Review
Three months after the Honda CR-V joined our fleet, fuel economy figures suggest a 29% shortfall against the official claimed combined of 62.8mpg, equating to around 44.6mpg for our Honda CR-V.
However, such a disparity cannot be completely attributed to the manufacturer. The problem is our version has a power output of 120hp which, while adequate, does encourage higher revs in an effort to make the most of the torque available.
Those higher revs have put paid to a more respectable mpg return and suggest that more horsepower could be the solution.
The higher-powered 160hp 1.6-litre diesel SR, however, increases emissions from 119g/km to 133g/km, equating to 24% BIK compared to 21%. The P11D price is around £2,000 higher and on a four-year/80,000 mile contract it will see a 20% taxpayer contributing an additional £270 per year, with £200 in additional national insurance contributions. Running costs also increase by almost £2,400. An expensive dilemma but, considering emissions are above 130g/km for the 160hp version it’s a choice which will be taken out of the hands of most fleet drivers.
Gareth has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist having started his career in local newspapers in the 1990s. Prior to joining Fleet News in 2008, he worked in the public sector as a media advisor and is currently news editor at Fleet News.
