plastic hood protector which adds a practical sporty touch. The 2004 model is essentially unchanged from the 2003 so if both are available the 2003 gives you better price negotiating power. Expect them to be gone before 2004 however.

2003 Honda CR-V - LX w/Side Airbags (A4) 4x4

Submitted on 11/1/2003 8:49:00 AM

Pros: Gas mileage - 27 on highway with manual tans

Cons: Lack of center arm rest with manual trans

Advice: Check the legroom

First the complaints: Radio nobs are too small to work with gloves on, I keep accidentally turning off the radio when I adjust the volume, even w/o gloves on. Lacks center armrest in manul transmission. Front leg room is cramped for the long-legged. Hatch window rattles when you cruise down highway with windows open. Noisy ride down the highway. Optional dealer-installed foglights are expensive -about $500 installed. Tailgate mounted spare tire poses risk in minor rear end crashes as it extends down into the bumper area. Pluses: Gas mileage is 2 Mpg over ratings at 27/23, except in winter. Drivers window has both express up and down feature. Rear seat legroom is best in class with moveable seats - great for adults or teenage passengers. Rear cargo space is excellent with seats that fold forward. Insurance cost realtively inexpensive. Resale/trade-in value excellent if you change your mind or upgrade. Good all around vehicle if you can put up with the arrogant Honda dealerships.

2003 Honda CR-V - EX (A4) 4x4

Submitted on 10/16/2003 7:24:24 AM

Pros: The interior is larger and more useful than any of its competitors. Great DRIVE.

Cons: Wish it had a power lumbar feature. Can't lock the doors without the remote.

Advice: Think about how you USE your car.

Eight years ago I had a Dodge Dakota, but it was time for more passenger and weather-proof cargo space, so I moved to the Ford Explorer. Have had a couple of those, but I wanted to minimize depreciation in my next vehicle. I did a good deal of research and test driving and settled on the Honda CR-V EX. My first impression was that, compared to a dozen competitors the same size and larger, the CR-V felt like a sports car. Have owned it for about a year--I practically live in my cars--and like it better than ever for its great interior features and room, its solid handling, its very good mileage (averaging 21 mpg around town vs. 16 for the Explorers).