Honda CR-V (2007 – 2012) (2024)

Honda CR-V (2007 – 2012) At A Glance

Roomy and versatile. Very comfortable, pleasant and relaxing to drive. not at all cumbersome. 2.2 i-CTDI diesel is excellent.

Can be tricky to link a Bluetooth phone to the car's system, 2.0-litre petrol engine seems lacklustre compared to the diesel. 2.2 i-DTEC comes with a diesel particulate filter.

Insurance Groups are between 27–29
On average it achieves 91% of the official MPG figure

When is a 4x4 not a 4x4? Honda would like you to believe when it's the new CR-V. And it puts up a very convincing argument. The 2007, British-built CR-V 2.2 diesel chucks out 173g/km CO2, which is less than a lot of cars and means you can park it for £130 a year instead of £300 in Richmond council's new residents parking tax scheme. It takes up less road space than the average family estate car, yet it offers more room inside.

It's safer for the occupants in a crash and even protects any pedestrians it may hit. So the mere fact that it offers part-time four-wheel drive to help get you out of a muddy field should not upset Ken Livingstone or Bamber Gascoigne in the slightest. You are definitely not an "idiot" for buying one. You can even have a rear window sticker to try to educate the green-envy brigade telling them "not all 4x4s are the same".

Like the RAV4, which was really the first of this type of vehicle, it's now in its third manifestation. And in fairness to the RAV4, the basic 2.2 litre diesel version of that also emits just 173g/km CO2, so is just as friendly to the planet. The big change with the 2007 CR-V is that Honda has made it more car-like to drive.

Honda CR-V 2.2 i-CTDi 2007 Road Test

Honda CR-V 2.2 i-CTDi Long Term Test

What do owners think of the Honda CR-V (2007 – 2012)? Check out our Owners' Reviews from people who live with the car day in, day out.

Real MPG average for a Honda CR-V (2007 – 2012)

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

91%

Real MPG

22–50 mpg

MPGs submitted

1203

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Reviews for Honda CR-V (2007 – 2012)'s top 3 rivals

Toyota RAV4 Bigger and now 5-door only. More luxurious but not as practical as previous RAV-4. Car-like road manners....

Nissan X-Trail Excellent drive on tarmac and very competent off road, large boot, plenty of standard equipment.

Mitsubishi Outlander Handsome looks and plenty of kit, Mitsubishi chain cam 2.3 DI-D engine is excellent. 5 seats + 2 child...

Ask Honest John

I need a small SUV to accommodate my dogs, what would you suggest?

"I need a small SUV with large boot for three dogs and a low lip for ease of getting dogs in for £5000-£6000, what would you suggest?"

The size of the boot will be somewhat determined by the overall size of the vehicle, so it is a matter of choosing one that is big enough to accommodate your dogs but small enough for your requirements.We would suggest looking at cars such as the Honda CR-V, Hyundai ix35 or Kia Sportage which are within your budget. If these SUVs are too large, you may wish to consider looking at small estate cars such as the Skoda Fabia or Dacia Logan.

Answered by David Ross

What's a good replacement for a Ford S-MAX?

"After engine failure on my much loved 12 year old Ford S-MAX (the third used petrol Ford in my family to have engine failure) I am looking for a replacement that is more economical, ULEZ compliant, large boot space with fold down rear seats and comfortable driving for occasional long journeys. I’d prefer not to buy another used Ford and wondered if you could recommend a used Japanese/Korean or reliable make car/estate under £6000?"

We'd recommend a petrol Honda CR-V. It's a practical family SUV with a good reliability record. You'll be looking at a fairly well-used example for £6000, but there are plenty about so seek one in good condition and evidence of regular maintenance. A Toyota RAV4 would be a good alternative, also with a strong reputation for reliability.

Answered by Andrew Brady

What's the best petrol family SUV on a budget?

"I would like to buy a budget used petrol family SUV with 4WD and with good mpg but only have about £4000- 5000 to spend. My ideal would be a Honda CR-V petrol but it has poor mpg (34mpg). A big ask I know but can you suggest any makes (and models) to look for other than a Honda CR-V which would give me more 'bang for my buck'"

I think you're going to have to compromise somewhere, unfortunately - petrol 4x4s just aren't very efficient! A Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4 sound like good options if you can stomach the fuel bills. Alternatively, can you compromise on four-wheel drive? A two-wheel-drive Kia Sportage will be more efficient and fairly capable with a set of winter or all-season tyres.