Out & About Spring 2019

Honda’s SUV looks set to continue world domination, so say MAURICE AND ANNETTE HARDY MOTORS

Best bits: brilliant, sensibly-sized SUV

I t’s the world’s best-selling SUV and it’s made right here in Blighty. So it has to be a Land Rover product, right? Wrong! The CR-V launched in the UK in June, 1997, well ahead of what became its main rival, the Land Rover Freelander. It was only offered with a petrol engine and automatic gearbox to start with, along with an odd tailgate arrangement where first the glass had to be opened and then the side-hinged lower door, which also contained a fold-out picnic table. It took ages for a diesel CR-V to turn up, but the launch of the latest version towards the end of last year saw the emphasis back on petrol power again, although with a choice of a manual transmission or a CVT automatic specially adapted for SUV use. In the highest level trim, EX, with the CVT system, the car costs £36,455 on the road, making it good value by current standards. These days it’s up against Land Rover’s Discovery Sport so, like the LR product, comes with the option of seven seats although on this occasion we stuck with just five. There’s no skimping on spec, with even the rear seats on the EX getting heated cushions, much to be appreciated on a cold day as the seat facings are leather. There’s also a heated steering wheel,

electric driver’s seat adjustment with two memory settings, an opening panoramic glass roof, bigger alloy wheels, hands-free tailgate opening and a head-up display – the latter probably one of the most underrated yet useful bits of equipment a car can have. The CR-V looks different from the previous model, quite a bit more bling and chrome, but also more tastefully styled, particularly at the front. The CR-V was a very comfortable place to be, especially with the powered driver’s seat. Despite the 19-inch wheels, the ride quality was still good and very compliant. The handling also defied the car’s height, with little sign of body roll and deft responses to steering input. The 1.5 litre petrol engine has a new turbocharger with a smaller mass, making it spin up more easily with the engine more responsive as a result. It was noticeable that the car didn’t tend to ‘sing’ like some other CVT models, nor did the engine revs race away as the CVT tried to get a ratio to match what the car was doing. It seems a better set-up than others we have tried and is quite appealing to use. There’s more to adding the CVT than just changing gearboxes (the CVT doesn’t actually have one). Engine power and torque is also increased, even though top speed and acceleration are

Car: Honda CR-V 1.5T VTEC EX – AWD CVT Does it fit your ego... 0-62 mph: 10 secs Top speed: 124mph PS: 193 @ 5,600rpm Torque: 243 @ 1,900-5,000rpm

and your wallet... Price: £36,455 Combined: 39.8mpg CO2 emissions: 162g/km

marginally diminished. What might concern owners more is the higher CO2 output and disappointing fuel consumption. We managed 31mpg in the end, close to the urban figure of 32.8, but nowhere near the 39.8 combined result. On the other hand, the car does come with a permanent 4x4 set-up that is bound to increase mechanical drag. It is so accomplished at everything else that its thirst is therefore forgivable. Open the tailgate and you’ll find a capacious luggage area, with 561 litres as a five-seater and a very impressive 1,756 litres as a two-seater. The seats flip easily by pulling a couple of levers to give an almost flat load floor, too. It’s appealing for hobby types, but the 1.5 tonne towing limit is a shade low for caravanners.

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