Honda SRV 1st generation came out in 1995, for the Japanese, European and American markets, it was the first Honda crossover developed in-house. With its appearance, the CR-V revolutionized the urban crossover class.
In the article you will learn details about the first generation Honda SRV, development history, technical specifications, purchase recommendations, tips Maintenance, regulations of those. services from the Japanese division of Honda (Honda Japan), tuning, photo and video test drive.
In the first half of the 90s, the Honda Research Institute decided to develop a universal car for the city and rough terrain, this project was the 1st generation Honda SRV.
Honda SRV 1st generation
The engineers were faced with the task of making a universal car in every sense of the word, it should be suitable for the city, be well equipped, economical, comfortable, and at the same time easily drive over rough terrain. The designers did an excellent job.
Honda SRV is not the first urban SUV, the pioneer was the Toyota RAV 4 and it is rumored that engineers from Honda took into account the shortcomings of Toyota. Someone says that the CR-V was developed earlier, but in any case, the SUV from Honda revolutionized and became the reference model in the class for many years to come.
First of all, SRV has become a bestseller due to its versatility, it is great to drive in the city, and it is priceless to park without noticing the curbs due to its high ground clearance.
The appearance of the 1st generation Honda SRV resembles a beautiful station wagon, but there are a lot of details from the SUV. Catches the eye spare wheel bolted to the tailgate, plastic trims on the convex parts of the side doors, which will protect against branches and scratches. 
Exterior Honda cr-v 1, turned out to be pleasant, the car still looks relevant. But because of what they fell in love with the "SUV" from Honda, it is for the interior, more precisely, for its functionality and convenience.
The 2nd row of seats folds to the inside and outside, the second option is perfect for an overnight stay. There is no partition between the first and second row and you can move freely between the rows. 
The abundance of glove compartments is amazing, they are everywhere, even in back door, between the driver and passenger there is a folding table, under the front passenger seat pull-out drawer. The trunk does not lag behind the passenger compartment; there is a folding table in it.
The table is included with the car Technical part
The engine on the 1st generation Honda SRV was installed with an uncontested B20B, this is a reliable unit with a capacity of 130 Horse power and 192 Hm of torque. B20B is structurally similar to legendary engine B16b, only the B20B never received a VTEC valve timing system.
Legendary motor B20B After the restyling of the 1st generation Honda SRV in 1998, the engine added 20 horsepower and in some countries began to wear the B20Z index. I repeat, the unit is reliable and with proper maintenance will last a long time. We will tell you about proper maintenance later in this article.
Since the beginning of the car's release, the transmission, similar to the engine, was of the same type, this is a classic automatic transmission, after restyling, and mechanical box gear.
Real Time 4WD plug-in all-wheel drive
Honda CR-V first generation was produced with all-wheel and front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is plug-in, which means that by default Honda is front-wheel drive, but if the front wheels cannot cope with the road surface and begin to slip, then the rear wheels are connected to them in a split second.
Many competitors have pluggable four-wheel drive, this is mainly a viscous coupling, its main plus is its cheapness and simplicity of design, and a minus is the belated inclusion of the rear wheels in emergency situation.
DPS system Honda decided to go its own way and released the drive, realized thanks to the DPS system with two pumps, one responsible for the front wheels, the other for the rear. This system, unlike competitors, is based on pure "mechanics", it does not need electronic control units and programs.
This achieves instant response and rear wheel engagement, thereby improving off-road capability and reducing fuel consumption. Yes, such a drive should not be compared with permanent drive like real SUVs with transfer case gear. Honda SRV 1 will not amaze you with some kind of super-tasks on the off-road, but you can easily drive it into nature, a country road and feel confident in winter.
The suspension itself is independent, like that of the Honda Civic EG, by the way, the 1st generation Honda SRV completely borrowed the platform from the Civic in the back of the EG. Multi-link suspension the rear and double wishbones in the front provide the urban crossover with Civic-like handling. The chassis turned out to be reliable, there were cases when the resource specified by the manufacturer was exceeded many times!
Summing up, we can safely say that the 1st generation Honda SRV 20 years later is a reliable, comfortable and functional car for an active driver.
