The Morning Call and Mcall.com's view

With gas prices rising along with the heat of summer, it would be too easy to predict that Sport Utility Vehicles will soon go the way of vinyl LPs, dinosaurs and Wink Martindale. It also would be disingenuous.

For SUVs have always had their use as a work or as a play vehicle. If you’re going off the beaten path deep into the brush, you’ll need all the advantages an SUV provides road clearance, four-wheel-drive, storage space, etc. But, most buyers see it as a substitute for a family wagon.

And let’s face it, who really needs two tons of metal, a voraciously thirsty V-8 and four-wheel-drive just to get to Wegmans?

What is an advantage in the brush is a disadvantage driving around Bethlehem. The tall ride height and soft springs that make driving over boulders easy makes for tricky maneuvering around town.

That’s why I predict that car-based SUVs will quickly grow in popularity. And once again, thank Japan for delivering such a vehicle. It gives the driver the look and feel of a truck, but the mechanicals are from a large volume sedan, albeit with four-wheel-drive.

Thus the Honda CRV is based on Civic mechanicals and is available in front-wheel or four-wheel-drive. Trim levels include base LX in two- or four- wheel-drive and EX in four-wheel-drive only. The engine is the same no matter which level you buy, a 2-liter 4-cylinder 16-valve double-overhead-cam engine producing 146 at a peaking 6,200 rpm and 133 pound-feet of torque at 4,500 rpm.

Hooked to a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic, this engine seems overwhelmed by the vehicle’s 3,245 pound curb weight. While the engine produces 20 more horses than when the vehicle was first introduced in 1997, it still feels strained at times. Acceleration is leisurely off the line. But, like most double-overhead-cam engines, once it gets going, power is good. The test vehicle had a four-speed automatic. A five-speed manual would make this vehicle more responsive. The engine is raucous when revved, which is usually after downshifting for more power. If you order the automatic, you’ll want to push the button on the column-mounted shifter to lock out overdrive most of the time.

Steering is quick and responsive, and the vehicle has a short turning radius. Honda outfits the truck with the same suspension that goes in its cars: a double wishbone, which is why the car’s handling has such a nimble feel. Ride quality is typical of small trucks and cars, with firm thunks felt occasionally. Road and tire noise was high, typical of the small SUV breed.

The vehicle’s four-wheel-drive system is called Real Time 4WD. Most of the time, the vehicle operates in front wheel drive. When road conditions turn more slippery than a Donald Trump prenuptial agreement, the vehicle sends power to where its needed. That said, it doesn’t have a locking differential or a low gear, so this vehicle isn’t designed for serious off-roading, although it can handle driving across your neighbor’s petuni as quite nicely (that’ll teach them to keep their dog in their yard).

The interior holds four persons comfortably. Two comfy front seats are chair-high. Long-legged drivers won’t be very comfortable because seat-travel positioning is limited.

The driving position is good, but the top edge of the steering wheel is canted forward, making the driver feel like Ralph Cramden. The rear seat has a bolt upright seating position. Otherwise, the interior is typically Honda, artful in its simplicity and functionality and nicely built.

Controls are easy to understand and operate. The ventilation system worked very well. The audio system was a mixture of good and bad. The AM/FM/CD system was great at pulling in remote radio stations and the controls were easy to understand and operate. The sound was tinny and the system struggled to overcome engine and ventilation noise.

The rear seats fold to carry more cargo. The rear cargo cover (missing in the test vehicle) converts to become picnic table. Power points abound, allowing you to plug in your favorite electronic device.

If you’re trying to decide which trim level to choose, try the EX over the LX. It adds an anti-lock braking system that’ll help you stop when the weather is sloppy. It also includes keyless entry, a better audio system and 15-inch wheels.

The test vehicle was a Special Edition or SE. It featured leather seats, AM/FM/ cassette/CD player, body-colored bumpers trim and spare tire cover, rear privacy glass and a chrome grille.

But the best feature of this vehicle for most people will be the fuel economy, 22 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. This is a number that will make everyone smile, except maybe your gasoline retailer.

If you think this is the end of such vehicles, think again. Automakers like GM and Ford are about to fire their first salvos, while Toyota is revamping and expanding their line of car-based SUVs.

So let OPEC do their worst. Americans have become a nation of truck drivers and we just want to keep on truckin’.

>> 2000 Honda CR-V

Engine: 2-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder
Transmissions: Five-speed-manual or four-speed automatic
Drivetrains: Front- or four-wheel- drive
Tires: P205/70R15
Ground clearance: 8.1 inches
Wheelbase: 103.2 inches
Length: 177.6 inches
Height: 65.9 inches
Curb weight: 3,245 pounds
Base price, test model: $22,600
As tested: $23,040
EPA rating: 22 mpg city, 25 mpg highway
Test mileage: 23 mpg
Fuel type: Regular
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