There are enough things to worry about when you’ve got you children, and that doesn’t stop when choosing a car suitable for all the family.
The Honda CR-V is one of the world’s best-selling SUVs, and with good reason, as it benefits from good build-quality, efficient engines and great in-car technology. Paired with stylish looks and a comfortable drive, it’s easy to see why it’s so popular worldwide.
Although Honda no longer offers a diesel option, the model is available with either a 1.5-litre petrol engine or an efficient hybrid powertrain.
It’s a great all-rounder but there are plenty of reasons to make the CR-V your next family car.
Option of seven seats
While there are plenty of large SUVs out there, it’s surprising just how many of those don’t come with the option of having seven seats. Models such as the Renault Koleos, Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4 are all good-sized SUVs but are strictly five seaters.
The CR-V 1.5-litre has an advantage here, as buyers choosing SE and SR models have the option of having seven seats, which is ideal for growing families.
A five-star Euro NCAP rating
Safety is paramount on a family car, and thankfully it’s a category where the CR-V scores particularly well, after receiving the top five-star rating from safety body Euro NCAP.
The model also comes with one of the best standard safety packages of any car at this price point, as part of the Honda ‘SENSING’ package fitted to all CR-Vs as standard. This includes autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition. Upgrading to range-topping SR and EX versions also adds blind-spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.
One of the largest boot sizes in its class
Regardless of your situation and the luggage you may need to carry, the CR-V can adapt to cover most bases.
Its 561-litre boot is one of the largest in its class, and folding the rear seats down increases the load bay to 1,786 litres. It also benefits from an adjustable boot floor.
More passenger space
The latest CR-V is slightly bigger than the model it replaces, and this means that buyers now have more rear seat space than before. Honda has also adjusted the fuel tank to minimise the impact on cabin space - the result is 50mm more legroom.
Extra effort has also been put into making the model easier to access, with the doors now opening six degrees wider than before, too. This might not sound like a lot make but will make a big difference when fastening children into the rear seats.
A hybrid option
For families wishing to do their bit for the environment, Honda also offers an efficient hybrid version of the CR-V. Not only does this version offer improved performance over the 1.5-litre petrol model, it can also reduce running costs. Honda claims a 53.3mpg fuel economy figure, and CO2 emissions of 120g/km, which makes it one of the more efficient SUVs on sale.
