Just three years after introducing the CR-V’s second generation, Honda unveiled a facelifted version, which kept on the market for another two years.
The Japanese carmaker shook the automotive world when it introduced the first CR-V at the 1996 Chicago Auto Show. Honda was mainly known for its compact Civic range and the mid-size sedan Accord, but not as an SUV maker. In 2001, it introduced the second generation, and the customers stormed the doors. In Europe, the main problem was the lack of a diesel engine. Honda didn’t like the oil-burners but made one for the facelifted version.

From the styling point of view, there were not too many changes to the car, but the headlamps were different and sported two headlamps for the low and the high-beam, respectively. Its front bumper featured a black lower grille and a plastic shield. Other carmakers adopted the same solution but painted it in silver and called it a shield. In the back, the 2004 CR-V featured the same flip-up glass and right-hinged rear door.

The roomy interior offered five actual seats, with three-point belts for everyone, which was not that common in those days. One chapter where the CR-V was excellent was the trunk size, which could get up to 2040 liters (72.0 cu-ft) of space with the split-folding bench lowered and 950 liters (33.5 cu-ft) with the seats up.

Under the hood, apart from the 2.0-liter and the 2.4-liter gasoline engines, the Europeans received a long-awaited diesel version that boosted the CR-V sales.