For a time, Honda ruled the sport utility or crossover vehicle market with the CR-V back when it was being assembled locally.

Back then it was a competition between the CR-V and the Toyota RAV4. Today, the SUV market is crowded with the CR-V having to fight with a lot of similar vehicles from other Japanese brands and Korean automakers.

A week-long test drive of the CR-V recalls the stuff of what made it the number one SUV for a number of years and why the crossover vehicles grew from a niche market into the vehicle of choice for many motorists.

Honda precision finish and trim. Smooth performance. Advantageous and safe high driving position. Utility and multi-function. Fun.

A lot of motorists now prefer owning SUVs, with four-wheel drive or not, that are quite comfortable driving in both the city and the countryside.

Over the years, the competition has struck a kind of balance in a lot of departments. Things are more or less equal in fit, trim and finish. Engine performance, ride and handling.

These days the battle is in the looks, and details in comfort and convenience features, and the light touches of luxury. And lately with fuel prices fluctuating ever higher in the upper reaches, engine choice and fuel efficiency also plays.

The CR-V can still compete among the best in its class. It has the distinctive Honda looks.

No leather in the test unit though, that comes with a higher end CR-V. It has a decent entertainment with the all important iPod interface and great speakers.

The test unit was a CR-V 4x2 with the 150 horsepower 2-liter engine mated to an automatic transmission and a max 19.4 kilogram per meter of torque at 4200 rpm. It has some of the passive and active safety features expected in upper scale SUVs: Dual airbags, anti-lock brakes and electronic brakeforce distribution, parking sensors.

It handles pretty well in the city. Did well on the expressway. Was competent in back roads of Batangas and Laguna.

The only beef with the test unit was that, despite, the listing of a grade logic control in the AT, it was sluggard on the extremely steep back road up to Tagaytay from the Taal Lake below. The driver has to shift quickly from 1 to 2 and D to make good time on the climb.

All in all, Honda still has a great entry in the SUV market.