Should you buy one?

The CR-V is getting trickier to recommend because there are lots of rivals on the market with a greater breadth of ability. Yes, it’s spacious, comfortable and reliable but the Kia Sportage has a more modern interior, while the Toyota RAV4 is faster. Both also come with better warranties and both can outstrip the CR-V on fuel economy.

You’d have to really like the Honda to overlook such impressive competitors, especially because family cars like these are bought for practical reasons rather than passionate ones. The Sportage and the RAV4 just make better financial sense.

If you do have your heart set on a CR-V, we’d recommend dodging the four-wheel drive model. Stick with the front-wheel drive option – it’s hardly any different to drive and its more fuel efficient. Yes, you’ll sacrifice a bit of equipment to do so, but the base-model CR-V isn’t exactly spartan.

What we like

The CR-V’s cabin is very practical. Its seats are great for long distances and its trims are screwed together very well. We also love the amount of space it offers – even six-footers can stretch out in the rear with individually reclining seats and acres of foot room.

What we don’t like

Despite being a hybrid, it isn’t that efficient. The CR-V’s powertrain is very clever and smooth, but it simply can’t match its key rivals for fuel economy. If you’re covering large distances, you’d be better off with a diesel Skoda Kodiaq than a CR-V. Its infotainment system also looks like something from the 1990s when you compare it to the bang-up-to-date system in the Sportage.