Can the roomy and family-friendly CR-V justify its premium pricing? Al Suttie puts it to the test over a week.

Honda CR-V 2.0 i-MMD Advance

List price (BiK): £48,305 (35%) CO2: 151g/km Economy: 42.8mpg Test efficiency: 37.9mpg

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Monday

A recent stint at the wheel of the Honda Civic Type R for UK Car of the Year Awards judging has Honda bathed in a warm glow of fun driving in my mind right now. This is carried on with the arrival of a CR-V 2.0 i-MMD Advance this morning, which is the full hybrid model with the firm’s e:HEV system, so no plug-in charging needed. Previous CR-Vs have always impressed, so this one has a lot to live up to.

Tuesday

The £995 optional Premium Crystal Red Metallic paint sure does set off this CR-V and it’s a very welcome change from the usual dark greys and black paint of most SUVs. I’m not so convinced by the black wheels, but we’ll put that down to personal taste. Size-wise, the CR-V feels to have edged up a little, giving the Mazda CX-60 and Volvo XC60 a run for their money, and the Honda backs it up with classy details and build.

Wednesday

A drive into Edinburgh this morning points up a number of details about the CR-V. First, the heated seats and steering wheel warm up very quickly and give off a toasty glow on a chilly morning. Second, the driving position is pleasingly like an old-school 4×4 with its raised seat height and excellent all-round vision, helped by the 360-degree camera when parking. The Honda also has a tighter turning circle than many rivals.

Thursday

Heading into the wilds of Perthshire today for a photo shoot, the heated seat is first on the list of functions to select. The infotainment is next and is easy enough to use but a bit dated in the appearance of the graphics. The 9.0-inch screen also seems on the small side nowadays, but I like the physical buttons for volume, home, and to go back a screen. There are also proper buttons for the heat and ventilation – top work, Honda.

Friday

I know it can take a little getting used to, but I’m a big fan of Honda’s push buttons for the automatic transmission. They respond without delay and there’s a positive feel to them missing from some other similar set-ups in other cars. The 2.0-litre petrol engine and motor combo is generally quiet until you ask for brisker acceleration, which they deliver effectively through the standard four-wheel drive set-up.

Saturday

Plenty of errands today sees the Honda and I dotting about on a lot of back lanes and A-roads. As it’s not quite tourist season up here yet, the roads are traffic-free early this morning and the CR-V makes quicker progress than you might expect of an SUV. It grips well, though there’s not a great deal of steering interaction, and the body doesn’t lean much. It also copes well with the cratered road surfaces.

Sunday

Family loaded up for a drive into Stirling this afternoon and the Honda makes light work of packing them in, plus shopping on the way back. No surprises there, but what does make me take note is just how generous the CR-V’s boot is. It’s also lined with a plastic tray to protect the floor from spills, while hooks and cubbies make it simple to keep bags upright in the first place.