The best way to get to know a car is to log at least 400 kilometers on the odometer. My preferred method is to pack my bags and leave the urban landscape for a far away place. The destination of choice is my hometown — Baguio City.

Given the horrid state of our road network, I can honestly say that the trek from Manila to Baguio and back is a good slice of what our local roads have to offer. From rutted highways and gapped concrete, to smooth asphalt and cambered corners, right down to some mild off-road detours, the conditions will certainly bring out the best (or worst) that a test vehicle has to offer.

I am no stranger to the Honda CR-V, a classy SUV that is geared towards motoring in the urban environment. It looks good, of course, especially with the latest updates for 2010.

The two-step front grille with a honeycomb design, refreshed bumpers and a new alloy wheel design make this model look more masculine compared to last year. This works well to enhance the family car vibes, and in that respect, the CR-V delivers.

The spacious interior is large enough for five adults to sit comfortably. There is plenty of legroom for all passengers, even for those that are of above average height. The cabin is also surprisingly airy. With all of that headroom traveling long distances is very comfortable. The rear seats can be reclined for added comfort, and handy compartments abound. Luggage is swallowed by the rear compartment easily, and should more space be needed, the rear seats can be folded and tumbled forward. You can load two full-sized bicycles upright if required. The interior is indeed versatile.

Techies will appreciate the excellent sound quality of the stereo and how iPods and MP3 players can be interfaced with ease.

The CR-V stands out when you take the wheel. The driving position is ideal for long drives and when adjusted properly, you get a very commanding view of the road ahead. The captain’s chairs also do a very good job of fighting fatigue. Once we got moving, I noticed that the handling was more direct thanks to the tweaks done to the suspension.

The CR-V isn’t only meant to be at home on the urban landscape. The Realtime 4WD (on the top-of-the-line variant) supplies power to the rear wheels when the system detects traction loss on either of the front-driven wheels. This was tested when I took the CR-V up to Mount Sto. Tomas on a wet and muddy afternoon. Five adults in the car, a steep and slippery ascent, with sections covered with slippery rocks and mud, and the CR-V never lost its poise despite being shod with road tires. You will feel when the rear differential is called to action, and an indicator lamp on the dashboard flashes to indicate when the CR-V sends power to all four wheels.

Power remains the same from last year, The 2.4-liter variant generates 170ps at 5,800rpm. Highway cruising is relaxed. Climbing steep ascents is no problem either.

For the environment conscious, all variants come with fuel-economy and range indicators on the liquid crystal display of the instrument panel. According to the gauge I managed to average a very reasonable 9.3km/L, even with a heavy foot. A better reading would have appeared if I consciously tried to save on fuel. Of course, all engines meet strict EURO4 levels.

On the safety front, all CR-Vs come with dual SRS and side airbags with OPDS (Occupant Position Detection System) — a clever device that detects weight, height, and the position of the front passenger. Using these factors, the sensors decide whether to deploy the front airbags or not. That’s an excellent device that all modern cars should have.

The entry level 2.0L M/T 2WD starts at P1,275,000, while the top-of-the-line 2.4L A/T 4WD (with the special Brilliant White Pearl paintjob) that you see here is priced at P1,545,000. Have no fear. This crossover can handle whatever road conditions you can throw at it.