Insurance Group: 28
MPG: 43.5
CO2: 171
0-62 Mph: 9.6 secs
BHP: 148 BHP
Range: 555 miles
PROS: Reliable, durable, practical, reasonably economical
CONS: Limited off-road capabilities, noisy engine, bland image
The Honda CR-V 2.2i-DTEC SE+ is fitted with a 2.2-litre diesel engine which produces 148bhp and 258lb-ft of torque. It's a good engine and is much more suited to the CR-V than the petrol unit. 0-62mph takes 9.6 seconds, making it quicker than the petrol, and you'll be out of puff at 118mph.
The CR-V handles surprisingly well for a such a large car with very little body roll through the corners. The ride is also very comfortable thanks to excellent suspension. However, refinement is an issue and a fair amount of engine noise makes its way into the cabin.
The CR-V cuts a relatively attractive profile but is almost instantly forgettable. This is forgivable in most cars but the only reason you'd buy a soft-roader is to stand out from the crowd and the CR-V just doesn't.
It's not quite as well specified as some of the other models in the range either. You get alloys, air-con, electric windows, cruise control, rear parking sensors, part alcanta seats and a CD player with MP3 connectivity. You can specify metallic paint for £490 but climate control, sat-nav and Bluetooth connectivity are unavailable altogether.
Honda build their cars like no other manufacturer and they are renowned for their bank-vault build quality. You'd have to be very unlucky to have serious problems with the CR-V but in the unlikely event that this is the case, Honda supply a three year/90,000 mile warranty.
The CR-V is getting on a bit and scored only four stars in the Euro NCAP tests which is mediocre for a large car such as this. You do get a full suite of airbags and driver aids included as standard though.
The CR-V is very practical and comes with 556-litres of luggage space on offer with the rear seats up and 955-litres on offer with the rear seats folded down.
At £24,550, it is disappointing that Honda fails to provide a few more goodies such as Bluetooth and sat-nav and, as such, the purchase price could be seen as a bit steep.
However, the 2.2i-DTEC's diesel engine means that running costs are much lower than in the petrol model. You should average 43.5mpg and CO2 emissions of 171g/km mean that the CR-V falls under VED band H which is actually pretty reasonable for a car of this size.
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