By Nargess Banks
Photography by Paul Harmer
Prague is bathed in spectacular, early evening, golden sunlight. Seated high, comfortably in command aboard the CR-V, the Gothic Old Town unfolds as I carefully navigate my way through the narrow cobbled streets.
Street maze
Manoeuvring through commuter traffic requires a little flair – not just in terms of driving, but street skills, too. Cars whizz by in all directions, trams appear almost out of nowhere, as do bikes and the many wandering tourists.
Honda CR-V 1.6 is a dream to drive around Prague’s complicated street system
We enter dead ends, miss the turning to our hotel twice and are forced to make a few strategic U-turns. My Czech not being up to scratch, I find a smile and some internationally recognised hand signals help, as do our car’s friendly face and unimposing compact size.
Testing the CR-V 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel
We are in the Czech Republic to put the latest CR-V 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel to the test. Designed and produced at the UK manufacturing plant in Swindon, this car has been created specifically for Europe, where the need for low-cost motoring has led to a growing demand for two-wheel-drive compact SUVs like the CR-V, which offer great driving dynamics and low running costs.
Low running costs, fewer emissions
The 1.6 diesel CR-V offers fuel economy, energetic performance, great handling and superior practicality. It’s a very competitive combination and, along with a punchy 120PS and 300Nm of torque, it all adds up to a performance that’s really impressive on city streets and open roads alike.
The front-wheel-drive SUV is agile and easy to manoeuvre
In addition, as the front-wheel-drive compact SUV carries less weight than a four-wheel-drive model, the car feels more agile, helping us travel breezily in and out of the narrow streets of Prague’s medieval town centre.
The 1.6 is available with 6-speed manual transmission. Peak torque comes from 2,000 rpm, so there’s plenty of pull for urban traffic, making it an ideal car for daily commutes. On the open roads outside Prague, the car offers great highway cruising ability, too. The 1.6-litre diesel’s refinement is impressive, emitting very little engine noise and offering smoothness in delivery.
Low running costs, fewer emissions
The 1.6 CR-V offers low emissions of 119g/km of CO2, plus an outstanding 62.8mpg on the combined cycle. This latest compact SUV can do up to 800 miles on a single tank of fuel, meaning that if the 1.6 CR-V travelled the average UK commuter distance of 25 miles a day, it would, in theory, need only a single trip to a petrol station once every 32 days!
Honda driver-assist technologies help reduce running costs, especially fuel consumption in city traffic
A host of Honda driver-assist technologies on board also helps reduce running costs. ECON mode, standard on all CR-V models, re-maps the accelerator pedal response and the air-conditioning settings to reduce fuel consumption; selecting Eco Assist gives you feedback on how your driving style is affecting fuel consumption, and having Idle Stop as standard on the CR-V really helps with fuel consumption, especially in city traffic.
Plus with an annual road tax bill from as low as £30 for 1.6 diesel CR-V customers, there will be few complaints on the cost front.
Modern, stylish, versatile
This fourth-generation CR-V is a genuinely refined package. The horizontal three-bar grille that is now integrated with the deep-set daytime running lights, together with the smooth-flowing lines on the front bumper, give the CR-V face a very confident appearance. This, added to the stunning wheels and bold wheel arches, really add character to the car.
You would recognise this is a CR-V straight away on the road from the front and rear. We spotted a few CR-Vs in Prague. They acknowledged us – some drivers even waved – and we responded with a smile, happy to be part of the CR-V club. The air of quality is apparent inside, too.
Sophisticated drive
From our leather seats to the stylish steering wheel and easily accessible handbrake, there’s a real sense of sophistication on board. Build quality is excellent, as is the driving position, which is enhanced by a high-mounted gear lever and intuitive instrument cluster. And despite being a compact SUV, the CR-V offers plenty of space for passengers front and rear.
The 1.6 i-DTEC variant is available in three generously equipped trim levels – S, SE and SR, and DAB radio comes as standard across the range. The car I’m driving features some thoughtful design details, such as a handy single-action seat fold – which when put to the test really delivers exactly what’s described in the spec.
Using our One Motion mechanism, the 60/40 split rear seats fold down independently and open up even more boot space, from 589 to 1,669 litres, created by a low floor and wide opening for easy loading.
Sales of the new model rose 60% year on year in Europe
Since going on sale in Europe in October 2012, sales of the latest CR-V have risen 60 per cent compared to the previous year. Customers have clearly appreciated the style, utility and efficiency of the new model, and the new 1.6-litre diesel engine is sure to further strengthen the appeal of this popular compact SUV.
Available now
Available from autumn 2013, the car marries SUV practicality with agile, car-like handling. And with the glorious city of Prague as our backdrop, you couldn’t get a more perfect driving companion.