Specifications Honda SRV 1st generation
Production date: 1995-2001 (reystaling occurred in 1998)
Country of origin: Japan
Body: crossover
Body brand: RD1
Number of doors: 5
Number of seats: 5
Length: 4470 mm
Width: 1750 mm
Height: 1705 mm
Wheelbase: 2620 mm
Ground clearance: 210 mm
Tire size: 205 / 70R15 95S
Drive: front and 4WD
Front chassis: two levers
Rear chassis: multi-link
Gearbox: automatic and manual transmission
Front brakes: ventilated discs
Rear brakes: drum
Fuel consumption: 8.1 liters per 100 km / h combined
Volume fuel tank: 58 liters
Weight: 1390 kilograms
2.0 liter B20B engine up to 1998
Index: B20B
Volume: cm3
Power: 130 horsepower 5500 rpm
Torque: 192 Hm at 4200 rpm
Fuel consumption per 100 km: 8.1 liters
Number of cylinders: 4
Compression ratio: 9
Engine 2.0 liter B20B after restyling in 1998 (in some, the catalog is referred to as B20Z)
Index: B20B
Volume: 2000 cm3
Power: 145 horsepower 6300 rpm
Torque: 188 Hm 4500 rpm
Fuel consumption per 100 km: 8.6 liters
Number of cylinders: 4
Compression ratio: 9
Prices
Prices for the 1st generation Honda SRV start at 200,000 rubles, but the copy is in good condition costs from 300,000 rubles.
Tuning Honda CR-V 1st generation
Courtier tuning studio Mugen has released a full set of modifications on the Honda SRV 1:
Honda SRV tuned by Mugen 
Japanese cars are very popular in Russia, both in the western and eastern regions. One of the most popular brands is Honda. These cars have established themselves as reliable and comfortable, and therefore they are in high demand. One of the most popular cars of this brand is the CR-V crossover. It is produced in several generations. This article discusses the very first - Honda CR-V RD1. Review, characteristics and reviews - further in the article.
Description
Honda CR-V is a compact all-wheel drive crossover made in Japan... The first generation was serially produced from 1995 to 2001. The abbreviation CR-V stands for Compact Recreational Vehicle. Versions for the American market have been in production since 1997.
Appearance
The design is made in the corporate style of "Honda". At the front are recognizable rounded headlights and a neat black grille. Bumper on budget trim levels not painted in body color, the same applies to the side mirrors. In addition, there are plastic moldings on the doors, and massive roof rails on the roof. The roof of the crossover is almost flat. The car itself looks modest, but does not seem like an ancient dinosaur in the stream.
Tuning a Honda CR-V RD1 is a rare occurrence. Usually, owners are limited to installing kenguryatniks and tinted windows. Sometimes other discs and mud tires are installed on the car.
Body problems
What problems do owners of a Honda CR-V RD1 face during operation? It is generally accepted that Japanese cars are well protected from corrosion, but the years take their toll, so often there are foci of corrosion on the body of a Honda. If the previous owner did not take care of the car, it may even appear through rust.
Corrosion usually occurs on arches and sills. But also rust appears under the plastic door sills that are in the cabin. When buying, you need to pay attention to glass. If not original ones are installed (three or more), most likely, this is a rollover car. Washers should also work. They are provided for frontal and rear window(sometimes on the headlights). If they do not work, then the motor has become unusable.
The quality of the paintwork is average. It is very common to see a Honda with chips. Therefore, it is difficult to find a copy in the original paint. If it does, it will have numerous defects on the paintwork.
Honda CR-V RD1: dimensions, ground clearance
Interesting fact: this crossover was sold only in dealerships in Japan, as, due to its dimensions, it exceeded the statutory norms and was positioned as a premium class. So, the total length of the car is 4.47 meters, width - 1.75, height - 1.68. The length of the wheelbase is 2.62 meters. At the same time, the ground clearance is 20.5 centimeters per standard wheels... The curb weight is 1370 kilograms.
What do the reviews say about this car? The owners say good ground clearance... With it, you can confidently move both on snowy roads and on a dirt road. At the same time, the car is quite spacious and roomy. In winter, four-wheel drive saves a lot.
Salon
As noted earlier, there is enough space in the car. The driver and passengers will not experience a lack of space, despite the fact that this compact crossover.
