A Cute Ute

I'm not going to lie, I love the big boyz!  Navigators, Escalades, Yukons, QX56′s!!!  I see a few of you desperately scrambling around, looking for your therapist's telephone number so that you could email it to me!  I'm not quite ready to be fitted for a straight jacket, I know gas prices are up in the stratosphere!  I've seen my big lovelies looking so forlornly on car dealer's lots, just sitting there, almost as if they were crying out–"BUY ME!" " GIVE ME A HOME!"  It just tears my heart to Reeses pieces to see these gargantuan works of art gather dust on their beautifully buffed exteriors.  But alas, it is, what it is….  All is not lost though, some of these boyz are back as hybrids, so be on the lookout for my reviews. 

Now, although I do likes 'em BIG, one lil' cutie has caught my eye, the 2008 Honda CRV.  This vehicle definitely has what I call 'chick appeal.'  It's compact, the packaging is tight–nice clean lines.  I particularly like the overall arched look of this vehicle and the sleek character line on either side which adds, and I dare to say, an almost European look.  I see a few of you doubting Thomases and Thomasina's questioning the vehicle's roominess.  Well, color me SHOCKED!  Little doesn't always mean cramped!  Listen, I make no bones about it, I'm a healthy heifer who is 5'10 on a good day.  My hubby is 6′ 6 and well…suffice it to say…is of lumberjack weight proportions.  We both fit into the CRV with room to spare!  Since my hubby and I are tall, well, you can only imagine our offshoots!  Three passengers can also fit pretty comfortably in the back row.  What I liked best about the CRV was the really impressive tight handling particularly when cornering, getting off at exit ramps.  The steering was effortless too, you didn't feel the weight of the vehicle in your hands.  You won't get that feeling of luxuriance in the interior of a CRV but you will get comfort and practicality.  I've never met a Honda that gave me a backache, so seating in a CRV will satisfy even the most finicky–the 60/40 rear seats recline and slide independently of each other, so you can create the right balance of people and cargo.  There's storage aplenty with the upper and lower glove compartment.  There's even a rear dual-deck cargo shelf (in the EX and EX-L), now this is a simple concept but pretty ingenious–heavy stuff on the bottom of the shelf, lighter, on top (hey, more of you car manufacturers should offer this!).  You know how forgetful some of us are when it comes to staying on top of what is needed as far as repairs go, well The Maintenance Minderâ¢ system takes the guesswork out of maintenance—it monitors how you drive and alerts you when a specific service is required–I'll be darned!  Just because this lil' cutie is small don't think for one minute that you won't be protected in case of an accident (heaven forbid!).  Drive with peace of mind, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has given the CRV 5-star frontal and 5-star side impact ratings.  The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has also recognized the vehicle as a 2008 "Top Safety Pick." 

Hmmm…let's see comfort, safety, performance–A-plus!  Prices start at $20,700 for the 2WD LX; $21,900 for the 4WD LX.  honda.com

–Ruth Manuel-Logan

This lil' Ute is not as thirsty at the gas pumps as the big boyz–it averages 20 city, 27 highway.  Have any of you said "BASTA!" " ENOUGH ALREADY!"  Are you as fed up with these ridiculous, out-of-control gas prices as I am?  Have you gone smaller vehicle-wise?  Is your large vehicle gathering more dust than ever?  Gas concerns anyone?  Share! 

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