Review of the new Honda CR-V 2.0i-VTEC

Once upon a time, Honda's CR-V was perceived as a rather sensible compact 4x4 - especially in comparison with its rather wacky HR-V stablemate. With the demise of the HR-V however, the CR-V now has the space to live a little and in third generation form, it's as cutting edge as you could reasonably expect a car like this to be. Here, we're looking at the version most UK customers tend to go for, fitted with the 150bhp 2.0-litre i-VTEC engine.

Let's not get too insular though. There's a whole world outside the Honda marque and when prospective buyers consider a CR-V, they're also looking at cars like the Land Rover Freelander 2, the Nissan X-Trail, the Mitsubishi Outlander and the Toyota RAV4. With Peugeot's 4007 and Citroen's C-Crosser also looking to muscle in for a significant slice of the market, you can see why the CR-V needs to be very good indeed to even stand a chance of wiping its own nose.

Two engines are available from launch. The aspirational powerplant is undoubtedly the 2.2-litre i-CTDI diesel, but that's a more expensive piece of kit and in this market, money talks which is the reason why more CRV-s will be sold with the 2.0-litre petrol unit on test here. In case you're experiencing deja vu, it's also found in the Civic range and makes a healthy 150bhp. It'll get to 60mph in a respectable 10.1 seconds if you choose the manual transmission, the five-speed auto model lagging with an 11.9 second showing against the watch.

Peak power arrives at a nosebleed 6,200rpm, so you'll need to rev this thing to make progress and if you're loaded down with people and gear, the modest 190Nm torque figure may well prompt you to look at the diesel engine. With a kerb weight of 1,498kg, this CR-V is still a good deal lighter than many of its direct competitors, a RAV4 weighing in at 1,639kg and a Hyundai Santa Fe CRTD a whopping 1,940kg. This means that although the engine isn't hugely endowed with torque, you'll still enjoy a manageable torque to weight ratio.

"The CR-V 2.0 i-VTEC has metamorphosed from a car bought by squares into a very well rounded vehicle"

Compact 4x4 drivers are often a more pragmatic bunch than the 'lifestyle' image of their vehicles might suggest and given that overall mileages driven in these cars is often below average, this petrol version could well work out the more cost effective buy. Fuel economy is signally improved over its predecessor, the combined figure rising from 31.4 to 34.9mpg and emissions have also been slashed, dropping from a rather hefty 215g/km down to 194g/km.

A more car-like ride comes courtesy of independent suspension all round with a multilink rear set-up. The centre of gravity has been dropped by fully 35mm and Honda claims to have benchmarked the best family hatchbacks in its class (rather than other 4x4s) when it comes to handling. The lightweight engine (which extensively uses aluminium and plastic materials to keep the kilos down) certainly helps to promote an agile front end. Forget the cumbersome roly-poly road manners and ponderous ride quality still common to some cars in this class. The CR-V has been engineered to be pin sharp straight out of the box.

This matters. It matters because, if you're honest with yourself, you never take small 4x4s off road anyway. It matters because it means you're not trying to portray some sort of lifestyle you don't have. And, above all, it matters because the CR-V now corners more crisply and safely than ever before and, despite the best efforts of the Romans, our roads tend to be very twisty.

The CR-V can handle gentle off-road tracks thanks to its four-wheel drive system but think of this as an all-wheel drive equipped car rather than a 'proper' 4x4. The system has been tweaked a little to direct even more torque to the rear wheels when the front wheels start slipping. This is actually handier if you're planning to use the CR-V in bad weather conditions or on an Alpine skiing jaunt.

The internal dimensions aren't far removed from the old CR-V, a car which always was one of the more spacious compact 4x4s. Load space has been increased, despite the internally housed spare, while access has been improved by bigger doors that open wider. The interior features metallic elements on the dash with soft textured black trim, while the front seats cater for this nation's ever-expanding posteriors, being larger and more comfortable than before. The sunroof on top-spec models has also been supersized and can be closed off with two electric blinds which are trimmed in the same material as the roof lining.

This feature was debuted in the Civic and, like the Civic again, the CR-V features a relocated gear lever. Now at the base of the centre stack, it's been brought closer to the steering wheel, creating more floor space. Equipment levels are generous with an eight-way powered driver's seat, leather upholstery, front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera offered according to trim level. Should you really want to play the urban gangster, there's even a 19-inch wheel option. No chrome spinners though.

The rear seats split 60:40 at the base and 40:20:40 at the back and slide back and forth to maximise either leg or luggage room. They even recline to really let rear passengers flake out on longer trips. When not required, the rear seats can be tumbled forwards and stowed upright to create a space big enough for a pair of mountain bikes. You won't even need to remove the front wheels. Extra versatility is served up with the 'Double Deck' luggage storage system created by a shelf that sits just over a foot off the load floor. This hinged slab allows luggage below to remain easily accessible but out of view.

The Honda CR-V 2.0 i-VTEC is a vehicle that has benefited from a decade of development on the CR-V product line and, frankly, it shows. If you need 4x4 presence and practicality without feeling as if you're driving something from an army surplus auction, this is one of the best choices around from less than £20,000.

TOP 5 CR-V DEALS

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Honda CR-V 2.2 i-DTEC EX 5dr Diesel Estate
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