Medium sized (Sport Utility Vehicles) SUVs are pretty much all the rage these days – even if their environmental credentials seem somewhat suspect. Honda’s diesel CR-V is significantly kinder to the environment than many of its competitors. So I thought, ‘Why not?’ and took it for a spin.

 

I’m no tree-hugger (on weekdays at least), but I think that it is important to consider the environmental impacts that you cause as you go about your daily business. And, if you don’t want to think about the environment, then you should think about your pocket – the Government’s recent hikes on road tax rates for the most polluting vehicles should make you consider just how much money that you’ll be giving to No.10 and friends…

The good news, for prospective Honda owners at least, is that the diesel CR-V’s VED banding stayed the same at the last revaluation, since it emits just 173g/km of CO2. But wait – what’s this? A diesel Honda? Yes, indeed. Honda haven’t been long in the diesel market – always eschewing it for petrol – but that means no diminution of standards. For a relative new-comer to the heavy oil brigade, Honda have pulled something special out of the hat.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from a Honda diesel – I’m more used to the mania of the V-TEC powerplants. Flick the ignition on, and yes, you can tell that it’s a diesel under the bonnet. Thing is, there’s no getting away from that distinctive diesel chatter. Get the engine going however, and there are times when you’d be hard pressed to spot the difference between the two.

OK, so it revs lower than a petrol version, and there’s no V-TEC. But there is grunt – and lots of it. The torque from the diesel lump hauls you away from the starting line and confidently across any type of terrain that you’d reasonably expect to conquer across Arun. The power comes in waves which wash you steadily closer to the horizon.

I wasn’t expecting it to be quite as quick as it was and, to be fair to me, I was lulled into a false sense of security when I started to get going. Off the line, the CR-V feels almost painfully slow – but this evaporates as more juice gets flowing. The pace is effortlessly picked up, all the time feeling secure, stable and confident. And, for more tricky situations, there’s a stability system that can kick in to give you a helping hand.

In spite of its size, the CR-V handles much more like one of its ‘lowly’ (in altitude only) car brethren. It’s not bulky, it doesn’t wallow through the corners. It goes where you put it, and not where it wants to.

In terms of luxury – this is a Honda (need I really say more?). The seats are great, the sound system is fab, the quality of the engineering is evident just from sitting in the driver’s seat and holding the steering wheel (which, interestingly enough, goes in and out as well as up and down). The ride quality is good as well – if, like me, you’ve had your fillings removed by old school 4x4s, you’ll be in for a pleasant surprise.

The version that I took out was full of toys as well. It had Sat Nav, with an annoyingly placid woman telling me where to go and not getting flustered or beating her hands into the dashboard when I went a different way. The car was also fitted with steering wheel controls for your mobile phone, cruise control and various other gizmos that I didn’t have time to play with.

More usefully, perhaps, than any of these was the reversing camera fitted into the bootlind. Ever tried to get into a design studio with six car parking spaces, where the spaces are the size of a matchbox car? Have no fear – Honda’s reversing cameras and proximity sensors are here…

The point of the CR-V is clear as crystal for those who choose to look. It’s a comfortable, capable, stylish SUV with enough toys to keep the most fidgety happy, enough safety kit to keep the family safe and enough performance to propel you on your way. Plus, its price tag is set to fit just about every pocket.

I’ve always liked Hondas. I’ve owned several in fact and driven many, many more (including the previous generations of the CR-V, interestingly enough). I was a bit thrown by the prospect of the diesel, but, the more I drove it, the more I loved it. Would I have one? Yes. No hesitation. And, judging by year-to-date sales figures, many other people agree with me. If you haven’t given the CR-V a shot, now’s the time to try…