Among the shortcomings, it is worth noting the modest design. There are no leather and wood inserts. Salon - fabric and mostly gray. The quality of the plastic is not the best. It is hard and rattles on bumps. Nevertheless, it is worth noting the good ergonomics. You can comfortably sit behind the wheel. The steering wheel is four-spoke, without buttons. But the steering wheel is very thin.
On the center console there is a cassette recorder and stove “twists”.
What is remarkable, on versions with automatic transmission the lever was at the steering wheel, like on American cars of those years. This made it possible to expand the space.
The floor is even inside. And due to the fact that there is no familiar "beard", you can easily move around the cabin.
Other pluses include wear-resistant materials. After 200 thousand kilometers, the seats do not wipe, as on other cars, and the plastic looks good, especially after polishing.
What do you need to check when buying?
If we talk about the salon, there you need to check all the buttons of the electric drives. The sore spots are the power windows and the rear wiper. In the rain, water can enter the salon (in the area windshield). It should be checked that the trunk can be opened from the button. In "Honda" the harness in connection with the door can be frayed. You also need to check that the door locks open and close properly with the alarm.
What else do you need to check before buying? In the reviews, it is advised to look at the condition of the throttle by removing the air pipe. If there is a lot of oil, it means that the engine will soon require serious repairs. It is also recommended to inspect the motor for oil leaks. If they are present, it means that the previous owner did not follow the car.
Specifications
Since the Americans did not recognize diesel engines(namely, Honda was mainly supplied to the American market), there are only gasoline units in the lineup. Initially, the crossover was equipped with a two-liter four-cylinder engine with 128 horsepower. This is a simple aspirated multipoint injection, but with two camshafts and a 16-valve head. For this engine, an uncontested four-speed automatic transmission was offered. With her, the car did not have the most best performance speakers.
So, to disperse hundreds took about 12.5 seconds. Maximum speed- 170 kilometers per hour. In 98, the situation changed slightly. This motor was replaced with a more powerful 147-horsepower. At the same time, the volume of the engine remained the same - two liters. Also in 98, a mechanical five-speed gearbox... With her, the car drove more vigorously. Acceleration to hundreds takes 10.5 seconds. The maximum speed is 177 kilometers per hour.
Automatic transmission Honda CR-V RD1
There are a lot of complaints about automatic transmissions. Most crossovers have problems with the automatic transmission. Its resource is no more than 250 thousand kilometers with proper maintenance. How can I check it? Switch the selector to each mode. If there are kicks, the box needs repair. You should also check to see if the kick-down comes from fourth gear. If not, the cable is incorrectly configured in the box.
Since there is frequent problems with automatic transmission, many advise taking the Honda CR-V RD1 on the mechanics. This is the best box for an old crossover. It is rare to repair a Honda CR-V RD1 with a manual transmission.
Chassis
The car has a fully independent suspension. The brakes are disc brakes at the front and drum at the rear. Things to check before buying:
Outcomes
So, now it is clear what the Honda CR-V RD1 is. Among the positive aspects, it is worth noting:
- Low cost on secondary market.
- Roomy and ergonomic interior.
- Reliable engine and mechanical gearbox.
Among the disadvantages:
- Corrosion tendency of the body.
- Poor quality paintwork.
- Automatic transmission problems.
- Weak acceleration dynamics.
In general, this car will be a good purchase for a family. This machine is practical and easy to maintain. Honda CR-V RD1 engine serves more than 400 thousand before overhaul. If you take a car with mechanics, it will drive for a very long time, according to the reviews.
“Comfortable car for rest” is exactly how the name of the car Honda CR-V is deciphered and translated.
It is a compact crossover, the first generation of which was produced from 1995 to 2001 Japanese company Honda. The car was assembled at factories in Japan, China and the Philippines.
The Honda CR-V crossover was based on the Honda Civic. The length of the car is 4470 mm, width - 1750 mm, height - 1675 mm with a wheelbase of 2620 mm and a ground clearance of 205 mm. When equipped, the car weighs 1370 kg.
The first generation Honda CR-V crossover was equipped with one gasoline engine DOHC. It is a four-cylinder 16-valve engine with a displacement of two liters, delivering 130 horsepower and 186 Nm of peak torque. He worked in conjunction with a 4-band automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive system. In December 1998, the engine was modernized, its power increased to 150 "horses", and a 5-speed mechanical transmission and a front-wheel drive version.
