HIGH-BRED HYBRIDS

DO YOU REALLY NEED A LARGE SUV? HONDA'S NEW CR-V IN HYBRID FORM MAKES A COMPELLING ARGUMENT, EVEN WHEN PITCHED AGAINST SOME HEAVY-DUTY COMPETITION

- TONY O'KANE

LIKE an unplanned pregnancy, the arrival of the segment-splitting ZR-V forced a few changes in the house of Honda. Sized between the compact HR-V and the mid-sized CR-V, the ZR-V exists at the lower end of the medium spectrum, measuring up against rivals like the Mazda CX-5 and Volkswagen Tiguan.

Consequently, a figurative bunk bed has been squeezed into the CR-V's bedroom, as Honda's mainstay SUV will have to learn to share its space with its newest sibling.

But the CR-V has been making moves of its own. In terms of size, this sixth-generation version is now a tricky vehicle to define, its exterior straddling midsize and large. But clever packaging means it has more interior utility than many vehicles we traditionally throught of as residing in the next class up.

The cost of entry is now up by $8600, but the range offers more by default - pure atmo engines are gone, the CR-V now powered by either 1.5-litre turbo or 2.0-litre petrol/electric hybrid powertrains (the latter only available in flagship RS trim).

And the new CR-V's footprint now within mere millimetres of Mitsubishi's Outlander, a vehicle that truly tests the boundaries of what 'medium' SUV means, could Honda's newest midsizer hold its own against traditional large SUV stalwarts? With the petrol/electric powertrain also being new territory for CR-V in Australia, we took the opportunity to examine whether this box-fresh Honda is the David to a similarly positioned large SUV Goliath: Hyundai's Santa Fe hybrid.

So how much are they, and what do you get?