Honda CR-V

Taking the nonsensical world of the urban SUV to its logical conclusion, Honda’s CR-V is a vehicle that has no interest in, or ability on, the rough stuff. It’s a strangely lofty looking family car with four-wheel drive. Good, but we’re not sure quite what at.

• Comfort

  Typically for a mid-size and road-centric SUV, the CR-V is extremely good at absorbing the imperfections of our roads. Its engines are a tad noisier than we'd expected though, perhaps the fallout from having to cope the CR-V's extra bulk. On the whole, unfussy competence.

  

• Performance

  You don't buy a CR-V to be first away from the lights, but it's brisk enough, especially if you're giving the new 2.2-litre diesel - which it shares with the Accord - a stiff work out. 0-62mph takes 10.6 seconds and it will return 38.2mpg.

  

• Cool

  No. Not a chance chum. This is a car for your mum. And if you are said mum, reading this, don't take offence, but couldn't you just buy an estate car and be done with it?

  

• Quality

  It gets boring talking about how well Honda sticks its cars together, but it's the truth. If one of these things breaks it's like winning the lottery. Except in a bad way obviously.

  

• Handling

  The CR-V drives relatively well for such a large and unwieldy looking thing. There's little of the body roll you'd expect from something that sits so tall, but very slow steering can make pressing on a bit disconcerting.

  

• Practicality

  It goes without saying that the CR-V is practical. It is, after all, big, and sits very high for easy access, something that child-laden parents always appreciate. The rear row of seats also slides forward to maximise boot space.

  

• Running costs

  It's a little cheaper to buy than the Land Rover Freelander it has the unenviable task of competing with, but don't expect it to hold its value better. It is however, more expensive than the Hyundai ix35.