In fairness, Honda people have never made any grandiose claims for the CRV but then they don't really have to, do they? The CR-V is the darling choice of South County Dublin ladies who lunch because it is firstly a Honda and secondly is a vehicle that gives the impression that one is part of the County set.

"Grass and gravel" was the phrase initially used to describe the CR-V's ideal terrain and this, rather than mud and rut, has proved to be what the CR-V is best at. Its jeep-like looks endow it with a certain strength of presence but it is really an estate car that doesn’t look like one. In short, it looks the part.

The new CR-V is likely to continue to be as popular as the previous model because it is a lot bigger than the older one. Longer, wider and taller and with a completely different cabin environment as a result, the new model is a more spacious proposal altogether.

The engine is the 2.0 litre 150 horse power unit that gives a very good account of itself, indeed. It is smooth, quiet and, by all accounts, very economical. It is matched to either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission and this works in tandem with the Real Time four wheel drive system, which gives the CRV a bit of an advantage in terms of grip and traction but it does not make it a Land Rover.

Honda has revised the suspension lay-out and replaced the system with that from the new Civic, with McPherson struts at the front and double wishbone at the rear. The innovation was a clever one. Now you get a car with a relatively high centre of gravity that can be controlled more like a car and have the handling characteristics of one. The original roll is gone out of the CR-V's handling.

Standard equipment on the CRV includes ABS with brake force distribution, automatic climate control, front and side airbags, electric windows front and rear and a single CD player. The only additional equipment available on the SE model, which costs EURO 34,950, is a sunroof. Automatic transmission will add EURO 1314 and metallic paint will cost you 285.

The latest CRV has cleaner lines than the old model and has a reassuring and sturdy profile. It will fit the bill for the suburbs and make the odd Point to Point but this a designer vehicle and not a workhorse. As such, it does exactly what it says on the tin.