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Honda CR-V 2.0 i-MMD Hybrid EX 5dr eCVT Review

Why the overall winner won

Best small SUV

Best family car

Best small electric car

Best luxury car

Car of the Year Awards 2023 >>

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The 2.0 i-MMD Hybrid is the pick of the range. It's really lively, with instant reactions when you put your foot down from its standard CVT automatic gearbox and plenty of poke to get you up to 70mph without any drama. It clocked 0-60mph in 8.0sec when we tested it, which on the day just shaded the Kia Sorento Hybrid and trounced the Land Rover Discovery Sport P200. The CVT gearbox is smooth but sends the engine revs soaring at times, but when the CR-V is running in town in electric mode it's quiet. Can only tow 750kg, though. 


2.0 i-MMD Hybrid

Estate

Honda is a company that doesn’t like to follow the crowd. So, while it competes in most of the traditional sectors of the car market, in each case it does something a little bit different.

The Jazz, for example, might look like just another rival to Britain’s best-selling car, the Ford Fiesta, but it’s actually much more practical than its rivals, with a flexible boot and Tardis-like interior.

The bigger Civic is also a practical choice, but it’s mainly distinguished by having eye-catching, love-it-or-hate-it styling, despite competing in a sector of the market that’s usually more conservative than a blue rosette.

And while it may not seem so radical now, Honda’s large SUV, the CR-V, was one of the first to forego any pretence of being an off-roader and instead focus on on-road driving dynamics.

HONDA

CR-V

Too pricey to endorse unless you have to have the following: bigger 19in alloy wheels, a panoramic glass sunroof, a head-up display, a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, an eight-way powered driver's seat with memory or a hands-free powered tailgate. 


2.0 i-MMD Hybrid EX 5dr eCVT

20-i-mmd-hybrid-ex-5dr-ecvt

Electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors

Bluetooth hands free telephone connection

Electric lumbar adjustment on passenger's seat

BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) with dual power heated blind spot mirrors

Honda CR-V

The five-seat, hybrid-only Honda CR-V is a very recommendable car. It's really economical, very roomy for passengers and luggage, comfortable and decent to drive. Reliability is also a strong point, but make sure you get a good discount to bring the price down. 

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all passengers</li> <li>Large boot with lots of clever storage solutions</li> <li>Good fuel economy and running costs</li> <li>All-round comfort</li> <li>High-quality interior finish</li></ul>

We define a large SUV as anything longer than 4.5 metres. These cars aren’t usually particularly cheap to buy or lease, so in return we expect a roomy cabin, a lengthy list of standard equipment and excellent cruising refinement. A few models in this class are two-wheel drive, but the vast majority have four-wheel drive for at least a modicum of off-road ability.

The Mazda CX-5 is firmly road-focused, but its 2.0-litre petrol engine is a strong, refined performer, making it looks good value for less than&nbsp;£25k. If you can stretch the budget a fair bit, the Audi Q5 provides a combination of comfort, driving prowess, quality and space that's hard to beat. Unlike some rivals, it can't be had with seven seats, though.

A more affordable, yet well-equipped alternative is the Peugeot 5008. It’s more than capable of coping with family life&nbsp;– and all versions have seven seats as standard.&nbsp;

Car of the Year Awards 2023 >>

Honda CR-V 2.0 i-MMD Hybrid EX 5dr eCVT Review

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