Honda CRV review: Piling on the practicality in a bigger, better version

When it comes to the world of big, family SUVs there are some obvious models that spring to mind. And the Honda CR-V might not be one of them. But it really should be.

Here's a car that has so many strengths to offer in terms of practicality, comfort, functionality and sheer dependability. My in-laws have had two, my auntie is on her third one, and two of my cousins still work her hand-me-downs hard.

It is, then, a bit of an unsung hero. It's a car might not seem like the obvious choice, but that doesn't mean it's not the best choice. It's been updated too, there's a new version, and I've been testing it side by side with my father-in-law's car to spot what's changed.

In terms of its basic shape, it's not all that different. It is a bit bigger though, and it's been smartened up quite nicely, so it looks a little more masculine from all angles, and it fits in fairly well with the current Honda design language.

There are other changes, too. One of the most important is the engine line-up, because there's now a plug-in hybrid, which will make company-car users' hearts sing, and this is offered alongside the conventional hybrid option and they're both built around a 146bhp, 2.0-litre petrol engine which works with a 181bhp e-motor connected to the gearbox.

This clever setup makes for a very fluid driving experience, without the usual CVT-gearbox hysterics, just a punchy, peaceful and very economical power delivery.

All this grunt makes for a very useful 1,500kg towing capacity, while the 17.7kWh battery will propel the PHEV on electricity alone for up to a claimed 51 miles. Expect a little less in the real world, but it's pretty good.

Practicality has always been one of the CR-V's strong suits, and it remains the case with the newcomer. More so, if anything, thanks to it being 80mm longer than its predecessor, with a chunk of that being offered in legroom.

The boot is as cavernous as ever with 596 litres of space on offer in the hybrid version, but an even more impressive 635 litres in the plug-in version, which stores its battery beneath the main cabin instead of below the luggage bay.

In fact, it feels like Honda could have easily squeezed another small row of seats in the CR-V, such is the sheer scale of the newcomer, but there's only a five-seat option available. It's also worth mentioning there's little in the way of focus on off-road ability to be found. This is very much a realistic family workhorse, rather than a pointlessly-equipped mud-plugger.

The cabin carries over Honda's impressive build quality from its smaller siblings, along with its lovely comfort. It's starting to feel a little low-tech compared to some of its rivals now, with a relatively small touch-screen and a smattering of physical buttons. But, trust me, we'll miss those days.

It's actually nice to see this relative simplicity, and it all works really well. The only thing I'd have liked to see is wireless Android Auto, but Honda isn't the only manufacturer lagging behind on this by any means. And it does have wireless Apple Car Play, I'm told.

It drives better than it really needs to. The ride is smooth and supple and, while it doesn't exactly offer the precision of a sporty civic, it does have fine road manners, and it never feels unstable on the twisty bits.

the latest version, then, is bigger, better and more likeable than ever. But, sadly, it is as expensive as it's ever been. In fact, the entry price is now nearly £46,000. My test car, in plush Advance spec, was very nearly £50,000.

But the sad reality is, that's becoming par for the course nowadays. And it's not as if it's pricier than its key competitors, of which there are quite a few. But, parking it alongside a pound-for-pound, similar SUV, and it's going to feel bigger, better-built and more comfortable and capacious inside.

And that's the strength of the CR-V, carried over carefully as a familiar formula to the latest version. If you want a comfortable, reliable family car which has plenty of space and drives better than most big SUVs out there, this has got to be high up on your options list.