EVERY SUV RATED

With so many SUVs to choose from, it's hard to know where to start. Follow our guide, though, and you'll know the champions from the chumps

Honda ZR-V

All-new hybrid family SUV aims to combine low running costs with sharp handling On sale October Price from £39,495

IF YOU'RE EVER unsure what size of coffee to order in Starbucks, Honda's line-up will have you equally baffled when picking an SUV. Let's clear things up, then: this new ZR-V is like a Grande Cappuccino. It's a medium-sized serving that slips between the Tall HR-V and the Venti CR-V on Honda's SUV menu.

Fortunately, things get a lot simpler when it comes to choosing which ZR-V to buy. All versions come with the same 2.0-litre petrol hybrid set-up (named e:HEV) as the Civic hatchback, producing a healthy 181bhp. The 0-62mph sprint takes around 8.0sec, matching the figures for the more powerful Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage hybrids.

Because the hybrid system has no physical gears, progress is smoother than in those rivals, too. The ZR-V is hushed at low speeds, when it's often the electric motor alone pulling you along. The relatively small battery means it can only do that for short spells, but electric assistance lasts longer and is more frequent than in most other hybrid rivals - although not the Renault Austral.

The ZR-V isn't as quiet as a Sportage at motorway speeds; there's more noise from the tyres and as the wind rushes past the windscreen. There's a bit of suspension noise as it deals with lowspeed bumps, too, but it's no louder than it is in most rivals.

The ride is a little on the firm side, but the trade-off is that the ZR-V resists body lean well in corners, and it feels pleasingly agile. The steering doesn't feel as meaty as that of the Sportage, but it's precise enough. There's lots of grip, too, allowing you to flow down a country road with confidence.