| Week at the Wheel | 2010 Honda CR-V |

Inside & Out:

Now that crossovers are all the rage, Honda has eschewed the boxy ruggedness of the original CR-V of the mid-nineties and gone for a softer, more universally appealing look. Unfortunately, Honda seems to think ugly is universally appealing, because the CR-V has a clumsily proportioned rear, an ungainly front and a bland middle.

Inside it's quite uninspiring too. Honda's penchant for a frenzy of steering wheel controls continues (see the Accord for details). That said, the cabin's not unintuitive, the materials are decent and it seems made to last. The driving position is good too: high up for good all round visibility, and also widely adjustable - and therefore comfortable. There's plenty of head- and legroom, front and back, and the boot is sizeable, albeit slightly awkwardly shaped.

Engine & Transmission:

Our test car came with Honda's five-speed automatic gearbox and the 148bhp 2.2-litre i-DTEC diesel engine. That's one of only two choices, the other a 148bhp petrol unit. While the power outputs are shared, the diesel's extra torque makes a big difference in a car as heavy as the CR-V. In the case of the auto it means there's much more responsive pick-up.

The auto, an option in lieu of a six-speed manual, isn't the quickest to shift gears though and it hesitates before kicking down, but in a car like this it's a decent fit. It suits the CR-V's general 'I'm not a sports car' dynamic ambience just fine.

Ride & Handling:

While the CR-V is indeed not a sports car, it does manage to get the comfort thing just about right without then becoming a lumbering oaf when the wheel is turned. It's not as sharp or car-like as the Mazda CX-7, or quite as pothole-smothering as the Land Rover Freelander, but it sits nicely between the two.

The steering is light and quite direct, so the car feels surprisingly agile in car parks and the like, but it's still stable on the motorway. It doesn't roll about too much either. There's a little of that feeling of the car balancing on high springs at times, especially under braking, but it never gets really unsettled.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:

Honda has pitched the CR-V right in Freelander territory, with a spread of prices between £20,000 and £30,000. While it feels solid and durable (and will no doubt prove so), it has none of the premium feel of the British car. Even the EX spec of our test CR-V, furnished with leather seats, satellite navigation, a rear parking camera, Bluetooth, climate and cruise control, feels quite un-dramatic. In fact, there's every chance someone looking at a CR-V, who doesn't really need the 4x4 capability, could be convinced by a Nissan Qashqai - significantly cheaper but certainly in the same cabin size and ambience class.

Economy could be better too. Depending on engine and gearbox, the CR-V will cost you between £250 and £425 in first year VED (it'll reduce after that). The diesel auto returns 38.2mpg, which isn't too bad for a big 4x4, but at the same time will definitely have you feeling you're throwing a lot of fuel in the tank on a monthly basis if you rack up the miles.

Overall:

While having no glaring weaknesses, the Honda CR-V is a car that's actually quite easy to overlook in the face of its competition. The Freelander is an altogether more upmarket car, and the Mazda CX-7 better to drive (albeit limited in choice and expensive). The Honda's blend of space, build quality and driving experience is good, and its 4x4 capability makes it versatile, but it's ultimately all quite unmoving.