Category: Small 4x4s 
Price Range: £19,725 to £26,210
Handling, functional appearance, reliability, punchy diesel engine
A bit plain to look at, low-rent interior
A good family purchase, though Toyota's RAV-4 range is more stylish and comes with a wider choice of variants
As 4x4s of this size and height go, the CR-V is very car-like to drive, with light controls and adept on-road handling. The controls are easy to find and use, the driving position is good, but there is one large blind spot out the back, due to the tailgate-mounted spare wheel, which demands diligent use of all three rear-view mirrors.
The i-VTEC engine is, in typical Honda style, revvy and lively, if not particularly strong on torque - it's great for darting around town though, and the CR-V's sharp responses, taut suspension and agile chassis mean that it can also be entertaining out on country B-roads. You can throw it about with confidence.
The new 2.0-litre i-VTEC 150 bhp engine, as fitted to the Stream MPV and the same base unit as used in the Civic Type-R, is more than quick enough to suit most buyers' demands, and strong enough for light towing, easy motorway overtaking and nippy progress around town. We'd prefer a torquey diesel engine in this type of vehicle, though, and would hang on for the 2.2 diesel (early 2005).