The car is equipped with independent spring suspension both at the front and at the rear. Disc brakes are installed on the front wheels, drum brakes on the rear.
The first generation Honda CR-V crossover is a successful combination of comfort, dynamics, versatility and off-road capability. The car was equipped with a reliable engine, which practically had no weak points and, with timely and high-quality service, broke down extremely rarely.
All-wheel drive transmission requires special attention, and its weak spots- rear axle reducer.
The suspension and gearbox do not stand out in anything special, except for the high cost of repairs.
Handling, dynamics and brakes are the positive aspects of the "first" Honda CR-V. And unimportant noise insulation is the negative side of the crossover.
Year of issue: 1997
Engine: 2.0
I own a car since 2008, bought it with a mileage of 76 thousand km in Japan, now the odometer is 180 thousand km. I have never regretted buying, the car is very reliable, it has never seriously broken down in 5 years of operation, only current regulated costs, internal combustion engine oil, fluids, scheduled replacement of the timing belt. Of minor breakdowns: in the fifth year of operation, the upper bank of the internal combustion engine radiator began to leak, the entire radiator had to be replaced with a Chinese duplicate, since the original comes out at 20 thousand rubles, which is expensive. I changed the front stabilizer struts, since there was a slight knock when driving through small irregularities, the wheel bearing rustled at a mileage of 175 thousand km, after a long drive in 40 degrees of frost, the front CV joints had to be replaced, as the anthers broke, and the grease immediately collected dirt. These are all the breakdowns that happened during operation, I even still drive with original candles ignition, as they are still in good condition.
The advantages of the first generation CR-V are obvious: the highest reliability, so that it does not happen, it will take you home, the capacity of the cabin, its ability to transform into one large bed or, if necessary, into a cargo-passenger version, spaciousness for passengers, very predictable in management, high ground clearance and plug-in All-wheel drive will not make you nervous when driving through snowdrifts and washed-out primers (within reasonable limits).
Cons: not very cheap original spare parts, due to the absence of a gimbal tunnel, the frameless body undergoes a slight elastic twisting deformation, which is felt by the creaking skin when passing large irregularities. The disease of the automatic transmission of this entire series, when the box starts to switch with a slight jerk, but this does not lead to a breakdown, especially since the defect manifests itself only when the automatic transmission is not warmed up, so you can live with it, and even more, at the service station it is not recommended to treat this as defect, but as a feature of the model.
The rest of the car is wonderful, I want the same, only new, but unfortunately, they have not been produced for more than 10 years. I don't like the 4th generation CR-V, as it has lost all the typical CR-V features of a moderately brutal car, with the usual table in the trunk, the absence of a longitudinal console, and the ability to transform the cabin through different folding options rear seats, I'm not talking about the reduced ground clearance and other characteristics that affect the cross-country ability, which, starting from the third generation, are inexorably falling, turning the CR-V into just an urban pontovoy station wagon.
Station wagon with increased cross-country ability- the original idea of the engineers for the Honda CR-V model. Due to unknown circumstances, the design has undergone changes and in 1995 Honda SRV RD 1 made its debut in the "crossover" class. At that time, the brand made a splash. No one could offer such a potential customer before: spaciousness of the cabin, high ground clearance, a combination of power with fuel consumption and availability in service. The closest rival was Toyota RAV-4. But it was also significantly inferior in a number of indicators, about which a little below.
Specifications
Construction, platform / frame
Honda SRV 1996 is partially built on a platform from the Honda Integra. Percentage: 25% to 75%. The engineers originally planned to develop a completely new base for the crossover. The catastrophic lack of time, the market dictating its conditions, left their mark.
Engine
The success of the Honda CR V RD 1 has largely depended on power unit... The first and only, until 1999, a 2.0-liter engine in a classic in-line design: four cylinders, a drive belt, two camshafts and 130HP under the hood. Catalog index B20B.
During the operation, there were no complaints. Surprisingly high-quality and well-coordinated motor the first time. But not without error - a defect in the fastening bolt of the pulley crankshaft... After the first replacement of the timing belt, it broke when tightened. There is a version that the reason is exceeding the maximum effort. Whether this is so is not known for certain.
