Honda CR-V

The Honda is a superb buy, though it is limited by not offering seven seats.

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Rating:
On the road price: £21,185 - £26,210
For : Comfortable, car-like, superb engines, classy and well built
Against : Lacks flexibility, no seven-seat option, ride is firm

Driving
The CR-V comes with two excellent engines. The 2.0-litre petrol uses i-VETC technology, and is silky-smooth, revvy and eager. Most buyers, however, choose the 2.2-litre i-CTDi diesel, which delivers class-leading performance. It’s helped by a slick six-speed gearbox shared with the Accord saloon but adopted for four-wheel-drive. The powerplant picks up strongly from below 1,500rpm, and at the test track, the CR-V recorded a fast 9.3-secs 0-60mph time. Out on the road, the engine’s punchy nature makes the Honda a perfect companion for long trips, and overtaking presents few problems. It may not be as quiet as a Hyundai Santa Fe, but it’s still refined at motorway speeds. Its cornering ability is excellent too, with an agile and responsive nature that belies its size. A low centre of gravity boosts stability and makes it car-like to drive. It’s not all good news, though, for the sporty suspension offers limited comfort over bumps – especially for passengers.

Marketplace
Refinement was Honda’s priority when creating the third-generation CR-V. It wanted to create an SUV that was as good to drive as a saloon, but still offered the practicality buyers needed. We think it’s a real success. It’s marginally taller than many rivals, but the well proportioned lies disguise this well. The lower half of the body looks chunky, with black plastic sump guards and flared wheelarches, while the top half is much smoother thanks to a window profile that arches at the rear. We’re not totally convinced by the fussy nose, but it’s a bold design nonetheless. This helps give it distinction from rivals such as the Hyundai Santa Fe, Nissan X-Trail, Mitsubishi Outlander and Volkswagen Tiguan.

Owning
The Honda’s air of quality is apparent inside. From the seats to the stylish steering wheel and clever handbrake, there’s a real sense of sophistication. Build quality is excellent, as is the driving position, which is enhanced by a high-mounted gearlever. And despite being shorter than rivals (and having a shorter wheelbase), the Honda offers plenty of space for passengers. It doesn’t feel quite as roomy as the best, but there’s ample legroom and the flat floor is handy. However, there’s a major stumbling block: the Honda can only seat five. A third row of chairs doesn’t feature on the options list, and this limits its practicality as family transport. At least it’s great value. The price seems high, but so too are spec levels; what’s more there’s even an optional Advanced Safety pack, which brings adaptive cruise control, active front lighting and the collision mitigation brake system (although it isn’t cheap, at £2,000). We expected better economy returns than 36.4mpg, though, and while dealers are excellent, check-ups are expensive. It’s therefore a good job that strong retained values compensate.