Vehicle details
Honda CR-V 2.0 i-VTEC S 5dr 2WD Petrol Estate, , The Honda CR-V is one of the best five-seat 4x4s. Its cabin is spacious and practical. This the fourth-generation CR-V was already a much more assertive-looking car than its predecessors, but the facelift introduced early in 2015 smartened it up even further. At the front, the headlights and grille have been redesigned to work together in what Honda calls a flowing wing, while the wider bumper gives the car more presence. Its the same story at the rear end, where a larger bumper and redesigned lights give the CR-V a smarter look. While the CR-V may not match an Audi Q3 for showroom appeal, the cabin feels well screwed together. Youll find reasonably good plastics on the upper dash, and although the harder plastics on the lower dashboard and doors feel less upmarket, the 2015 facelift has brought a step up in quality. Through the Honda Connect system, this gives easy access to all the cars infotainment functions, as well as allowing you to mirror your own smartphone (controlling its apps via the screen). The driving position is sound and theres more than enough adjustment on the steering wheel and drivers seat for anyone to get comfortable. The driver and front seat passenger have loads of room, but its the rear of the cabin which impresses most. Adults have plenty of head- and legroom, even with the front seats slid right back, and, as theres no transmission tunnel to speak of, theres enough space for everyones feet, even with three passengers across the rear bench. On top of that, the 589-litre boot is larger than in many estate cars, and can be extended to 1,669 litres by folding the back seats down which is a beautifully simple operation: pull levers on either side of the boot and the rear seats drop away in one quick and easy operation to leave an almost flat floor. Drive a CR-V for even a short period of time, and what's most obvious is the excellent refinement: at motorway speeds, there's only the slightest hint of wind noise. The company has done a good job with the suspension, too: the CR-V is stable on the motorway and composed through the bends, with body roll well controlled, the ride has a firm edge at low speeds, but it smooths out at higher speeds, and overall it's more comfortable than a Toyota RAV4. With relatively sharp steering, the car turns in keenly and feels responsive, but without making it any harder to manoeuvre at low speeds. Admittedly, the CR-V is not as engaging to drive as the (smaller) Nissan Qashqai, but its a very pleasant and undemanding car that we prefer to the RAV4 and which compares well to the Nissan X-Trail.
Vehicle features
- Rear wiper
- ABS/EBD
- Vehicle stability assist
- Bluetooth hands free telephone connection
- Cruise control
- Service interval indicator
- Electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors
- Carbon inlays
- 4 speakers
- Body colour door handles
- Daytime running lights
- Dual zone automatic climate control
- Front centre armrest
- Courtesy lights
- Front side airbags
- Rear headrests
- Immobiliser
- Driver/passenger sunvisors and vanity mirrors
- Temporary spare wheel