Honda CR-V
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 4 x 4 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 CR-V, 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.
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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. My only gripe in the cabin is the radio one of those irksome panels with tiny, fiddly knobs that prevent you tuning in to your favourite station. The two-way tailgate that became one of the CR-Vs trademark features has been redesigned in this latest version to improve functionality. It still keeps a separate upper glass hatch, but this is side-hinged like the tailgate, which means that the glass hatch no longer needs to be opened first in order to swing open the tailgate.
And 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. Hondas MPV experience shows in the sliding 60/40-split rear bench. These seats tumble forwards into a near-vertical storage position, freeing up enough room to fit two mountain bikes upright without having to remove their front wheels. Even with the seats in place the load volume ranges from 527 to 628 cubic litres.
The much-copied waterproof storage bin positioned under the load floor has been retained, but
Honda has gone one step further in turning its lid into a panel that can be used as a bigger, taller, easier to use picnic table.
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 9.
9 seconds on the way to a 114mph maximum. The 2.2-litre I-CDTi diesel engine is also likely to be a popular choice its one of the most refined diesels youll find anywhere.
As a second car for the family, even the cheapest CR-V would be a pricey option, at £17,330 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.
If you want more equipment, youll pay £18,880 for the manual Sport. Whatever model you choose, equipment levels are generous. Three trim levels are offered to UK customers, SE, Sport and Executive. All are equipped with air conditioning, six airbags, CD tuner, electrically adjustable heated door mirrors and a rear accessory power socket.
You also get drivers seat height adjustment, the picnic table, remote central locking and electric windows. Should you opt for the Sport trim, you can also factor in alloy wheels, climate controlled air-con, a sunroof, body coloured bits an outside temperature gauge and a hard spare wheel cover.
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. I would have to change that radio, though
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