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Road Test
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| Honda CR-V |
12 January 2007 |
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Model/Engine size: 2.2 i-CDTi
Fuel: Diesel
Fuel economy combined: 43.5 mpg
       
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Here’s a moral dilemma. You need a car with four wheel drive, but you don’t want poor fuel consumption and high emissions. What do you do?
Honda claim they have a solution. The new CR-V comes complete with Honda’s marketing campaign ‘Not all 4x4s are the same’ – designed to highlight the fact the new CR-V is smaller, cleaner and safer than other SUVs and many saloon cars on the road.
Most SUVs of this size will be bought as diesels rather than petrol. The diesel model, tested here, returns a class-leading combined figure of 43.5mpg – and emissions of just 173g/km.
Although it’s billed as a 4x4, it’s only just a 4x4. It operates in front-wheel-drive mode most of the time, with some drive being sent to the rear wheels if required. The optional large wheels and low profile road tyres, with very limited tread, genuinely enhance the appearance of the test car, but the tyres offer no grip off the tarmac – this was proven with the wheels spinning hopelessly on a flat piece of wet grass! (honestly!). The standard tyres should offer some improved level of traction on gentle off-road challenges.
The ground clearance is also lower on this model than the outgoing one - but that probably doesn’t matter too much for most owners.
The previous CR-V was dull looking but surprisingly good to drive. The new model improves on this, but not in quantum leaps. But it still offers one of the most car-like driving experiences – however at the expense of any real off-road ability.
The diesel engine is excellent, although slightly noisy under acceleration – Toyota’s diesel in the RAV4 actually appears quieter under many conditions. But the Honda engine does feel smooth – much more so than you would expect from a diesel. The 6 speed manual gearbox is good, despite its unusual position on the dashboard.
The styling seems to have an uneasy mix of influences ranging from a BMW X5 in the areas of the wheel arches to the Audi Q7 around the rear three quarters. The styling as a whole is slightly fussy - in particular the lower front grille sandwiched between the flared out bumper and the lights. Why didn’t Honda style the front of the car with the simplicity of the new Civic or the Accord? The new Freelander is much cleaner, and even the RAV 4 is less fussy around the front end.
The CR-V has a light but quality feel to its controls, although the interior does not exude the same level of quality as the new Freelander.
All CR-Vs have good levels of equipment, with 3 different specification levels to choose from.
The entry-level SE model has electric windows, air-conditioning and steering wheel-mounted stereo controls. For alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors and dual-zone climate control you need to upgrade to the ES. Equipment on top-spec EX cars includes electric driver’s seat adjustment, leather upholstery, sat-nav, a rear-view camera for parking and a panoramic glass roof.
A number of safety features are on offer in the model range. This includes a stability control system that aims to stop mid-corner slides and snaking when towing a caravan or horsebox. Options include a system that warns you if you get to close to the car in front, which automatically steers you back on track if the car starts to wander on the motorway, and brakes the car if an imminent crash is sensed.
This car is effectively a spacious estate, with the reassurance of extra traction in conditions of poor grip, that also offers good levels of economy and emissions. Honda has an excellent reliability record.
Verdict
If you want an economical 4x4 – and one that is good to drive - the Honda is the one to go for. The Toyota RAV4 diesel is not far behind in the fuel economy stakes – with 42.8mpg combined compared to the Honda’s 43.5. Then there’s the new Land Rover Freelander 2; lagging behind for fuel economy at 37.7mpg – but this is a real off-roader.
How does it compare with rivals?
Honda CR-V: Maximum on-road economy, good to drive on-road, good engine; minimal off-road ability, odd styling
Land Rover Freelander 2: Maximum off-road capability, high quality feel to drive, much cleaner squarer styling; engine doesn’t feel as though it has as much get up and go as the Honda or the Toyota, build quality and reliability still to be proven in the new model
Toyota RAV4: Good on-road economy and some off-road ability, good to drive although it feels slightly agricultural in 1st and 2nd gears; clean rounded looks
What else is coming up? Mitsubishi’s new Outlander is one to watch out for. The old Outlander had terrible styling, wasn’t really an off-roader, wasn’t a great drive, and wasn’t economical. The new model, available in March, is set to change all that. At launch it will have a VW diesel engine, delivering 40.9mpg. In September, when the Peugeot and Citroen variants of this car appear, it will be available with a better engine, the Peugeot diesel, which may be worth waiting for.
Based on the new Evo platform, the new Outlander promises to offer car-like handing, reasonable economy, and better styling. It will be interesting to see if the Outlander drives as well as the benchmark but normally overlooked ‘soft-roader’, the Subaru Forester – none of the other 4x4s above can still touch the way that the Forester drives like an Impreza, with the security of full time all-wheel drive, and a normal estate-sized body, and one of the best reliability and owner satisfaction records of any car on the planet – what a shame Subaru can’t seem to make the Forester better on the emissions and mpg front – the sooner their plans for a diesel and a hybrid materialise, the better. For the moment, the soft-roader economy award goes to the Honda.
Fuel economy extra urban: 49.6 mpg
Fuel economy urban: 34.9 mpg
CO2 emissions: 173 g/km
Green rating: VED band E - £160 a year
Cost per mile: 47.00p
Company car tax liability (2006): 24%
Price: Range from £18,075 - £23,450
Insurance group: 12
Safety: TBC
Max speed: 116 mph
0-60mph: 10.3 seconds
www.two-mills.co.uk |
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