A Car Company, a Honda CR-V, and a Salesman: A Dream Stays Alive

By:

Dave on 12/16/2011

Topic:

Car Reviews, Dealers' Lane.

Would you listen to a Honda car salesman’s viewpoint on the all-new 2012 Honda CR-V? Maybe not normally, but this article won’t hard-sell you. That’s because I’d decided long ago to make a big decision based on my impressions of the new model. A crossroads-style decision. The 2012 CR-V would either compel me to stay with Honda or jump ship after eight years of selling them. Would I ever move to Toyota? No way – too bland for me. VW? Nope – too stuffy. Just looking at one of their showrooms creeps me out and makes my armpits sweat. Perhaps scooter sales were in my future. When it came right down to it, I’d hoped I didn’t have to give up on Honda.

This year has been tough in terms of Honda’s supply. That’s because of the tsunami that blustered through in early 2011, just as Honda launched the new 2012 Civic. The production cutbacks, along with a number of mixed reviews, impacted some of my most loyal Honda Civic customers. What was I left with? The Accord still looks like it did five years ago. I love the Fit, but tsunami or no tsunami, their supply has always been somewhat limited. Besides, have you ever tried to make a living by selling a sub-compact? Same goes for the Insight and the CR-Z. The Odyssey is solid and top-of-class, but just how big is the minivan market? I live in Los Angeles, so not many people are beating down my door for a full-sized SUV like the Pilot – or a truck like the Ridgeline. I needed something that would sell. And maybe Honda could deliver, with the 2012 CR-V.

2012 Honda CR-V: First Impressions

Two days ago, Honda dropped off the first shipment. I sized it up. I liked the look. I liked the lines. The front end seemed more masculine and allows serious clearance so those with steep driveways could avoid scraping it. The back also impressed me. Initially, it reminded me of the Volvo XC60, but I’m sure after a few more weeks of staring, it’ll take on its own personality. I’ve already read enough about the CR-V to hear about a folding seat. I was about to understand what all the fuss was about.

2012 Honda CR-V: The Seats

First, a little background: Honda loves magical seats. They must have some seat expert in Japan insisting on more innovation and function. Perhaps even holding marketing managers up at knifepoint in the hallway, demanding they include his latest creation in the next model year.
(configure a new Cr-V now)

The discontinued Element had a variation of this seat magic, and the Ridgeline and Fit all have some of this as well. When I read about these CR-V seats, I imagined they’d be similar to the Crosstour (where one pull of a lever flips forward the back seat). But this was something else entirely. It’s the seat mad man’s brainchild. It’s like having a transformer in your back seat. Pulling on either the rear or side lever not only brings the seat forward, it also lifts away the bottom of the seat where the back will then rest. This action also flips the headrests forward to complete this space-saving transformation. It’s not only addictive, but also extremely convenient.

It’s an evolutionary step right up there with the elevator – where, once you use one, the idea of moving into a fourth-floor apartment without one seems absurd. And in the CUV market, the idea of walking all the way around the vehicle to yank and pull on things to fold down the seats now seems equally absurd. Yes, in case you’re wondering, these seats come in every CR-V. So what else comes standard?

2012 Honda CR-V: Standard Features

Honda is going all out to load up the most basic 2012 CR-V model (LX) with technology features you’d have needed an EX or higher 2011 model to get. Standard in the 2012 CR-V LX are: Bluetooth^®, rearview camera, color iMID (new for 2012), Pandora compatibility with your iPhone (new for Honda), SMS Text Message Display and read-aloud capability (also new for Honda), Honda’s ECON^TM mode selector that gains up to 10% more efficiency (also new for 2012), and a USB audio interface. Yes, dear reader, all this technology comes standard on the 2012 Honda CR-V. Even the most basic model.

After hearing about all this, I wanted to drive the new CR-V down to corporate headquarters in Torrance and hug some Honda people. I wanted to thank them on behalf of all Honda salesmen. I wanted to put in a phone call to my dogs to let them know they could have the good food again soon. Even my dry cleaner will be happy to see me again when I drop off my blue Helpful Honda shirts instead of washing them myself. This new CR-V will get my dogs, my dry cleaner, and me through 2012.

 2012 Honda CRV: The Future?

Now, what about that 2013 Honda Accord? Will at least some of these tech features come standard as well? Time will tell, but one thing’s certain – I’ll be pretty busy with the 2012 CR-V until then.