The new Honda CR-V is big, good looking and fun to drive...but too expensive

​Remember the Honda CR-V? Yep…it’s still going and now on its sixth generation with an all-new PHEV powertrain.

There is a lot of pressure on this car to help the four-wheel branch of the company survive the increasingly claustrophobic motor industry.

So what’s new about the SUV and why are both of us here at Motormouths testing it?

For starters, neither of us was overly impressed with the 5.0 version of the CR-V.

It was grand. It was big and safe and easy to drive but it didn’t wow us. And while ‘grand’ is fine with a lot of car buyers, the reason we are here is because we expect a bit more than ‘grand’ from our cars.

While the Japanese super brand released the gorgeous Honda e, and rolled out plans for an unpronounceable e:NY1 – they left the old reliables (Civic, Jazz and CR-V) alone and hoped they would simply continue to plod along.

Then came time to reimagine them and first up is their big SUV.

Like a few new SUVs in recent months the curves of the older version have been hardened into sexy lines and angles to give an altogether more rugged feel in keeping with what we, as consumers, want from a SUV.

They have abandoned their tendency to go wild from time to time and have kept these changes business-like. Which will suit the market they are aiming for.

Looks-wise it’s not bland, but it’s not wow either. It’s handsome but could get lost in the traffic.

Luckily, and wisely, the interior does get some more pizazz and has borrowed design features from the Civic and ZR-V, which is a good thing. It’s really built with a host of premium materials that all complement each other and are broken up nicely by a touch of metal-effect in the trim line.

The contemporary makeover offers a wide, clean dashboard that houses all the new modern technology. And that is one of the biggest upcycles in this latest version.

The best way to describe the last CR-V’s in-car tech was ‘underwhelming’, in keeping with the ‘grand’ motif.

But now we can celebrate as the new touchscreen and digital instrument cluster (both of which come as standard and are also seen on the Honda Civic and ZR-V) have been tweaked and improved sufficiently to no longer be a problem.

In fact, it’s really impressive and came as a huge shock to us both.

Competitors take note…you don’t have to overcomplicate your infotainment system. ‘Flashy’ can be fun but ‘easy’ is more important.

The digital display here is the perfect example of that as it is clear and user friendly.

There are also extra safety features under the umbrella term ‘Honda Sensing 360’ which uses sensors around the entire car to create a wall of defences designed to help the driver avoid accidents.

A few car companies claim to have similar and have been doing it for longer, but we need to let you know this system is very effective and came as a refreshing surprise.

One big change for the latest CR-V is that it does not come in a seven-seater option anymore, which means that the five-seat offering is extremely spacious.

And there is a giant panoramic sunroof, as standard, which makes it feel even roomier than it actually is.

The kids (13 and 10) had bucketloads of space but even when adults were sitting in row two they commented on the amount of headroom and legroom they were afforded.

Interestingly it was the younger passengers who discovered the fact that the rear seats recline (eight different settings), making them very comfortable on long journeys.

And the boot is as big as you need or expect. Our PHEV model came with an impressive 635 litres of space, although we imagine that gets devoured the further back the kids put the seats. Something has to give!

Both powertrain options are based on the same 2.0-litre petrol engine and a good transmission that includes the electric motors.

It doesn’t matter if you are the HEV or the PHEV — they offer exactly the same peak 184hp power output and 335Nm of torque.

The e:PHEV tested last week had a 17.7kWh battery mounted under the floor, which gave us an estimated 80km on EV power before the e:HEV engine kicked. So here you get to drive the car as an EV for short journeys and a conventional hybrid for the rest.

We reckon you should opt for the all-wheel-drive e:HEV if you live in remote places or need a bit of off-roading in your weekly driving, but for urban dwellers the PHEV is a great option.

It’s a quiet drive (hushed at worst) and, due to its size and weight, it is a very grounded drive too. We found it responsive on corners and has a lofty driving perch making it very easy to drive.

There is a big problem here though, and it is important to keep all the previous positives in check…because to have one of these in your driveway would cost a minimum of €68k.

Our test vehicle crept higher, which means you are being asked to part with a lot of money for a car that has a Honda badge on the front and not a premium German brand.

Would we choose it? Nope, but remember what we said at the top…we are looking for more wow.

This is a good-looking car that has finally been brought up to par with modern cars. It is practical and easy to drive and has bucket loads of space and easy-to-use tech. It’s just too pricey for our liking.