5 useful features in the new Honda CR-V

The 2012 Honda CR-V reinforces the model’s position as the most spacious, most comfortable, and most refined in its class. After a week of driving the car, we were still finding clever touches throughout the cabin, giving evidence that the CR-V is the most considerate and convenient car in any category. Here are five features we came to appreciate:

1Spacious, ergonomic cockpit: There’s plenty of room to stretch in the CR-V’s cavernous cabin, both in the front and rear seating areas. The driver gets a smartly designed cockpit, with all controls easy to view and operate. The multi-information LCD is mounted high on the dashboard, allowing easy viewing of the trip computer or audio system.

2Backup camera: The LCD display doubles as a monitor for the backup camera. Backing up into a parking space is made much easier, even with passengers in the back and a full load of cargo.

3Econ button: Enthusiastic drivers may despise this, but it works wonders for the fuel economy. Essentially the opposite of a “sport” button, the Econ mode dampens accelerator response, modifies the transmission settings, and even adjusts the airconditioning all to favor fuel economy. Even with the Econ mode engaged, the CR-V’s VTEC engine provided ample torque for climbing and overtaking.

4Conversation mirror: When conversing with the kids in the back seat, the driver has to turn his head or reorient the rear-view mirror—both options are not very safe. Enter the CR-V’s conversation mirror, allowing the driver to see everyone inside the cabin without touching the main rear-view mirror. One gripe with the conversation mirror, the viewing angle appears reversed, as if designed for a right-hand drive layout.

5As an SUV, it’s expected that the CR-V provides split-folding rear seats to increase cargo room. The CR-V does this one better by locating the handle to fold the seats within the loading space, exactly where you’d reach for them. Then the seats fold flat into the floor, in a mechanical contortion worthy of Optimus Prime. The result is a huge loading bay with a sofa-swallowing 2007 liters of space.