Honda CR-V sports utility vehicle

Drive

There are two engines available - a 2.0-litre petrol and a 2.2-litre i-DTEC turbodiesel - both producing 148bhp. The latter engine is the sensible choice as it has lots of performance and it's considerably cheaper to run. It's also more competent for towing if that's what you plan to use the car for. The petrol engine is adequate, but it needs to be worked hard to get the CR-V going. Both versions come with a six-speed manual gearbox that suits the Honda well. There's also an optional five-speed automatic gearbox, which is smooth most of the time, but can be a bit reluctant to change down a gear on occasions. The CR-V handles corners well, with minimal body roll considering its size, and light but accurate steering.

Comfort

The CR-V has a slightly firmer ride than most 4x4s but not to the point of being uncomfortable. There's very little wind and engine noise, but you will notice some roar from the tyres at motorway speeds. A panoramic glass roof is available as an option, which lets loads of light into the cabin and makes it a pleasant place to be.

Reliability

The CR-V scored four Euro NCAP stars for adult occupant protection and the same number for child protection. That's not a class best, but Honda has fitted the CR-V with plenty of safety equipment, including an advanced stability control system that counteracts a snaking caravan or trailer that you might be towing. EX models come with Honda's Collision Mitigation Braking System that monitors the distance of the car in front and prepares the CR-V for impact if it senses an imminent collision. Honda is renowned for its reliable cars and the CR-V finished ninth in the 2010 JD Power Satisfaction survey with a score of 82.7 per cent, which is excellent.

Practicality

With the rear seats in place the CR-V's boot has 556 litres of space, which is good. It's not particularly impressive when they're folded down though, as maximum loading capacity is 955 litres: this is bettered by most other 4x4s and estate cars. However, there's a panel that can be moved around to create a two-tier space, which is useful. The rear seats fold down individually to make it easer to load large items. The flat floor means that there's plenty of legroom for rear passengers and headroom is generous, too. Access is very easy all round and the rear seats slide back and forth to alternate between more space in the boot and better legroom for passengers.

Value for money

There are more affordable 4x4s available, but the Honda's generous levels of standard equipment make it a worthwhile buy. Entry-level SE models have electric windows all round, alloy wheels, air conditioning and a multi-function steering wheel. ES models are quite tempting though, as they add rear privacy glass, front and rear parking sensors, dual-zone climate control and more. Residual values are strong as there are relatively few second-hand CR-Vs available, so nearly new cars should hang on to their value well. 

Running costs

Petrol-engined CR-Vs aren't too costly to run given the car's size, but they're significantly more expensive to run than the diesel - expect 34.4mpg and emissions of 190g/km, which means £235 a year for Road Tax. The diesel is a much better bet with 43.5mpg and 171g/km so tax is £180. Diesels are in greater demand and have higher resale values as a result, too.