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2008
HONDA LINE UP — SUVs
 Honda
puts five multi-use vehicles in the Class
of 2008, each differing in structure,
purpose and scale. The collection includes
the mid-size Pilot crossover utility vehicle
(CUV), the compact-class CR-V CUV, a cargo-hauling
Element and the eight-seat Odyssey minivan.
Then there's the Ridgeline, Honda's pickup
that is often described as a sport utility
truck (SUT).
 CR-V
Honda's CR-V (Comfortable Runabout Vehicle)
is an agile, five-door CUV riding on a
car chassis. The CR-V offers bold body
styling outside and a five-seat cabin
laced with lots of safety equipment and
fancy features. A front-wheel-drive (FWD)
powertrain consisting of a 2.4-liter,
in-line-four with Honda's i-VTEC (intelligent
variable value timing and lift electronic
control) technology is available. It produces
166 horsepower and links to a five-speed
electronic automatic transmission. Honda's
automatic all-wheel-drive (AWD) system
is also available with improved tire grip.
Honda builds the CR-V in three trim grades
— the well-equipped LX, deluxe EX
and top-tier, leather-lined EX-L.
 Pilot
The mid-size CUV from Honda offers FWD
traction or a smart AWD system labeled
VTM-4, which stands for Variable Torque
Management Four for four-wheel-drive.
Honda's 3.5-liter V6 delivers 244 horsepower
for AWD editions. However, FWD models
use the V6 with Honda's variable cylinder
management (VCM), trimming the number
of cylinders that fire when a power boost
isn't required. Safety equipment includes
frontal and side air bags and curtain-style
air bags for three rows. The cabin now
fits up to eight comfortably. New trims
— the Value Package and EX Special
Edition — add gear like a DVD video
kit and power moonroof.
 Element
Honda's cubistic wagon has a wash-and-wear
cabin with four seats and a sweet stereo.
The double doors on each flank open wide
in pillar-less fashion for easy passenger
and cargo loading. For locomotion, the
Element stocks a twin-cam, 2.4-liter,
four-cylinder mill that makes 166 horsepower
and mates with a manual five-speed or
automatic five-speed transaxle for FWD
traction, or a version with Honda's VTM-4
AWD system. The sporty variation, the
Element SC, gets a sport-tuned suspension
and premium features plus a new paint
chip in Royal Blue Pearl. Standard safety
equipment includes curtain-style side
air bags and vehicle stability assist
(VSA).
 Odyssey
Expect updated exterior styling and more
equipment aboard the 2008 Honda minivan.
The Odyssey offers four trims, the LX,
EX, EX Leather and Touring editions. Inside,
there are up to three tiers of seats with
options for folding or removing second-row
seats, along with the Magic Seat in back
that folds into the floor. A strong 3.5-liter
VTEC V6 yields 244 horsepower. The Odyssey's
top two trims employ the next generation
of Honda's VCM to decrease cylinder firing
and conserve fuel. Safety devices extend
to a traction control system (TCS) and
VSA, plus curtain-style air bags above
all outboard seats.
 Ridgeline
The Ridgeline acts like a full-size pickup
or high-hiked sport utility. It totes
a four-door cab and a rear truck bed designed
to carry outdoor sports equipment. Honda
constructs the Ridgeline with a unibody
structure, similar to that of the Pilot.
The VTM-4 AWD system aboard every Ridgeline
senses when four-wheel traction may be
needed, shifting engine torque electronically
from front to rear wheels. The SUT's muscle
comes from a 3.5-liter V6, which generates
255 horsepower through an electronic five-speed
automatic transaxle. Honda casts Ridgeline
as the well-equipped RT, full-featured
RTS and luxurious RTL or RTX with standard
towing equipment aboard.
For
more information on Honda
SUVs and wagons.
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