RAY MASSEY: Honda’s big new idea with longer CR-V

After owning the original 1995 Honda CR-V, I was intrigued to try the latest sixth-generation model. And this time, the Japanese brand has gone big.

It’s 80 mm (3 in) longer with a 40 mm (1.5 in) longer wheelbase than the one it replaces.

It’s also more than 7.6 in longer, 3.3 in wider, with a 3 in longer wheelbase and half an inch lower than the 1990s first-generation CR-V.

I drove the new first Plug-In Hybrid version, which you can charge up at home to give you up to 50 miles of zero-emissions motoring. On long‑distance trips, there’s no EV range anxiety and a maximum total range of 513 miles.

The CR-V ‘e:Phev’ is powered by a 148 hp, 2-litre petrol engine which also charges up an onboard 17.7 kWh electric battery-generator supplying additional electric power, giving a total of 180 hp.

Growing reputation: Sixth-generation CR-V hybrids are larger than the original

Acceleration from rest to 62 mph is 9.4 seconds up to 121 mph.

Performance, especially in sport mode, is much more energetic and engaging than I’d expected, while styling — particularly the interior — remains conservative and distinctly unflashy.

But that’s never troubled Honda buyers who put more store on practicality and reliability. Properly and regularly serviced, CR-Vs seem to go on for ever, though older models can be thirsty on fuel — something the PHEV helps resolve. Fully charged, it offers up to 353 mpg equivalent, dropping to around 45.5 mpg without charge.

The original CR-V cost around £16,000. My highly specced e:Phev is £53,995. The standard hybrid starts from £45,895, up almost £5,000 on its predecessor. Order books open on Monday for deliveries from October.

Available only as a five-seater, there’s lots of space for rear passengers whose seats recline in eight steps by 10.5 degrees.

Riding on 18 in wheels, it also gains an extra 72 litres of boot space — 658 litres in total — because the batteries are under the floor.

A system which projects the blind spot behind you onto the screen when turning left helps spot cyclists on your inside.

Ray owned from launch – and drove for many years a fetching ‘passion orange’ shade – the original 1995 CR-V

After owning the original 1995 Honda CR-V, Ray was intrigued to try the latest sixth-generation mode

It’s 80 mm (3 in) longer with a 40 mm (1.5 in) longer wheelbase than the one it replaces

Acceleration from rest to 62 mph is 9.4 seconds up to 121 mph

Available only as a five-seater, there’s lots of space for rear passengers whose seats recline in eight steps by 10.5 degrees.

‹ Slide me ›

Riding on 18 in wheels, it also gains an extra 72 litres of boot space — 658 litres in total — because the batteries are under the floor

I speak from experience as I owned from launch – and drove for many years in a fetching ‘passion orange’ shade – the original 1995 CR-V (which arrived in the UK in 1997) which redefined and arguably created the family recreational SUV market. Along with the Toyota RAV4 it provided ‘soft-roader’ 4X4s with car-like driving manners that suit domestic grass-and-gravel off-roading, but nothing too extreme . I’ve also owned subsequent generations of the CR-V.

Charging the new CR-V plug-in hybrid takes 2.5 hours. The 50 miles of EV-only range provided is ideal for daily commutes and school runs – to save on fuel and CO2 emissions.

As well as sport mode, you can also choose Normal, Eco, Snow and Tow. When pulling a trailer or caravan, ‘Tow’ mode uses sat-nav to predict when to save battery power for predicted steep inclines ahead.

Another first is the front cross traffic which warns the driver of out-of-sight cars approaching as you nose out from tricky blind-sided T-junctions. It works.

Head-up display is great and Parking Pilot helps automatically park your car into a tight space. There’s even a volume control button on the central dashboard screen, as well as on the steering wheel.

My initial reaction on seeing the new and larger sixth-generation CR-V was: ‘My, how you’ve grown.’

But after driving it I’m more tempted to say: ‘My, how you’ve grown up.’

Vauxhall banishes ‘boring’ 

Here’s a glimpse of things to come from Vauxhall which aims to banish ‘boring’ from its design vocabulary.

The car shown above is expected to be the basis of a sporty new Manta fastback coupe — but the overall styling will be used on all future Vauxhall models.

Vauxhall Experimental: A glimpse of things to come from Vauxhall which aims to banish ‘boring’ from its design vocabulary

Codenamed Vauxhall Experimental, the battery-electric crossover has its world premiere at this year’s IAA Mobility in Munich, from September 5 to 10, which replaces Germany’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

The vehicle is based on parent company Stellantis’s battery electric platform, is all-wheel drive, dispenses completely with chrome trim and showcases Vauxhall’s ‘pioneering spirit.’

Mark Adams, vice-president for design at Vauxhall and its German sibling Opel said: ‘Our new Vauxhall Experimental gives shape to our vision of the future.’

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk