2012 Honda CR-V Off-Road Review & Drive 

The 2012+ CRV's awd system works much better than the older, purely mechanical system. In Honda's tech literature, the new system is not able to provide complete 100% lockup, but having the rear wheels pre-engage prior to slippage makes a huge difference when accelerating from a stop on slippery surfaces. With the VSA off, the old system would easily spin the tires, where the new system just grabs and goes.

Another great video boys. You were more even about the CRV than most of the channels out there. I love how you pack so much in a such little time! ;D Nathan, would you wear a shirt that a fan requests? Just curious =)

I enjoy watching your videos! They are real life person reviews, which is awesome. I'd love it if you could get your hands on a Mini Cooper Countryman All4 and do an off-road review!

Great review. Honda has great financing on the 2012's, so I couldn't resist. I have an LX's and the stereo is much more usable that the Navigation version. I love that you can get AWD at all trim levels and the backup camera is standard equipment. It's nice to not have to buy $5k worth of non-essential features to get what I care about.

So happy to hear!!! :)

At normal elevation it can do 8.5 to 60. It’s more than adequate and never feels slow. At least in my experience and I have the EXL Nav AWD. It’s been absolutely bulletproof reliable too in my so far 80,000 miles driving.

I have the EX 2wd and love it. It isnt fast or exciting to drive, but a pleasant ride day after day. That is what i wanted instead of sporty. If i want driver involvement, I have the motorcycle. The rear seats do recline, sort of. the seat back latch has 2 positions, which is better than nothing. The flip and tumble seats of old seemed like they wasted space.

Thanks Nathan, that is an extremely fair retort!

Is there any particular reason why these guys would recommend the Forester at all - considering the pervasive oil consumption issues that were and are still prevalent today!? This is not some mundane issue that has affected a few hundred people - thousands are affected and multiple small-block engine replacements later, the issue still persists. That's the big problem with these video reviews - they rarely discuss serious problems with vehicles. Buyer beware.

Yes it does! It is sitting right across from me in the show room right now. :)

They're comparing it the last generation CR-V, whose rear seats REALLY recline. The new one, by comparison, does not recline. You get a few inches of movement, but that's it. It's no way near what the old CR-V had. Also, in the outgoing CR-V, you can create a lounge bed. Move the front passenger seat all the way up, take off its headrest, recline it flat and it will connect with the seat bottom of the rear seats. With the reclining rear seat, you can rest your legs on the front seats.

If you are looking to strictly offroad then please buy a wrangler, FJ or a Unimog. I was a die hard Chrysler guy, mechanic and car junkie. I have had every jeep you could imagine. Honda is an amazing brand, very good reliability. I had a ridgeline, LOVED IT! Then I picked up a 2013 CRV.. Nothing special, no navigation but I do have a moon roof which is a must for me. I live in Buffalo NY and it does amazing in the snow. I drive it all over. With any vehicle tires are key. I lifted mine about an inch and put some 31 inch tires on it. I lost some MPG but my overall clearance is around 9inches. It tows well, it is a lot of fun to drive, the AWD is better than a normal 4wd system as the AWD kicks in automatically.

We love our 2012 CR-V EX-L with Nav and aftermarket 10.25 inch DVD.

This week

thx for the nice review , would u pick it over the cx-5 and the tiguan ? and may i suggest u do a head to head comparison between it and cx-5 since both are new models

LOVE the shirt man :)

14 seconds to 60 is about right at this elevation. I live near sea level and mine was plenty powerful down here. Drove it to Colorado last summer and could not stop laughing at how slow it was. The larger disparity in 0-60 times on this car simply highly the nature of Honda engines having lower peak torque numbers. Honda's new direct injection engines seem to remedy this a bit.

the honda crv is amazing the best i love

Rear seats do recline! You just have to pull the release handle on top of the seat (I own one).

