Prior to the CR-V, we had two generations of the Civic: an EG sedan (LXi), and an EK Sedan (VTi). All in all, as a young car lover, I was enamored by how well-made and fun to drive (according to my dad) Hondas are. Sadly, that same magic seemed to have been lost for a while. Back then, Honda was a major seller in the Philippines; now it exists as a decent brand. It’s not that the cars are bad, far from it, but rather it seems the market has moved on to more affordable but just as well-equipped cars from rival brands.

Keen to reignite the passion for Honda, I was invited to a one-day event to experience the newest products, the updated CR-V and the all-new Prelude. Starting with the CR-V, I won’t get into the specific specs (wait for our full review!), but mechanically speaking, it remains the same; the lineup was just reworked for the updated version. Gone is the gasoline turbo AWD, replaced by the HuNT, a front-wheel drive entry-level non-hybrid. There are now two hybrid variants: the e:HEV VX (two-wheel-drive), and the RS is now the sole AWD e:HEV model.

We were given the chance to drive the CR-V on and off-road, and I’ll focus on the latter. Modern motorists might laugh at the idea of considering the CR-V as an off-roader, but the truth is the Real Time All-Wheel-Drive System is what cemented the reputation for this particular model. Every generation of the CR-V came with AWD, and each one was more than capable of tackling the rougher roads. Things have changed, though. At the CR-V's class and price point, we now have more dedicated off-roaders with locking diffs, this, and terrain mode; the CR-V keeps things simple; it relies on its built-in system.

Our off-road course consisted of inclines, deep ruts, very rough roads, and even mud. Yet, the CR-V didn’t struggle at all; it breezily drove through each obstacle and surface without any drama. I’m not saying it can take on the most demanding trails, obviously; it would struggle then, but we have to remember that this is a family SUV targeting a growing segment. More people are trying out overlanding and camping; the CR-V is perfect for that, able to take you and your family comfortably both on and off-road.

Now onto the Prelude, Uly had already gone in-depth, having had more seat time with the car, giving a very fair assessment of the new Prelude. The criticisms of the Prelude have been varied: too expensive, too soft, not sporty; these are the things that I’ve been reading and hearing prior to my chance to drive it. Having finally given it (a short) but fair shake, I have to say that the Prelude speaks to me.

Which is important: I’m not saying it's for everyone, but to me it felt complete, the type of car that I’d gladly pay my hard-earned money for. What makes the Prelude stand out to me is that it feels like a real all-rounder; you get the two-door coupe feel without sacrificing cargo space because the Prelude has plenty. Also, when driven normally its quiet, comfortable, and very efficient thanks to the e:HEV engine, but going through the drive modes changes the car completely. From city car to grand tourer, to a sports car, the Prelude can be those things. I like the steering and handling; it is very agile and light, and you know that deep down it has the bones of the Civic Type R.

Having not really given much thought to Honda as of late, I have to say that the brand still knows what it's doing. All the things that make a Honda desirable are still there, but now with the added relevance of sustainability. The CR-V and the Prelude stand as the new “halo” models in the Philippines with a huge responsibility of answering the question of “Are Hondas still worth it?” In short, yes, they are.