HONDA CR-V 1996-2001 Photos, engines & full specs

Honda tried its luck and entered the SUV segment in the mid-'90s introducing the CR-V lineup, and it was a huge success for the Japanese carmaker.

When the carmaker introduced the new SUV in Japan, it had the unpleasant surprise to be considered a mid-size vehicle, leading to higher taxes. For the rest of the world, the car's width didn't matter that much. It was considered normal or narrow, depending on the countries. In the U.S. the CR-V was considered a compact-sized SUV. Its main advantages were the independent suspension in all corners, the big interior space, and the roomy interior.

From the outside, Honda's designers couldn't make a design too different than a regular station wagon. The headlights looked similar to those installed on the British-built Civic sixth generation but scaled-up. Its black plastic bumper was black to cope better with bushes, but soon Honda understood that it was a bad idea, and the car looked unfinished. It looked like a mix between a station wagon and a minivan, with higher ground clearance from its sides.

Inside, the carmaker improved as much as it could. For vehicles fitted with the automatic transmission, Honda made a free passage from side to side on the front area, with a flat floor. Thanks to the absence of an intrusive transmission tunnel, there was plenty of room for three passengers in the back. The carmaker designed the car to be used as a camping vehicle. With the front seats tilted back and the bench folded, the interior was transformed into a wide, almost flat bed. Moreover, the trunk's floor was a picnic folding table.

For the first generation, Honda made the CR-V with only one engine option, which sent the power in all corners via either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic.