When did we hit peak Honda? It’s a question you may have pondered over Christmas lunch; in fact, I'm surprised King Charles failed to mention it in his festive message. If the royal formerly known as the Prince of Wales knows his sage and onions, he’ll say it could be December 1999. His Majesty may have a point.
The current Honda website makes for depressing reading, with just six cars to choose from. It’s like being given a Christmas selection box filled with six varieties of sprouts. Don’t get me wrong, I like Brussels’ finest export, but picking from the Jazz, CR-V, HR-V, Civic, e:Ny1 and ZR-V isn’t a cause for celebration. Where are the heroes? Where’s the quality for enthusiasts? Honda isn’t exactly coming up roses.
Things were very different twenty-five years ago. Forget Noel’s Christmas presents; Honda offered enough gifts to last well into the new millennium. Prepare yourself, because not even Father Christmas could rustle up a box of delights this good; Civic, Accord Coupé, Integra Type-R, Accord, Prelude, Shuttle, HR-V, Legend, S2000, NSX and, the star on top of the tree, CR-V. I’m not saying the Comfortable Runabout Vehicle is more appealing than a Type-R or NSX, but I’m keen to keep these festive clichés rolling.
The CR-V arrived here in 1997, by which time it had secured a strong foothold in its domestic market. It was Honda’s first in-house SUV; the Passport was just a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo, while the Crossroad was a Discovery. There was talk of a Honda-Rover joint venture to create a lifestyle SUV, but the conversation stopped when BMW bought the British company for £800 million. As a result, Land Rover launched the Freelander, with Honda creating the CR-V. It’s no coincidence that the CR-V’s arrival in the UK coincided with a big pre-launch marketing push for the Freelander. Land Rover knew that Honda had a hit on its hands.
Speaking to CAR, stylish chief Gerry McGovern said: ‘Long ago we talked with Honda about a joint venture, but they were not interested. They did their own thing, and they got to market before us.’ When quizzed about the car’s similarities, McGovern said: ‘Ours looks more robust.’ Maybe so, but the Freelander didn’t come with a picnic table and an optional electric shower.
‘It’s a lifestyle car,’, said Stephen Hollings of Honda UK in 1997. ‘Targeted at an audience who are individual in character; they want a car that’s an extension of their personality. It allows them to have more fun with their life; to go onto the beach, go windsurfing, go mountain-biking and everything else.’ Or, as it turned out, drive the kids to school. The original CR-V became one of the must-have accessories for the school run, with parents appreciating its high driving position, car-like dynamics and four-wheel drive system. Most of the time, the CR-V operated in front-while drive, with the system sending power to the rear wheels when required. It also had ABS brakes and twin airbags at a time when these weren’t a given when buying a new car.
The recipe was simple but wonderfully executed. Take a strengthened Civic chassis, add eight inches of ground clearance, use a 2.0-litre 16-valve engine, then add a generous sprinkling of lifestyle essentials. Flat floor, MPV-style walkthrough access to the back seats, pull-out cupholders, a compartment under the passenger seat, foldaway tray between the front seats, two-piece tailgate, removable picnic table, underfloor waterproof compartment, portable electric fridge, hydraulic bike carrier and that most famous of CR-V features: an electric shower. Not everything was fitted as standard, but the CR-V offered a more convincing package than today’s crossovers. At launch, the flagship ES, with its air-con, alloy wheels and roof rails, cost £17,995, just £1000 more than the LS model.
For me, finding a used CR-V with a shower would be like wandering downstairs on Christmas morning and seeing a Rallye Internationale Scalextric under the tree. Water way to spend the festive period.
This article first appeared in issue 18 of Classic.Retro.Modern. magazine.