Full disclosure - we don't like our 2008 CRV. We got it 4 years ago from my MIL just before our second kid arrived. I had a 2007 base Fit 5-speed, but realized that with two rear-facing seats in the back I simply could NOT safely operate the vehicle, nor could my wife ride in the front passenger seat (we're both tall-ish). The MIL gave us a solid deal on her CRV, only costing us a couple thousand after selling the Fit.
But as I said, we don't like it. The fuel economy is mediocre (21.9 MPG cumulative), it's slow, it's really bigger than we need especially now that the girls are in front facing seats, and most significantly it's massively uncomfortable. Go to any Honda or CRV owners' forum and you'll read thread after thread regarding the woeful ergonomics of the seats. They are flat, wide, have almost no bolstering and very little lumbar support. My MIL also had an aftermarket leather cover kit installed (Roadwire), and the material is quite stiff and unyielding. Living in far south Austin and working downtown, my 12-mile one-way commute can easily take an hour. I have two herniated discs as well as chronic sciatica, and by the time I arrive I'm in real pain.
I've tried everything that's financially prudent - lumbar pads, gel cushion, even the mail order NYC taxicab beads. I've explored the possibility of a salvage yard swap with an Acura TL or RDX, but the CRV has a unique mounting foot as well as a funky offset that would make a swap impossible, or at least prohibitively expensive.
I was wondering if maybe an upholstery shop could reshape my seat foam, or even modify a salvaged Acura seat cover and pads to fit the CRVs?
Any other suggestions? Because every time I ride in my coworkers 2006 Volvo V70, I start thinking of plans to somehow trade the Honda for a Swedish wagon. Have you sat in one of those? Any year. The seats are SUBLIME. And when you spend 2 hours a day sitting, the seats MATTER.