Honda’s new CR-V Advance Tech has so many gadgets it’s like an iPad Pro on wheels but I have a few grumbles

THERE is a lot to love about Honda. The Japanese marque has been churning out exceptionally reliable and well-priced cars for years.

When you become a Jazz owner, you stay one.

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If the Civic is your thing, you drive it til the wheels come off (and that will take some time).

At the SUV level, it’s no different.

The CR-V – the “comfortable runabout vehicle” – has been providing families with extra boot space since 1995.

It’s a decent bit of kit and the 2024 model carries on that great tradition and is better – and more expensive – than ever. This is a car that won’t blow you away, but it will never truly disappoint you either.

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What it does do is deliver so much tech, it’s like an iPad Pro on wheels.

It’s got everything (absolutely everything on the higher cost trims): Smart headlights, head-up display, hands-free boot opening, parking assist, 360-degree cameras, Bose speakers, wireless charging and FOUR additional charging points.

I tested the 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid, which has some considerable oomph, with 181hp and 335Nm of torque.

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And it feels safe. You can hurtle into a corner with confidence.

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The CR-V is surprisingly big on the ­outside for what is essentially a compact SUV – it’s 20cm longer than a Hyundai Tucson.

But inside, albeit comfortable, it feels a wee bit more cramped than you would expect.

The boot is 635 litres for the PHEV, but around the seats there isn’t much room to put stuff.

In a crowded SUV market that has a slew of strong models, like the brilliant new Ford Kuga and the solid Volvo XC60, the CR-V is more likely to rely on Honda lifers for its success.

The new CR-V may now be made in China but, for aficionados, it will always be a rock-solidly ­reliable ­Japanese car.

And Honda is unlikely to lose any of those fans with this largest ­incar­nation.