Skid plates are built in to protect vital parts from rocks and logs. Both the cylinder block and cylinder heads are aluminum. This engine has 25 more horsepower than last year and consequently feels somewhat livelier. Its low-speed power has been improved a bit, although it still responds most energetically when it is revved. Vibration is commendably absent, and its smoothness rivals that of a luxury sedan.
Fuel economy is up, too, by one mpg in both city and highway driving.
I often found that I slid the gearshift lever past D4 to D3 because the detent is not strong enough. A soft detent between these gears is fairly common on other Hondas as well, so it must be designed this way to ease shifting down for more power. Also new this year is Torque On Demand four-wheel drive. A system like this is most useful when the roads are slick or when tackling obstacles off-road. A small pictogram on the left side of the instrument panel gives a visual representation of how the system is working.