The Honda CR-V is a familiar member of the SUV segment. The compact SUV was first rolled out over 20 years ago.

With seven million units sold, the CR-V is one of the world’s most popular SUVs. Let’s find out why.

Overview

CR-V stands for Comfortable Run-About Vehicle. Its fifth generation appeared on roads in late 2016.

One secret of the CR-V’s success could be its relatively low cost. It starts at about EUR24,000, a good price for the feature packed vehicle.

Honda CR-V comes in 5 different equipment lines; the top version, which was tested, features analog instruments that are classically unexciting but very legible.

All versions of the CR-V come equipped with 'Variable Ratio' electric power steering. Additionally, since the second equipment line, a City Emergency Brake assistant is also on board.

While the experience of adjusting the seat and steering wheel to your liking could be frustrating, once set, the SUV is extremely comfortable on long drives.

Performance

The CR-V is available with a 2 litre gasoline or a 1.6 litre diesel engine with two performance levels.

The test drive was done on the more powerful 118 kW diesel version with a manual 6 speed transmission but a version with a 5-gear automatic transmission is also available for the all-wheel drive gasoline model.

The all wheel diesel version also offers a 9 speed automatic transmission.

Electrical wheel drive is standard with this engine which reaches 100 km/h in just 9.9 seconds, with a top speed of 202 km/h and a maximum of 350 Nm of torque.

The CR-V continues to impress when it comes to its response to pressing down the gas pedal and steering which is neither too hard nor soft.

Looks

With 16.5 cm of ground clearance, the CR-V is easily capable of off-road driving and handling rough terrains. Chrome trim strips bring glamour to the wilderness. To prevent damage the bumpers have scratch protection.

The car looks very modern with its coupe like line and a roof edge spoiler with tinted rear windows. The chrome frame window graphic with no visible B-pillar makes the 4.6 meter car seem even longer.

The gear shift knob is placed high as in most vehicles in the segment. There is a Panorama glass roof, which makes for a very spacious feel and the seats stay comfortable even on long trips.

The seats in the back tip forward at the push of a button making room for the back rest to fall down for a leveled storage surface with an impressive 1,627 liters of space.

The car is built to provide a relaxing experience on long drives; all the controls are easily accessible from the driver’s seat and the high seat alignment gives a good over view of the road ahead.

Verdict - who should buy the Honda CR-V?

It is easy to understand why the Honda CR-V is fast becoming one of the most popular SUVs in the market. Even without a lot of luxury components that can be found in some of its competitors, its comfort level makes it a good family car.

This content has been published in partnership with Deutsche Welle (DW).