Honda CR-V   Women's view

Hondas CR-V is the answer to the school run, June Neary decides this week

It doesnt really matter what CR-V stands for. Compact Recreational Vehicle will probably mean as much to you as it did to me. The fact is, Hondas CR-V is the 4x4 that women like me have been waiting for. My nephew, now ten, has always enjoyed the lofty view a four-wheel drive affords.

We tried out one of the very large contenders in the sector a few weeks ago and lets just say its Amazonian proportions delighted Iain and the friend who came home to tea, but its sheer size was, for me, a nightmare near school where parking is at a premium. The third generation CR-V Im looking at here, on the other hand, is in many ways, a roomy hatchback on big wheels. It doesnt look as if it yearns to be plugging up a muddy hillside in first gear. Its happy around town and its neat dimensions mean that its as manageable as the average family car.

To some extent, its what the CR-V doesnt have which makes it such a practical option for family driving. It shuns heavy military-type transmission thats thirsty on fuel like some of the opposition. Instead, its 'Dual Pump' 4x4 system automatically introduces all-wheel traction when you need it, but otherwise reverts to two-wheel drive. Its designed more for grass and gravel rather than mud and snow. There's no second gearstick or differential lock to worry about. You just get in and drive. Although it can despatch the speed bumps near school with ease, it gives a smooth, comfortable ride. Inside, the car will seat five in absolute comfort.

The driving position is crisp and businesslike, the controls clear and logical. I liked the clever day-to-day touches. Like the CR-Vs rear and front corner parking sensors. Unlike conventional front or rear-mounted sensor systems, this set-up prevents you from clipping cars when negotiating tight parking spaces.

Which is a boon if youve a husband, wife or partner who cant park! Privacy glass is also a common CR-V feature that owners swear by, preventing undesirables from looking into your car and protecting your kids from the sun. I appreciated the high-tech touches in the cabin too. Even the entry-level SE model I tried features vehicle stability assist, trailer stability assist, anti lock brakes and electronic brake assist. Manage to fall off the road in one of these and youll have excelled yourself.

Should you manage to defeat the electronics of the CR-V, theres driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags as well as a rollover sensor. Aside from the technology to save us from our own excesses, theres also a driver information system, and a CD stereo with air conditioning. Plus theres an auxiliary/MP3 socket for the radio, something which should have long been standard on passenger cars but which is only now becoming commonplace, some four years after the iPod gained mass popularity.

If you want a family car with out and out performance, then the CR-V is not the obvious choice. That said, thanks to a 150bhp 2.0-litre engine in this version, this Honda is by no means sluggish. Its nippy around town, while on the open road it offers as much verve as a warmish shopping hatch and you wont wince when you pay for your petrol.

The engine is typically Honda, a little more advanced than the norm. The 2.0-litre unit, thanks to clever design, is the size - and the weight - of a 1.6, producing rest to sixty in around ten seconds.

The 2.2-litre i-CTDi diesel engine is also likely to be a popular choice its one of the most refined diesels youll find anywhere. The centre of gravity has been dropped by fully 35mm over the MK2 CR-V and Honda claims to have benchmarked the best family saloons in its class (rather than other SUVs) when it comes to handling. 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 using a suspension system thats had more resource poured into it than many of the semi-agricultural setups youll find on rival offerings.

As a second car for the family, even the cheapest CR-V would be a pricey option, at £19,415 for the SE. However, unlike the majority of shopping hatches that sit in the drive all weekend, the Honda would come into its own for family outings. I enjoyed the manual version of the car. The gearbox is again typical of Honda, allowing fluid movement through the gears though theres an automatic option.

Whatever model you choose, equipment levels are generous.

The short answer is yes, please. For day-to-day needs, the CR-V is a joy to drive. It has all the advantages of a family car, but its a lot more fun. If your weekend pursuits include muddy walks with the dog, picnics with the children or a good, long hike with your partner when you can get away from it all, the CR-V will come into its recreational own.

17th June 2008