HONDA CR-V VTI-LX

FROM $47,675 DRIVE-AWAY 20 POINTS

VALUE

The range topper has power/heated front seats, leather upholstery highlights, power tailgate and parking sensors front and rear. It rides on 18-inch rims and has a full-size spare. Buy before the end of June and the warranty is seven years. Service intervals are 12 months/10,000km and the first four cappedprice trips to the dealership are $295 each for a total of $1180.

DESIGN

It’s a newer vehicle than the RAV4 and that’s obvious in the more modern materials and interior presentation. There are more stowage spaces front and rear, though cargo capacity is down at 522L. A seven-inch infotainment touchscreen includes satnav, digital radio and smartphone mirroring,

ENGINE

A 1.5-litre turbo engine sends 140kW/240Nm to all four wheels via a continuously variable transmission. It isn’t loud in most situations and it takes sustained full-throttle acceleration to get the typical CVT drone. Claimed thirst is 7.4L/100km, though the urban figure of 9.3L will be more relevant to most buyers.

SAFETY

The VTi-LX is the only CR-V with active driving aids, though Honda’s suite includes lane-keep assist, rather than just a warning as found on the Toyota. There’s also tyre pressure monitoring but it misses out on the driver’s knee airbag in the RAV4. The Honda earned 35.76/37 points when ANCAP tested it last year.

DRIVING

The CVT and turbo combination can occasionally hesitate off the line but generally works well around town and on the highway, with solid acceleration once under way. As with the Toyota, the ride is biased towards comfort, rather than a Mazda CX-5-like emphasis on cornering. The sharper steering helps in carparks without being fidgety.