• Hybrid only line-up
• Not that economical, though
• 2WD model is most efficient

What are the running costs?

You’d think that, being a hybrid, the CR-V would be very efficient. And you’d be wrong. Officially, Honda says the SUV will return between 39.2 and 42.8mpg under WLTP testing, but it can’t quite reach those figures in the real world.

During our testing it returned an average of around 35mpg, which is better than a similarly sized, non-electrically assisted petrol or diesel SUV, but off the pace for a hybrid system. The Toyota RAV4 hybrid will yawn out an easy 40mpg without engaging your hypermiling mindset.

However, you can eke up the CR-V’s fuel economy up if you use it for lots of short journeys. It excels around town, where it can run for more time on electric power alone. But if you spend a lot of time on hilly back roads (where the petrol engine will get more of a workout), you’ll see your fuel economy tumble.

Servicing and warranty

Honda offers a simple service plan for a brand-new CR-V. It costs £699 and covers all scheduled servicing for the first five years or 62,500 miles, whichever comes first. If your CR-V is more than eight months old, Honda can sell you a choice of service plans spanning one to four years.

Every Honda CR-V comes as standard with a three-year/90,000-mile warranty, although you can extend that for up to an extra three years with Honda’s Extended Guarantee Scheme.

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This looks a little stingy compared to the seven-year standard warranty you get with Kia Sportage or the 10-year warranty offered with the Toyota RAV4. Even the bargain-basement MG HS PHEV comes with a seven-year warranty. However, it’s worth noting that Honda will cover some items after its standard three-year period has expired.

For example, the CR-V’s exhaust system is warrantied against corrosion for five years, while its chassis, suspension arms, drive shafts and fuel tank are guaranteed against corrosion for 10 years. The CR-V hybrid system is also warrantied for five years or 90,000 miles.

Reliability

• Honda has a great reliability record
• Our owner review section backs that up
• Very few recalls

Honda has an enviable reliability record. It’s been churning out bombproof vehicles since the 1950s – and it looks like the CR-V won’t break that winning streak.

Our owners review section is testament to the CR-V’s dependability. None of the contributors can fault the reliability of the SUV’s mechanical components, although a few owners have commented on the car’s poor fuel economy and flagged some issues with the sat nav.

The CR-V has had three recalls since it was launched in 2018. One was relating to an issue with the car’s emissions levels. Early cars didn’t meet the regulatory requirement for emissions, so Honda recalled around 50,000 vehicles and updated their software to make them legal.

The other recalls were for faults with the driver’s airbag and the fuel pump. If you’re buying used, make sure these recalls have been remedied before you hand over the cash.