Comfortable, capable and impressively efficient SUV

Happy? Always. But to be fair it doesn’t take much.

Consider this; it’s late, I’ve just finished a night job and it’s the best part of 60 miles home. It’s dark and disgusting, blowy, freezing and I’m aching to be in bed.

Running across the car park, like the start at Le Mans, I leap into the Honda CR-V PHEV (that’s plug-in hybrid for the uninitiated).

Three buttons transform this SUV; the first is the starter to switch on my sounds and get me heading home, then there’s one for the heated seats and another for the heated steering wheel.

Within seconds the heat starts pouring into my back, bottom and hands and all is well. Engage D for drive and the Honda heads west through the murk.

Through town the electric motor does the graft and it would be virtually silent except I’ve got my music cranked up.

Swap urban for countryside and the 2.0 litre petrol engine works in tandem with the electric and I’m warm, comfortable and enjoying the 75 minute journey.

When considering the pros and cons of the Honda SUV the hardest thing is to find anything to criticise.

It’s easy to notice the heated seats and steering wheel that make it such a cosy place to inhabit, the 50 miles of pure electric available to boost overall economy, the neat interior with plenty of knobs and buttons, the strong performance from petrol and electric motor and the bold new looks which offer greater road presence.

When it comes to the cons I find myself nitpicking. There are other PHEVs that offer more power and slightly better economy.

It is a plug-in hybrid so, guess what, you have to plug it in, if you can be bothered. And that’s about it.

The exterior benefits from a well-worked overhaul. Previous CR-Vs have looked a bit plain but not the latest incarnation.

Bold aggressive grille looks like it would ’ave you in a scrap, chomp you whole, before chewing you up and spitting you out.

There’s the typical Honda sheen of quality components, beautifully screwed together, and it is a large, imposing and muscular looking SUV.

That quality feel extends inside and the choice of materials for the trim, seats and steering wheel are all high-grade. It is tactile and feels built to last.

At long last car designers are starting to see sense and the Honda moves away from the swipey touchscreen back to good old fashioned knobs and switches for primary functions.

It is so much easier to use when you can actually see what you are trying to achieve and simply twist or dab the appropriate control. Infotainment remains touchscreen but that’s fine.

It looks like a workhorse that will appeal to a certain demographic but the Honda is actually surprisingly good to drive. It is peppy, agile and confidence-inspiring while remaining extremely practical and accommodating in all respects.

Power delivery is incredibly smooth and the combination of petrol and electrification offers deep reserves and surprising performance.

It will overtake safely with the best of them and the handling is peerless – if it’s one thing Honda does know it’s how to handle the twists and turns. Ride is superb too and it feels weighty, solid and very secure on the road. It also masks the worst vagaries of our absolutely shocking roads.

CR-V PHEV features every toy imaginable, it really does want for nothing and is well packaged for the price.

PHEVs are always a tad more expensive because of the technology involved but it is still accessible.

Honda’s latest CR-V continues a long tradition of solid, dependable motoring but this time adds even greater dollops of appeal thanks to distinctive styling and impressive performance and handling.