The Honda CR-V.
ROADTEST FACTFILE
Car...Honda CR-V
Model...2.0 i-VTEC EX auto
mpg (comb cycle)... 33.6
CO2 emissions...193g/km
Price...£27,550
Loaned by Northwood Honda
IT’S not easy to get noticed in the crowded sports utility vehicle market these days.
All the major manufacturers have an offering in the class and, by and large, they are much of a muchness.
So it takes a special beast to stand out from the crowd but what is it that adds that je ne sais quoi to make the punter plump for your model above everyone else’s in a large herd.
Well, having more screens inside than Newport’s multiplex can’t hurt, enough space for a major cat-swinging event is a good thing and enough state-of-the-art toys to fill Hamleys has got to be a plus.
But it has to be more than that.
In this day and age, with money too tight to mention, you have to have a complete product that ticks every box and puts the opposition in the shade.
Honda’s latest model CR-V hits all the right buttons and the model I tested from Northwood Honda showed me enough to see this wonderful vehicle is up there with the best in a crowded market.
For one thing, it’s got a great engine, with Honda technology giving the diesel and petrol engines the sort of oomph you expect from one of the world’s top manufacturers.
I found the automatic two-litre petrol model I had on test extremely responsive and the auto gearbox was no hindrance when it came to smooth, speedy acceleration with bags of torque.
The stats don’t do justice to the performance but the bare figures are the CRV automatic version goes from 0 to 60 in 12.2 seconds, with the manual box knocking two seconds off that time.
Maximum speed is around 110mph for the automatic but what is really important is that at cruising speeds the CR-V is nigh-on silent and super smooth.
This is also reflected in the fuel figures, which are remarkably thrifty for such a big beast. The automatic petrol model returns around 41 miles per gallon (45 on the diesel) on the extra urban cycle and 25mpg (25) around the town. All this from a two-litre single overhead cam i-VTECH engine
Add to this superb handling, which makes the CR-V feel so much more like a sporty saloon than anything else, fantastic braking and a cushioned ride on the most pothole-riddled Island roads and you start to get an idea of what sort of performance you can expect from this fine vehicle.
But practicality comes in many forms and space and luggage capacity are vital to this type of car. I found it markedly roomier than many similar vehicles.
There was lots of space in the boot, too, and the low load-shelf made it easy to pack and unpack shopping or luggage.
Well, that’s all the practicality out of the way but what about the bells and whistles? There literally are loads of these in the CR-V, particularly when anyone comes within any distance of the collision sensors — the bleeping from these keep you well clear of annoying bumps in the tighter spaces you may find yourself in.
The added bonus of the rear-view camera and automatically adjusting wing mirrors to aid parking and reversing in difficult spots and Honda have you well covered against unfortunate accidents.
Smart modern sat-nav technology, a high-tech sound system and, this is the best bit, twin DVD screens to keep the back-seat passengers amused on those long journeys and you have a package for a thoroughly modern vehicle.
All in all, I really liked the CR-V. It had everything you would want from a spacious, speedy, imposing family car.
So get along to Northwood Honda and give one a test drive today.