Honda CR-V
On sale now

The Energy Saving Trust has calculated that if all commuters left their car at home one day a week, this would save enough miles in a year to drive to the moon and back 35,000 times. This is the equivalent emissions reduction of taking over 1.7 million cars off the road and would reduce the UK’s total CO2 emissions by almost one percent.

However if you do need to drive your car every day of the week, then another way to save the planet, is to buy a car that has low CO2 emissions. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you are restricted to buying a supermini.

In January the new Honda CR-V goes on sale. It is the third generation of Honda’s four by four. And before you emphatically state that you would definitely not buy an SUV, just read what this new cleaner, safer, very practical four by four can offer. Honda has already launched a campaign which is a direct response to concerned Honda customers stating that ‘Not all 4x4s are big, dirty and dangerous.’

The new Honda CR-V overturns the major concerns of the Anti 4x4 lobby in the following way.

Too dirty? Exhaust emissions at 194g/km for the 2 litre petrol version, are lower than some large estates, hatchbacks, MPVs and even a Mini Cooper S which is 207g/km.

Too big? The CR-V has a footprint that is a similar size to a Ford Mondeo and smaller than a BMW 523iE.

Too dangerous? A 3 star Euro NCAP rating for pedestrian safety puts the new CR-V in the top ten percent of pedestrian friendly cars on the road.

Compared to its predecessor the new CR-V is shorter and wider with reduced height. It has a sophisticated car like exterior design and is very car like to drive. The spare wheel on the back has moved to beneath the rear floor and instead of a side opening tailgate, the rear door is a more useful lift up hatch style design.

It’s also easier to get into the airy and spacious interior as the CR-V has larger doors and a lowered side sill step. Once inside the feeling is one of a chunky solidness with premium materials. It also offers advanced technology and sophistication, which includes Real Time four wheel drive, which only comes into operation when required. Adaptive Cruise Control is optional, as is the Collision Mitigation Braking System which warns the driver if sensors detect a collision and helps to reduce the impact. The active front lighting system is standard and illuminates the direction of travel, rather than which way the car is pointing.

Many people drive SUVs because they like the high commanding position on the road which offers good visibility. It helps with manoeuvring that the CR-V also has a tight turning circle. 75% of CR-V owners will never take their car off road, but owners like the practicality of four by fours. To accommodate larger behinds, the front seats are bigger and seat height adjustment has been improved. The steering wheel is now adjustable for reach as well as rake, so a comfortable seating position should be easy to find.

Storage space has been well thought through and there are plenty of them as well as some innovation additions. A new Double Deck cargo space creates an upper and a lower luggage area. The previous CR-V featured 60:40 split seat backs but the new model splits 40:20:40 which mean the centre section can be folded down independently to provide space for long items.

The CR-V is equipped with a comprehensive array of the latest safety technologies including driver’s and front passenger’s dual stage airbags, side airbags and a side curtain airbag system.

There are two engines, a 2.2 litre diesel which is currently used in the Accord and which has lots of torque. And there is a new 2 litre petrol engine, which unusually for me, I actually preferred to the diesel engine. I found it quiet with just as much pulling power. On the combined cycle, the manual version records an impressive 34.9mpg and 0-62mph acceleration time is 10.2 seconds.

Large families need large vehicles and the Honda CR-V is the ‘cleanest’ four by four in its class. It is also built in Britain, in Swindon where Honda employs 4000 people. So help the environment and keep manufacturing jobs in the UK and buy a Honda CR-V.

By Sue Cooke