Can you guys please review the Honda Ridgeline :)

muito legal parabens pelo video eu tenho uma, 2011, i am brazilian

Hmm I know the ix35 / tucson is old, but do you guys think you can do a comparo of it against the cars in this segment? Especially the diesel one. I really like how you guys evaluate stuff, thanks

do you need both of you now in the car to do 0-60? how much quicker would it be solo with the solo?

No problem, at all! If you have any other questions I'm here!

"Rev its nuts off" nice one Nathan. Is that optional on the CR-V?

would you pick this over the Mazda CX5?

LOL at the beginning " you have to rev its NUTS off"

i like the new intro

thx for the observation

The ECON button does a few things.. making the car slower isn't on of them. When on the hwy cruising it reduces the A/C fan for the compressor to work less. It makes the car sluggish and not wanting to shift down.

Since I do heavy city driving and favor better materials and higher ride height in a crossover, the Mazda CX-5 would be the best choice. If the Honda CR-V uses 0W-20 Synthetic oil in the engine without changing any engine component, then I can use Synthetic Oil in the Mazda CX-5, depending on oil grade and improve gas mileage. Also using Synthetic Transmission Fluid and Synthetic Differential Fluid for AWD models on the CX-5 will not only improve gas mileage, but reduce maintainance cost!

You can go see your local dealer and they will show you. The best way i can describe it was in my previous comment. There is a plastic thing on the soulder of the seats, you lift it and push it the seat back. They will recline a bit to make for a much more comfortable ride on long trips :) Hope this helps!

I have a 2014 Honda crv EX-l fwd when I was in traffic I took it off road on a dirt trail and its handles pretty good life is short

CR-V is truly exceptional :)

Hey Nathan could you tell me what the DST on the left and the SIN on the right of the license plate is at the beginning of the video? I see those plates once in a while in LA CA but don't know what it is.

Hey Roman, do you agree with me that Honda Copied off of the Volvo XC60 with the new taillights on the CRV?

you guys should took it up in the rough stuff lol. Hyundai Tucson Limited awd next?

That's a great idea, but it may have to wait a while as we have several mashups lined up. I like the CX-5 and I think Roman would prefer something like the Tiguan or Ford Escape EcoBoost. Thanks for watching!

Please do MORE Honda Videos ...

Which is better this CR-V 2012 or the Nissan X-trail 2014?

We have one and live it. Almost 10,000 miles and no problems.

what about the sportage sx? its in the same class almost as good as the tiguan and/or cx 5 on road, faster than both, handles itself decently offroad and is fairly roomy and appealing in general. no?

Guys, do you have a video for the GMC Terrain offroading not only 0-60 test, i really wanna c it, please if you already have , kindly send me the link, i searched for it but i didnt find it

Love your reviews guys. This one was good but camera is very zoomed in all the time. Especially when Roman was showing the side lines, the camera was pointed at Roman, not at CR-V. And when Nathan was in the trunk and said come here to show something in the trunk, the camera was zoomed into Nathan's face. Otherwise a good review.

I'd like to see you take a normal 2wd car and then something like a wrx on your off road track. To compare to how far a regular passenger car goes, vs how far a crossover goes vs let's say a full 4x4 ...

I prefer the Forester by MILES too, and I know why. Subaru has a much better AWD system. The Forester also has an excellent ride. There is a certain felling of safety, comfort, practicality, and reliability that you just don't get from other brands.

guys, this is a better intro with the clip on this one!!

Think of AWD as a very light 4WD system. AWD systems typically move the front wheels only.. and back when it thinks you need them (when you get stuck). While the 4WD will use all 4 wheels.. so you shouldn't get stuck. Both are better in rain, snow, ice, and mud than 2WD. The lines between the two have been blurring for years (much like the lines between SUV and crossover have) thanks to creative marketing.

Bias review on 0 to 60 on econ mode and maybe your using it in your full review ...I've own this car and there's a big difference in power in that option.

