2000 Honda CR-V LX from North America - Comments

Air Conditioning.

Engine needed early tune-up.

Radio knob fell off.

This car needs more POWER. It's a cute little runabout, but it's desperately underpowered. I constantly need to floor it to avoid getting rear-ended on the freeway. And I live on a moderate hill, and the CRV can barely make it up. A tune-up helped the performance a little, but it the engine is far too overworked. Unless you live in Kansas and feel like keeping pace with the truckers, the constant throttling of the engine will make the fuel economy miserable.

Driving it is like driving a minivan. The LAST thing it screams is "Sport Utility Vehicle." You sit like you're in a minivan. One benefit is the center pass-through, however.

Another little clever thing is the Picnic table. It's a handy thing to have.

The dimpled-plastic on the doors I could do without.

This little ute has ZERO (read ZE-RO) off-road ability. NONE. PERIOD. You're hard-pressed on hilly dirt roads. It's decent for tiptoeing in slush-puddles, it takes a second for the 4 wheel drive to engage. I'm unimpressed.

We ended up selling this early and buying a loaded Mazda Tribute. What a difference! Plenty of grunt, and a little bit of off-road capability (but it's no Jeep or Land Rover.) It also seems roomier in the inside (the back seat is even better), and less minivan-like. Despite the recalls, it's been trouble-free. I would reccomend getting this or the Ford Escape over the CR-V.

How many times have you had your Tribute serviced since this review? I hear those cars are a reliability nightmare. Do yourself a favor a get a 2002 CRV. A much better investment...

I have gotten my Tribute serviced Zero (read, 0) times.

I purchased it after the recall snafu.

I would disagree with you completely about your assumption that the 2002 CR-V is a better investment, as it is still lacking in the Power department, as well as in many other departments.

My Tribute has been extremely reliable, and would once again highly reccomend.

What lack of power are you referring to? Our 2001 EX CRV passed a Tribute ES V6 up Snoqualmie Pass past North Bend, WA. The driver tried to keep up, but dropping into 3rd kept our distance. We had two passengers, he had one. As we crested the pass, I slowed and he finally was able to pass by going downhill! I think he was mad. The 2000 & 2001 CRVs have different spark plugs than 1997-1999 models. Maybe your CRV had the wrong plugs.

ALSO, CRVs are marketed as all-wheel drive when necessary, otherwise it is only front-wheel drive. Great for slippery conditions and snow, but not for tearing up the terrain like some yahoos love to do. Why would I want to mess up a perfectly good vehicle and get it scratched and dented?

Unless the Tribute was a 4 cylinder model, the only reason you passed him was because the the driver of the Tribute CHOSE to go at a slower speed.

And the Tribute/Escape's 4x4 system is similar to the CR-V's, although it is far better at preventing wheel slippage thanks to the Control Trac II's system of allowing the 4x4 mode to be engaged very quickly for dangerous conditions, where the half-second loss of traction that the CR-V may experience could really be dangerous.

The guy in the ES V6 (Not a 4 cylinder, I can read the plate on the vehicle, thank you) was trying to go uphill at good clip, but because I was traveling 70 mph to maintain my momentum, my CRV passed him which gave the guy a surprised look! The point here is not speed, but the fact that the 2001 CRV 4 cylinder is not the weak-engined CRV a lot of folks think. It won't tow a huge boat, but that's not why we bought it.

And the all-wheel drive works very well as I can attest to when I drove the CRV when it was new through the same pass in the spring. A freak snowstorm hit at the crest of the pass and I along with a couple of other CRVs and a Subaru made it through with no problems.

Oh yeah, around here, a 2000 or 2001 CRV sells for a higher price than a 2001 Tribute or Escape, especially the Escape.

Okay Tribute owner, you need to stop bragging up your rebadged Escape. I have a 2002 Tribute V6 that is a unreal piece of garbage. I laughed at my Mazda dealer when they handed me "Ford" keys and "Ford" fobs when I took delivery of my "Mazda". My tribute had its first engine replacement at 13,000kms. Warranty. My 4X4 system broke when I was trying to get up my driveway the winter after the summer when I bought it. Fought with dealer, replaced under warranty. Second Engine was replaced at get this 14,589kms, and you know what, the 4X4 didn't last a month before it had to be fixed again. Then one morning I put the rear defrost on, and the back window smashed out all on its own. They bragged about its 3.0l being more peppier and more torque then a CR-V, sure, but you know what, I will take my CR-V back anyway, oh yeah, my Tribute as we speak, has 24,589, and it is at the dealer for the forth time getting its 4X4 replaced, called to check on its success, it won't start... Need I say more. I am a 58yo man, I promise I don't off-road, hasn't sat out in snow, doesn't drive over 120km/h, and this is the thanks I get.

I own a 2000 Honda CRV and I'm having problems. I bought it new and at 23,000 miles the car was stalling at traffic lights. My CRV has always had regular maintenance done to it. I was told the problem was that the valves needed adjustment and I was also told that something concerning the valve was put together wrong. I was lucky that the CRV was still under warranty at the time. Now at 75,000 miles I have to have major work done to the valves ($1300). Has anyone had this problem or know someone who has?

I had a 97 CRV when I moved to ND. I tood a trip to Montana and passed through the rockies with no trouble at all. Those who need excursions to do the same thing are only power hungry. Be objective and look at the numbers for 0-60 of this 4 cylinder with V8's. It is not meant to win the off road or rock crawling competitions. But this IS a great car for both city and highway trips!!!

I love my V-6 Tribute I would much rather have that than the Honda CRV that everyone on the road has, plus I don't think that the CRV has any power at all I have driven one before and I was shocked it was so slow, I would expect more from a Honda-

My 2000 Honda CR-V is now having the transmission replaced... for the second time. I was repeated told by the Honda Service manager that the poor shifting was due to a seriously underpowered engine. In other words the car started out with serious problems, and I would just have to learn to live with it, or trade up to the new models in which they supposedly correctly the problem. I have to rent vehicles now just to drive from MN to Colorado, because driving my CR-V is not possible as the elevation change alone makes the transmission go into spaz mode. Think my 3rd transmission will be any better? I'm not holding my breath, and Honda is not backing it with any warranty. I thought I was buying a automobile with a reliable reputation, and was horribly mistaken.

The next gen CR-V was an improvement over the one you had. Not as much power as the Tribute/Escape, but the 4 cylinder was powerful enough. Also, the reliability is better, and it is actually the same size as the Tribute in that iteration. If you're comparing a Tribute to a CR-V, make sure it is of the same vintage. The CR-V of that vintage trumps the Tribute on reliability and will continue to do so down the road.

The CRV isn't meant to be a power house of a vehicle, although it ranks among the best in class with power to weight, it has always been a little light on the power side. I will say this about the new version of the HONDA CRV "WOW", simply said. The new style blows away anything in it's class and the ride is excellent. There is ample power for any on road driving situation, and the amenities are all there. I don't think the Mazda holds a candle to Honda, and never will it in my mind, Mazda is simply out classed.

I bought a 2000 Honda CRV EX about 3 years ago. It had 42,

000 miles on it. It is the best vehicle I've ever owned.I

replaced the timing belt in Augest 2009.The car is a sweet car to work on, every thing easy to reach. When I removed the timing belt and checked it for wear it looked like it was brand new. I also tuned it up and replaced the other 3 drive belts. I recently drove to Canada on a fishing trip with two other friends and all our gear. My CRV Had no problem following a Chevy Siverado loaded with young guy's wanting to get there fast. Jim.