Review of the new Honda CR-V Range

Let's assume for a moment that you want a compact 4x4 but have absolutely no interest whatsoever in going off road. It would be used for the school run, pressed into duty for continental holidays and may be asked to do some light towing. Above all, it would need to drive like a car. The best pick? Probably Honda's now improved CR-V.

Do you know what the most disquieting thing about compact SUVs is? The nagging sense of dishonesty. All too often these vehicles are trying to portray a rugged image when, for the most part, they're utterly hopeless as soon as the tarmac runs out. In the real world, the most owners will actually want to do is to haul a trailer or get out of a muddy car park. And Honda, more than any other car maker, is a company that lives in the real world, designing its products to suit.

One car to benefit from this rather refreshing approach is the third generation CR-V, now facelifted and at last available with an automatic gearbox for diesel models. Here's a model which, though still able to deal with towing and slimy surfaces, for the most part concentrates on providing what most compact SUV owners really want: a more pragmatic and useful on-road package. Put simply, it drives on road better than its rivals.

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' SUV. 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 more handy if you're planning to use the CR-V in bad weather conditions or on an Alpine skiing jaunt.

Honda claims to have benchmarked the best family hatchbacks in its class (rather than other 4x4s) when it comes to handling. There's the kind of independent suspension set-up you'd be more likely to see on a mildly sporty car, plus the centre of gravity has been dropped by fully 35mm. As a result, you can forget the cumbersome roly-poly road manners and ponderous ride quality still common to some cars in this class.

"Put simply, it drives on road better than its rivals.."

And those improved looks? Well, there's a fresh front bumper and grille, a revised rear bumper, and colour coded bumpers on EX grades. There are smarter alloy wheels and upgraded fabrics and plastics inside, giving the CR-V interior a more premium finish. A slicker audio console design has also been introduced, while improved sound deadening around the engine and cabin makes the CR-V an even quieter and more relaxing car to drive.

Otherwise, it's as you were. 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.

As ever, two engine options are available. The petrol powerplant is a 2.0-litre unit based on the 1.8-litre i-VTEC petrol engine found in the Civic range, in this instance pumped up to produce 150bhp. It'll get to 60mph in a respectable 10.2 seconds but if you're loaded down with people and gear, the modest 190Nm torque figure may well prompt you to look at the diesel engine. This is the celebrated 2.2-litre i-DTEC diesel good for 150bhp but with a generously stuffed 350Nm of torque. If you're planning on towing anything, look no further than this unit. Equipment levels are generous with features like an eight-way powered driver's seat, leather upholstery, front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera offered according to trim level.

The Honda CR-V benefits from some of the highest residual values of any mid priced compact 4x4, with the 2.2 i-DTEC retaining a hefty 57% of its original value after three years. Compare that to 50% for the equivalent Nissan X-Trail, 52% for the Toyota RAV4, and 56% for the BMW X3 2.0d SE. The only car to pip the Honda in this regard is Land Rover's Freelander which works out very similarly in terms of cost per mile to the Honda. If you want to go off road, choose the Land Rover, if not go for the Honda. Some choices are as easy as that.

The diesel returns a combined fuel economy figure of 43.5mpg but don't overlook the 2.0-litre petrol which is good for 34.4mpg and which, due to lower purchase prices and cheaper servicing costs, doesn't really work out any more expensive to run over a three year ownership period. It's also marginally quicker. All CR-V models fall into insurance group 12. Emissions are 171g/km for the diesel and 190g/km for the petrol-engined car.

As long as you can live with styling that some find rather awkward and have little or no intention of going off road, it's very hard to find significant cause for complaint with the Honda CR-V. The engine range could be a little broader and prices could be a tad lower but we're scraping around now. It remains a 4x4 that drives extremely well, has two brilliant powerplants, neat but unfussy interior styling and a reliability record that's second to none. Small wonder that the CR-V excels in customer satisfaction surveys.

The question remains whether buying a road-oriented 4x4 like the CR-V makes more sense than something like a Honda Accord Tourer, a vehicle that drives better, is quicker and more economical and which can hold more gear. That's your call. If you can make that case for the CR-V, you're unlikely to be disappointed.

TOP 5 CR-V DEALS

The results below show the top CR-V deals on buyacar

Honda CR-V 2.2 i-DTEC EX 5dr Diesel Estate
Price £25,036 Read CR-V Reviews	Save £3,244
Honda CR-V 2.2 i-DTEC ES 5dr Diesel Estate
Price £21,724 Read CR-V Reviews	Save £2,956
Honda CR-V 2.2 i-DTEC ES-T 5dr Auto Diesel Estate
Price £24,260 Read CR-V Reviews	Save £3,225
Honda CR-V 2.2 i-DTEC EX 5dr Auto Diesel Estate
Price £26,453 Read CR-V Reviews	Save £3,352
Honda CR-V 2.2 i-DTEC ES 5dr Auto Diesel Estate
Price £23,082 Read CR-V Reviews	Save £3,123
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