Got the engine cover for it. Bolt, Engine cover stud part# 90015-RBC-J00 Bolt, Flange (6X14) part# 95701-06014-08 (need 2 pcs) Bolt, Special Flange (6X38) part# 90102-R41-L50 (need 2 pcs) Cover Assy., Engine part# 17121-R42-A00 Kit, Engine Cover Stay part# 06171-R41-305 (need 2 pcs)

Clearly at a lower altitude. As we've said, it's at over a mile above sea level. Air density changes and.... you know what? Just look it up. I might sound biased.

It’s a transferable plate that’s specific to various automaker’s regional offices. The numbers/letter on the right is "51N." Good catch! Thanks for watching.

Guys when are you going to take the new CR-V up gold mine hill??

whats the difference between AWD & 4WD? is there any different?

You must be in another country. I'm looking at it right now.

Guys, when are you going to take the new CR-V 1.5 AWD up Gold mine hill?

That dirt track wasn't real offroad. I could drive my ford falcon on that road.

Do a mashup of CRV vs Crosstour.

2:42 Nathan look to your right (our left) ... right there is what you use to recline :P

Completely wild and unrelated question: Does Roman drive an old Honda Accord coupe? I saw one going southbound on I-25 Sunday with a guy that sort of looked like Roman behind the wheel... If he saw a silver Mazda MPV with a Texas plate, that's my dad's van.

You have to rev it's NUTS off! LOL. Love ya, Nathan. (No homo)

Agreed!

please review the kia cadenza

ゴジラ！nice T-shirt :)

This stereo switch is too small? Really now?

Wrong. The EX-L (top of the line) starts at $28,075 w/destination. The base CR-V starts at $22,295. The Ford Escape Titanium (top of the line) starts at $30,370.

I've seen lots of guys driving them too. "D

wow..14sec for 0-60?? Holy slowness Batman!

@saboobuu in the 4 cylinder yes. sorry my phones autocorrect sucks

"If you're expecting a sharp Civic Si, you're not gonna get it." Obviously. You bought a CR-V!

when will you guys take the new escape off road???????

I owned a 2008 CR-V from 2008 to 2011. It wasn't very quick, either.

The seats recline. Same shoulder lever as on a Honda Fit.

We like real-world conditions when we test. So, an empty or nearly empty car is not participatory in our test. Besides, it's easier to have someone hold the camera. Thanks for watching!

The design is growing on me but I would take a 2013 Escape over one..

the crv starts at $22,495 then the top of the line starts at $29,995 and the escape starts at $22,470 the the top of the line starts at $30,370

The new Escape cost significantly more than the CR-V equipped with similar options.

well for 1 it has ALOT more power and towing capacity and it cost about the same and about the same fuel mpg

How does it suck?

The seats still recline. It's on the top shoulder of the seat.

@saboobuu in the 4Runner cylinder

A Honda Crv all models is a exelent car !!! I love my Crv well i have 2 Crv ;) 02 03 i love i love AwD !!!! Made in Japan the best for me !! Soooooo !!!!! WTF !!!!! Haha ;)

The new logo looks so old fashioned!!! It's like something from the 80's!

4WD You can lock in AWD kicks in on its own

Uh, okay. You're a great fan, so I guess it's okay. I mean, within reason.

exactly how i feel .

Prius off road? Please???

Roman wouldn't let me.

wow... I didn't know that SUV that's built mainly for comfort had to perform like a Mustang GT ... smoking some good cigars i guess...

Nope. Sadly, they stopped the manual after the second generation of the CR-V.

im in the US where u from?

this crv is much better

It turns out this system only puts 25% of power to the rear wheels at max. No wonder they fail so many roller tests.

I like the Subaru Forester more

Clearly biased, I've managed to get around 9.50 secs on my 2013 CR-V AWD launching with wheelspin

I don't know why but I prefer the Forester from Subaru.

I hate to be picky but you didnt take the AWD Audi R8 off road. Then again, who would.

i rather get the new ford escape with the 2.0 ecoboost

i dont see $28,075 on the honda website

Isn't anything better than the Tiguan?