By JAMES RAIA
www.theweeklydriver.com

There wasn't much to complain about with the previous Honda CR-V. It provided a keen balance of versatility, comfort and utility vehicle refinement. But with the 2007 redesign, the manufacturer has done what Honda always seems to do. It took something good and made it better.

For starters, the new CR-V has a restyled exterior. Its previous boxy appearance has been streamlined with elements of BMW and Audi. The new CR-V is also three inches shorter than its predecessor, but the wheelbase and interior dimensions are nearly the same as previous models.

Honda further upgraded the vehicle by removing the exterior tire from the the tailgate, thus eliminating some slight rear window vision issues. Gone also is the swing out rear cargo door. It's been replaced by a liftgate that operates without opening the glass window.