2000 Honda CR-V Owner's Manual - Page 152

Driving Guidelines Your CR-V has higher ground clearance than a passenger vehicle designed only for use on pavement. Higher ground clearance has many advantages for off-highway driving. It allows you to travel over bumps and unpaved roads. It also provides good visibility so you can anticipate problems earlier. These advantages come at some cost. Because your vehicle is taller and rides higher off the ground, it has a high center of gravity. This means that your vehicle can tip or roll over if you make abrupt turns. Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles. To prevent the risk of rollover or loss of control: Take corners at slower speeds than you would with a passenger vehicle. Driving Avoid sharp turns and abrupt maneuvers whenever possible. Do not modify your vehicle in any way that would raise the center of gravity. Do not cany heavy cargo on the roof. Four-wheel Drive Models Your CR-V is equipped with a unique four-wheel drive (4WD) system. Normally, power is delivered only to the front wheels. When the system senses a loss of front-wheel traction, it automatically transfers some power to the rear wheels. This gives you better traction and mobility. While this system can provide increased traction on slippery surfaces, you still need to exercise the same care when accelerating, steering, and braking that you would in a two-wheel drive vehicle. See page 177 for additional guidelines for driving off-highway.