MOTORING Honda CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC SR  Price: £31,775 Engine: 1.6-Litre i-DTEC Power: 158bhp Torque: 350Nm Transmission: 6-Speed Manual 0-62mph: 9.6 Seconds Top speed: 122mph Economy: 57mpg CO2: 125g/km © Ross Jukes high profile tyres and suspension iron out any bumps or potholes in the road – a definite plus when ferrying your little one around town. Interior  From the outside, the CR-V may appear to some as being quite large for its purpose, but once sitting behind the wheel, it reveals a spacious yet cozy interior. There is a small step up to get in, lifting you slightly above typical saloon car height. This affords a good range of visibility and the blind spot detection system makes driving around in the city a lot easier. The interior has some really nice design touches and uses quality materials, but it’s the added space you’ll be most grateful for, as this car can easily handle pushchairs and holiday luggage with enough legroom to spare. The flexible 60:40 split rear seats also fold to create more space if you need it. The infotainment system is thankfully now all touchscreen and includes CD, DVD, Bluetooth, MP3, and HDMI inputs, basically all the media connectivity you need to keep the kids occupied on those long motorway hauls. The interface may be a bit much for those accustomed to iPhone-like simplicity, but there’s a plethora of options and it will do everything you need. From our experience, the Sat Nav deserves particular praise and is very easy to use, even for a total newcomer to the system. Of course, having all this built-in makes it unnecessary to theft-proof your gadgets between trips and makes the overall package that little bit more comprehensive, especially when working in tandem with the other dashboard features. Practicality  In addition to a deluge of ‘under-the-hood’ safeguards, The CR-V is fitted with the latest generation of safety features called the Driver Assistance Safety Pack, which includes Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Traffic Sign Recognition System, Blind Spot Information, Cross Traffic Monitor and High Beam Support System. These innovative systems work well and give a commendable feeling of safety, constantly reassuring you that you’re making the right decisions and actions, a big plus for any family car. The direct feedback on driver safety extends into monitoring your efficiency too. The ECON button on the dashboard adapts a few settings on the car to ensure maximum productivity. When this mode is enabled, the speedometer dial on the dashboard is surrounded by green lights that will fade away if you are using the car inefficiently, a handy tool for maximising your miles-per-gallon and getting the most out of any trips. Overall, the CR-V is highly practical and economical, the perfect combo for use on a day-to- day. In building a design that doesn’t sacrifice efficiency or steadiness on the road in the pursuit of power, Honda really have achieved a perfect balance for the family-conscious driver. Verdict  Honda have been very successful selling the CR-V in the past and this version only ramps up the quality. Finally possessing the looks to match the rest of the package, there is no doubt that this car is a complete family-friendly SUV. ■ FQ 129