Honda CR-V: petrol or diesel

Llyllyll

Morning,

Following my post at https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4008709 and some further discussions, I’m thinking that a Honda CR-V would be ideal for work and young family requirements. Main criteria are:

• 2.0 (give or take) litre engine for reasonable performance versus fuel economy and running costs - needs to have a bit of poke when required.
• Budget will be circa £12,000 (max) inc. p/x. (for a Volvo S40 T with low mileage)
• Definitely don’t want a ‘people mover’ style vehicle though.
• Higher ride height than a typical car and something reasonably forgiving on the UK’s speed-bump and pot-hole ridden roads.

I thought I was settled on the 2.2 CTDi ES (as the petrol engines seem, to me at least, to lack a bit of power) however this thread (https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4563527) has again got be thinking.

I will be doing between 6k - 8k miles per year (possibly 10k max in occasional years).

Given that I’m looking at something up to 5 years old with up to 50k on the clock, what really is the most practical option?

Thanks

diesel_dog

Oddly enough I may be able to help you out on this as I've just sold my CRV diesel. I opted for a diesel over the petrol as I was expecting to do quite a lot of miles but didn't. The engines are noticeably diesel and not that quiet compared to a petrol but, that's no big deal.

Great car and I had it for just over 2 years. I found the gear change is a bit clonky and the plastics in the cabin war wound easy. I used to average approx 40mpg running around locally and 49mpg on a run - usually at about 70-75mph.

If I needed another modern, stylish, load lugger that would swallow up the miles again, I would have another one without a doubt.

For the mileage your expecting to do, I would buy a petrol as there cheaper to buy and fuel is cheaper. Also, if it has tinted windows you'll need to declare it as a modification and most companies want to charge a but extra for it.

Llyllyll

Thanks. Really looking for a consensus on this now...

diesel_dog wrote: »

Also, if it has tinted windows you'll need to declare it as a modification and most companies want to charge a but extra for it.

Even if the privacy glass is factory fitted? Surely not?

movilogo

Unless you drive ~15,000 miles a year, diesel is not really worth it.

Llyllyll

So to anybody who has or has had a petrol CRV, are they underpowered?

Here's where my main concern started - http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews/used/honda/cr-v-4x4/full-review/25628-3

Yorksboy

Hi

I'm on my third petro CR-V - all have been the 2.0 iVtec automatic. I don't find them underpowered at all. I must say that they are not very economical. In fact I had number 2 and 3 converted to run on LPG - I get around 25mpg on LPG and about 28MPG when running on petrol. I do around 40,000 miles a year - so the cost of the conversion is covered very quickly. For the milage you describe then straight petrol would be best and a manual box should give you better economy.

I've been very pleased with the CR-V and will have another one when I change.

A last note about the LPG - car 2 had 120K on the clock when I part exchanged it with mu Honda dealer for number 3 (it was converted at 12K- so more than a hundred on gas). Number three got driven straight to the converter - its now on 90K after 26 months and running well.


PS - LPG is around 68p to 71p a litre

bigjl

My Brother in law, I have lots!

Had a petrol one which was a manual and was nice enough but the gearbox was extremely notchy as mentioned by Diesel Dog.

The mate I sold my mk3 Mondeo to traded the Mondeo in for a top spec low mileage CR-V with the 2.2 Diesel engine.

In the same use that gave a shade over 50mpg he gets 42mpg in the CR-V.

I found the gears still a little notchy but much better than the BiL's one, which had led a hard life.

My mate is very pleased with his CR-V.

The seats are comfy, the leather is decent quality and the driving position is comfortable.

The diesel/petrol debate is a little different in these softroaders IMHO as they can be juicy on petrol.

The one thing my mate did say was if he was to buy again be would go for the top spec petrol with an automatic box, his reasoning is he could convert to LPG as there is actually a wheel sized space under the boot floor despite the spare being on the tailgate!

Not sure why but that is the only thing he has to say in a negative way.

The engine is very smooth and quiet and is probably one of the best 4 cylinder diesels I have driven.

I don't think you would get much more than 30mpg out of a petrol one in the same use my mate outs his to.

Though he does do much more than average miles, probably more than 20k a year.

gkerr4

i've owned the fr-v - not the same i know, but it was awful.

we had the 1.7 petrol as the diesel wasn't available when we ordered it - it was awful, the worst car we've ever, ever owned - 17mpg at best on the motorway. It had a top-end re-build at 8k miles trying to figure out where it was leaking mpg from! - it was deemed perfect by a few dealers and then they make light of the "ha ha - made up" economy figures in the book - it was meant to cover 39mpg. We had a family car which we could barely afford to take anwyhere - my BMW 330i auto coupe was more economical (except in town!) . By owner accounts on forums, the diesel also massively underperforms against its "booked" mpg claims.

against all this - and the fact that I can't quite get over jap-tat interiors, I am considering one as a replacement for the toy-sized BMW X1 that my wife currently has - which was a replacement for the most-excellent VW Touran - so i'm interested in the economy responses for the diesel CR-V. the latest model looks pretty good too.