Despite changes to the suspension for the 1.6 diesel, Honda’s CR-V is nothing like as much fun to drive as a BMW X3.
But then cornering grip and steering feel aren’t top priorities over Christmas when you need to transport enough bags and presents to give hernias to Santa’s reindeer.
If you need to get people and lots of luggage from A to B with the minimum of fuss, the CR-V is the car. The boot is huge.
There’s 589 litres with the rear seats upright, which was enough for a family of four to go away for several days over the Christmas break.
The CR-V isn’t just big, it’s clever, too. The load floor is much lower than in many SUVs, so it’s easy to lift heavy items in without back strain.
Levers either side of the boot will release the seat bases and fold the seat backs down in one movement. This leaves a load floor long enough and wide enough to carry a bicycle in the back with no need to remove any wheels first.
For the Christmas run to the in-laws, though, the seats stayed upright with the kids in the back. Our six-year-old daughter appreciated sitting higher up than in the family estate car, and said she enjoyed a better view out.
She was next to our 18-month-old son, and mum and dad appreciated how easy it was to fit his child seat, thanks to rear doors that open to almost 90°.
Even with the kids and a heavily loaded boot, the 1.6-litre diesel performed well. It can sound a bit hoarse if accelerating hard, but quietens down when cruising on the motorway. We achieved 49.3mpg over Christmas, mostly driving on multi-lane roads.
It may not have been exciting to drive, but as sensible, roomy family transport, the Honda CR-V has another ambassador.