• Hybrid and plug-in hybrid only
• Biased towards comfort over speed
• Both engines offer similar performance

Hybrid engines

The Honda CR-V comes only with a choice of petrol hybrid drivetrains. The entry point to the range is a self-charging hybrid, available in the lower two trim levels, while the top-spec car gets a plug-in hybrid system.

Both use the same interesting hybrid concept, which sees the 2.0-litre four cylinder petrol engine act as a generator most of the time. In this fashion it produces electricity for the electric motor driving the wheels, rather than turning them directly. At higher speeds or during hard acceleration, a gearbox engages so that the petrol engine does drive the wheels itself.

It’s usually quite easy to tell when this happens, as there’s a step-change in the acceleration and a little more noise. Drive in only a slightly more considered fashion, however, and for a lot of the time, the CR-V is eerily similar to driving a pure electric car. Both can move under battery power alone, though only the plug-in hybrid has a significant continuous driving range in this fashion. It’s also a slightly quieter car, though there’s really not much in it.

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Because the CR-V solely uses the electric motors at lower speeds, it’s a lot smoother than many rival plug-in hybrids that switch between the engine and the electric motor as driving conditions require. But with just 184hp compared to the 300+ that the RAV4 plug-in or Mazda CX-60 PHEV offer, the CR-V can’t compete on outright performance.

The 0-62mph time is 9.4 seconds at best, with regular and plug-in hybrid variants matched in terms of acceleration. The four-wheel drive system available on the self-charging CR-V will give you an edge when accelerating in the wet, though in all our time with the plug-in model we never felt like we missed this extra grippiness.

What’s it like to drive?

• Precise steering and tidy handling
• Refined at speed
• More relaxed than sporty

The instant and ample electric torque means this big SUV never feels slow around town – and on faster roads the petrol engine kicks in to give you enough extra to make overtaking slower traffic relatively straightforward. It’s no rocketship, especially compared with those PHEV rivals, but it’s certainly brisk.

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The CR-V has direct, precise steering – though it’s not the most incisive when turning into a corner, which can make it feel a little low on grip, it actually holds on and changes direction very well. Body roll is well contained and to us feels pleasingly neutral in bends, with subtle stability control intervention when driven very hard.

Compensating for the plug-in hybrid being 101-113kg heavier than the self-charging CR-Vs, this model is fitted with adaptive suspension, which works commendably well. But then, the standard suspension does a fine job, so we didn’t miss this extra sophistication much where it’s not fitted.

In either case, ride quality is a bit stiff at low speeds, clattering over sharper imperfections around town. But it settles down nicely on the motorway without too much float or any irritating firmness. Even so, this is a car that’s happiest being driven in a relaxed fashion.