Externally, the power unit is similar to the engine from the Honda Integra V - 1.8 liters, with an increased cylinder diameter. At 5400 rpm, the torque is 180 Nm. In general, not bad for a "off-road wagon".
Checkpoint
Gearbox Honda CR V 1996 is presented in the classic version: five-speed mechanics or four-speed automatic. In general, there are no complaints about the work, only the annual service is not cheap, from 25,000 rubles. And given the age of the model, even more costs.
But here, too, the problem was solved by installing contract transmissions. It cost 10,000 rubles less. Cheap and cheerful.
Suspension
Suspension type: independent double wishbone at the front and "MacPherson" at the rear. This made it possible to literally absorb small and medium bumps on the road without recoil, vibrations, knocking on wheel, vehicle interior.
Carrying body with reinforced wishbones. Brake system disc type in front, drum in the back. Clearance 20.5 cm.
Exterior
Honda SRV of the first generation is characterized by stylistic solutions in the form of overlays on the wings, the manufacture of the front and rear bumpers made of polymeric materials. For Europe and the CIS, the model was supplied with a front chrome grille, and for the US market, it was exclusively made of black plastic, matching the color of the bumper.
Dimensions: 4510 x 1780 x 1770 mm. Wheelbase: 2620mm, and the restyled version is five centimeters longer.
Interior
Spaciousness and affordability - these are the properties for which the consumer from Japan and the USA fell in love with the model. The horizontal cushion of the driver's seat, the automatic transmission petals attached to the steering wheel, the perfectly folding rear row of seats, everything is well thought out, that there are no complaints at all.
But the main highlight is hidden in the luggage compartment floor - a portable picnic table. Looking ahead, this "zest" was preserved up to the fifth model.
Restyling
In 1999, the Honda CRV concern presented a novelty - a modernized version of the stock SRV 1 motor. This did not happen on the initiative of engineers, but under pressure from the owners of the model. The reason is that a standard power unit for a car weight of one and a half tons is not enough for active operation. New designation 2.0 L B20Z 150HP L4.
The modification received an increased compression ratio, the amount of lift of the exhaust valves, a new shape of the exhaust manifold. This contributed to an increase in the efficiency of the car: consumption was reduced by 17%. Urban 10 l / 100 km, mixed 8.4 l.
Available configurations and prices
The Japanese auto industry has one common feature - the gradation of product markets. These are the following geographic regions:
- "Svoya Strana" - a Honda CRV 1996 engine with a power rating of 147 hp;
- Europe and the CIS - 130 hp;
- USA - 128 HP
The restyled version differs from the first generation by the presence of a safe ABS braking, pre-installed discs 15 inches. Drive type: permanent front or optional full (Real-Time AWD).
In the secondary market, for a model with preinstalled mechanics, they will ask for 380,000 rubles, and for an automatic machine, they are 25,000 rubles cheaper.
Main competitors
There is only one rival in the "weight" category, and he comes from Japan - Toyota RAV-4. At that time, there were no models in Europe that could withstand the Honda CR V.
Features of the model that distinguish it from competitors
Since the closest competitor was the Toyota RAV-4, there is nothing to compare, since the advantage of the Honda SRV is obvious: a high-quality engine, moderate fuel consumption, a modernized double-wishbone suspension at the front, in contrast to the classic "MacPherson" at Toyota.
Cons, problems
- during technical inspections, repairs, be extremely careful and careful. Regular ABS sensors are fragile, with insignificant mechanical stress, they crack at the base;
- CR V RD1 models manufactured between 1997 and 1999 are known for their premature crosspiece wear cardan shaft, which is carefully pressed into the body of the metal shaft. At that time, not all service centres had equipment for high-quality pressing of crosspieces. It got to the point that the owners dismantled the rear propeller shaft and successfully drove on the front.
Pros, dignity
- Moderate fuel economy;
- Compact dimensions, like for a crossover car;
- Maintaining the leading positions of the top three since 1995;
- Modernization of the car as a whole and its individual mechanisms.
Output
It's a shame that the 1997 Honda CR V was discontinued in 2001. But, despite this, the "fight" for it is still going on in the secondary market. It takes a lot of time to get the first generation CR V, but it's worth it.
Video: Main Road Honda CR-V I
Video: # The most honest review of the owner. 1999 Honda CR-V RD1
