2004 Honda CR-V EX review from Mexico

Leak at the ABS unit from the beginning. Took 6 trips to the dealer to acknowledge and fix.

Battery got flat once without reason.

Engine mount starting to crack at 50000 km.

Steering wheel badly worn by the sun.

Hole in the carpet where the driver's heel rests.

First, some good things: this car feels very stable and safe to drive; especially on irregular pavement and potholes.

The cabin is probably the biggest in its class, very roomy and well organized. The boot is huge, and the folding seats are very practical.

It has been very comfortable since I've changed the tires for 215 75R15 (the original ones were hard and noisy).

For the not so good things, the interior plastics scratch easily, the carpets are badly damaged (after only two years there's already a hole where the driver's foot rests; I admit I often drive with mud on my shoes, but that's really early), the steering week plastic is burnt... The interior of this car already looks worse than that of a 15 years old one (I know, I've had three of them).

The windshield seems fragile; it's already been chipped three times by almost unnoticeable gravel...

Fuel efficiency was advertized at 8l/100 km (how dare they?) ; I get 12.7 on average (mixed city and highway driving at 80km/h), and I drive very quietly. The best I got has been 9.5 (highway with 2 persons on board at 90 km/h).

For the really bad things, I've been more than disappointed by the dealer service.

When I got the car (brand new), there was a small leak at the ABS module and the brake were spongy, probably because the same leak allowed some air to enter the ABS unit (sometimes the brakes were not even able to prevent the car from moving when I pressed the brakes and the accelerator at the same time). I took it three times to the dealer and they said nothing was wrong, since the computer said so. Finally I rear-ended someone. That was out of my own distraction; however, when I realized the other car was not moving and stepped on the brakes, almost nothing happened... After fixing all the damage (crashed bumper and radiator), it took me again three times to get the dealer to admit there was a leak and maybe they should fix it and drain the system properly. Since then, the brakes have been perfect.

Now, the car vibrates quite a bit when idling, and I've noticed quite a big crack in one of the engine mounts. Guess what? The dealer says that engine mounts are not covered by warranty! They consider it maintenance parts...