SAVER OF THE MONTH

These plug-in hybrid SUVS can all save you money on running costs, especially if you're a company car driver But which one will net you the most interest in return?

Honda has a rich history of innovation. It introduced the automotive world H to map-based satellite navigation systems in the Accord executive car, pioneered agility-enhancing four-wheel steering in the Prelude coupé and was a trailblazer of hybrid technology with the Insight.

But when you shift focus to the brand's largest family SUV, the CR-V, there's less to crow about. The original model from 1995 may have played a significant role in popularising the category, but it can't lay claim to inventing it; the Toyota RAV4 was ahead of it. And given that Honda is a brand that likes to be first to market with new technology, it's slightly ironic that this latest, sixth-generation CR-V is only now becoming available as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) in Europe, a decade after Mitsubishi launched the Outlander PHEV.

However, being late to the party isn't necessarily a bad thing, because it's given Honda time to deliver a very competitive PHEV system for it. The plug-in CR-V uses the same 2.0-litre petrol engine and pair of electric motors as the regular hybrid CR-V and Civic family hatchback, but it benefits from a much larger battery. As a result, the official electric range is 51 miles - an impressive figure for the class.

The new CR-V is bigger than its predecessor in every dimension, and the PHEV is available only in fully loaded Advance Tech trim (whereas there's a choice of two specs with the regular hybrid). These upmarket ambitions come with a commensurately lofty price tag of £53,995 - putting the CR-V right in the firing line of premium-badged rivals such as the Lexus NX.

When the latest iteration of the NX arrived in 2021, we not only awarded the PHEV version a fivestar rating but also named it our Plug-in Hybrid of the Year twice in a row, thanks to an official electric range of 43 miles, competitive pricing and a great interior. Honda could hardly have picked a more formidable car to go up against.