James Baggott UK Drive: Honda CR-V Hybrid What is it? Honda’s CR-V SUV has become one of the best-selling SUVs around the globe, as it’s reliable, practical and wellpriced. The latest CR-V has also upped the ante when it comes to style, and has adopted a bolder, US-inspired look. An increased wheelbase also results in a far more practical cabin, which has a more premium feel, and there is the option of a seven-seat version on the petrol-powered model. What’s new? Honda has done away with its diesel-powered cars, and instead chosen to offer the CR-V with a 1.5-litre petrol engine – and this, the Hybrid. Honda aims for two-thirds of its sales by 2025 to be electrified in some way, and this CR-V Hybrid is the only electrified new Honda you can buy today, although the firm has produced electrified models in the past. The CR-V is, however, Honda’s first electrified SUV, and aims to offer a good mix of efficiency and performance. What’s under the bonnet? It has a 2.0-litre VTEC petrol engine, which is paired to an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack to produce a total output of 181bhp and 315Nm of torque. There’s a choice of front- or four-wheel-drive, with both featuring an e-CVT automatic transmission. However, the gearbox prohibits maximum power delivery when accelerating harshly, although it remains smooth. It can accelerate from 0-60mph in 9.0 seconds and offers a top speed of 112mph, but it never feels as quick as those figures suggest. The claimed 53.3mpg fuel economy figure also feels a touch ambitious. Around town, it will easily match and exceed that, but on motorways and at higher speeds for longer stints, fuel economy drops below 40mpg, which is disappointing for a model that claims to be so efficient. What’s it like to drive? The CR-V Hybrid firmly sits on the comfort end of the spectrum, rather than the sporty. Supportive seats and a well-composed suspension setup result in a comfortable ride on long distances, while even the large 19-inch alloy wheels fitted to our test car didn’t seem to upset the ride too much. It’s also refined at speed, with a limited amount of road and wind noise. In the corners there’s some roll, but that’s a worthy payoff for a comfortable family SUV – providing buyers aren’t expecting thrills. How does it look? The latest CR-V has adopted an evolutionary look to its styling. The striking front nose and overuse of chrome undoubtedly helps make it look more American, but it’s hard to deny that it’s resulted in a bold-looking SUV. The new car is also wider and more muscular than past CR-Vs and it adopts a similar front end to the latest Civic as part of Honda’s ‘family face’. The CR-V’s angular front end makes it one of the most aerodynamically efficient cars in its class. All models also benefit from a full suite of LED lights at the front and rear, which certainly help to give the CR-V plenty of presence. What’s it like inside? The CR-V’s interior quality is certainly a big improvement. There are plenty of soft-touch materials, as well as a clean, clutter-free layout, and wood trim. The absence of a transmission tunnel also results in a hugely spacious centre console, while a traditional gearstick is replaced by buttons. The seven-inch touchscreen is infuriating to use, and though loaded with features can be difficult to operate. As for practicality, the CR-V excels, even in slightly more impractical Hybrid guise. The standard 1.5-litre CR-V has the option of seven seats, but with the room taken up by the batteries, it’s not an option here. There’s 491 litres of load space to play with, while the rear seats offer plenty of legroom and headroom for adults. You also don’t have a transmission tunnel eating into legroom. What’s the spec like? Go with the entry-level ‘S’ specification and you might feel rather short-changed, with satellite navigation and parking sensors both missing. However, our high-spec SR grade car came with leather upholstery, keyless start and entry, heated front seats and ambient interior lighting all included. The Hybrid costs over £2,000 more compared to the standard petrol model, which is quite a chunk of money to absorb – particularly when the running costs aren’t exactly revolutionary. Prices start from £30,130 for the Hybrid, with our test car coming in at £34,470. This puts it in a similar ballpark to the Toyota RAV4 – the only direct hybrid rival to the CR-V. Verdict The CR-V Hybrid’s punchy, relaxed and refined powertrain makes it the pick of Honda SUV’s line-up, and it’s ideal for town driving where the quietness and efficiency of a hybrid come into their own. As with Toyota, Honda should be admired for pushing ahead with its electrification aims and abandoning diesel in its CR-V – especially as the SUV sector is still dominated by diesel-powered models. But is it a few years too early? Perhaps. For longdistance efficiency, diesels still make the most sense, but for urban drivers wanting a stylish and practical SUV, the CR-V Hybrid could be ideal. 80 Log into www.cr5.co.uk your local community website!
To advertise call Lucy on 01737 557888 or 07703 209292 81
Change language