Used Honda CR-V 2006 - 2012 review

What really makes the 2007 Honda CR-V stand out, apart from its rather odd styling, is the way it prioritises the 'Utility' part of 'SUV'.

It is one of the roomiest and most practical cars in its class, actually outdoing several more modern competitors when it comes to passenger and boot space. The rear cabin is even just about wide enough to accommodate three child seats abreast.

The driving experience is generally good, too, with well-weighted steering, accurate handling and a comfortable ride over poor surfaces.

You could spend as little as £2500 on an early diesel in basic SE trim, and the CR-V’s general reliability means that shopping at that end of the market is not as risky as it might be with some other cars..

Between £5000 and £6500 will get you a 2009 2.2 ES, and if you’re prepared to pay top money, then circa £15,000 buys a very highly specified last-off-the-line 2011 automatic diesel EX model, and likely from a Honda main dealer to boot.

As with any mid-sized SUV, your running costs are going to be higher than with a conventional saloon or estate, but a CR-V needn’t be too expensive to run.

The petrol model’s official fuel economy figure of 34mpg doesn’t look too clever, but as mentioned, it can be a better performer on the road. Meanwhile, the diesel can often manage more than 50 miles to the gallon, rather than its relatively conservative official figure of 43mpg.

Annual road tax will cost you £235 for the petrol or £180 for the diesel, so neither is especially cheap from that point of view.

A standard ‘Honda 12’ service for a CR-V of this age will cost between £175 and £275 depending on whether fluids and filters need replacing, while items such as replacement brake discs will cost £110-£130 from an independent supplier.

The engine line-up of this third-generation CR-V was pretty straightforward. Buyers had the choice of a 2.0-litre i-VTEC petrol or a 2.2 i-CDTi diesel (initially with 138bhp, but later upgraded to 148bhp), both of which came with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard. A five-speed automatic was available as an option, initially only on the petrol.

All models came with four-wheel drive as standard, and even the basic SE models were quite well equipped, with air-conditioning, alloy wheels and all-round electric windows. It’s worth upgrading to the ES version, though, which comes with climate control, parking sensors and cruise control, while optional leather trim helps lift the interior ambience. Higher spec EX models came with leather as standard.

As for the petrol versus diesel debate, the lines are a little blurred. While there’s no denying the power or refinement of Honda’s 2.2-litre diesel engine, CO2 emissions of 171g/km make it surprisingly expensive on the tax front compared with a more modern diesel.

The 2.0-litre petrol, with emissions of 190g/km, is barely any worse off, and while the petrol’s official combined fuel economy figure of 34mpg is well beaten by the diesel’s 43mpg, in reality the petrol can easily be coaxed north of 40mpg in daily driving.

Overall, then, the ES is the model to go for, but do your sums on mileage and fuel costs before deciding on a petrol or diesel CR-V.

Our favourite used Honda CR-V: 2.2 i-CDTi ES

The CR-V’s closest rival was the second-generation Nissan X-Trail, also launched in 2007. Like the CR-V, this could be bought with a 138bhp petrol engine or 148bhp diesel, but there were other options, including a 171bhp diesel and a (very thirsty) 2.5-litre petrol. The X-Trail has the Honda beat for luggage volume, but its rear seats are not quite so spacious. Unlike the CR-V, it was offered with front-wheel drive, and this has the potential to trim your fuel and tax bills a little.

Land Rover’s Freelander was also a long-time rival to the CR-V, but while it’s classy, good to drive and talented off-road, it simply can’t compete with the Honda in terms of reliability or practicality.

The Toyota RAV4 is a little smaller than the CR-V (and therefore less practical overall), but it’s similarly reliable. What may put you off is the refinement; it’s significantly noisier than the Honda.

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