Honda CR-V

SECOND REPORT Our high-class SUV is supremely practical transport

- Chris Rosamond

AE I'VE never been very drawn to personalised number plates, although there are plenty of good ones around. I'd like to have CAR 1, but that belongs to Ford, and given that any other combination would be sub-optimal from a personal perspective, I'm pleased that Honda has monogrammed the CR-V for me instead.

Wikipedia will tell you that CR-V stands for Comfortable Runabout Vehicle or Compact Recreational Vehicle, but given that neither of those monikers really fits the bill these days, I'm going to stake a claim for the initials. After spending three months or so driving the latest model - more comfortable than ever but hardly a runabout, and ideal for business or recreation but scarcely compact - I can confirm that it hits the spot perfectly as a 'Chris Rosamond Vehicle'.

Having spent time with both the HR-V and ZR-V in recent months, I'd already concluded that Honda is doing the 'SUV thing' particularly well these days. The range-topping CR-V takes things to the next level, and is one of those rare cars that I'd seriously consider spending my own cash on, if buying an all-purpose vehicle for work and leisure were on the agenda.

Part of the appeal are simple good looks, plus the upmarket feel of a 4x4 that Honda describes as its most premium SUV ever. It appears classy and expensively finished on the outside, without being ostentatious or 'blingy', while the car's leather-trimmed interior is impressively put together too.

As well as being welcoming and comfortable, not to mention very well kitted out in our car's Advance trim level, the fact that Honda's designers and engineers have produced a comfortable, relaxing and upmarket interior, without gimmicks, glitter or wall-to-wall touchscreens, appeals to the traditionalist in me.