The

Rear seats tip and fold up to create a hefty 2,038 litres of cargo space. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

absence of a spare wheel within the cargo environ contributes to the illusory grandeur imparted by the CR-V's cubed loading bay. Honda has mounted the vehicle's spare wheel outside the cabin on the rear door, ala Land Rover. With its rear seat in place the CR-V renders 948 litres (33.5 cu ft) of cargo volume. Fold the 60/40 split rear seat forward and the volume jumps to an impressive 2,038 litres (72 cu ft) - that places the CR-V among the top in its compact SUV class for cargo capacity. The esteemed "top in its class" grouping is also where the CR-V finds itself when build quality is measured.

Like

Controls on the centre stack are easy to navigate and use. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

Honda products in general, the CR-V is solidly and accurately assembled. A few unique touches have been thrown in for good measure, such as the industrial-sized rotary HVAC controls and the parking brake lever, which appears, when not in use, to be a support column framing the centre stack. Because the CR-V is a Honda, some of my expectations around design and content may be out of line. For instance I was disappointed to not find a centre armrest in my base model tester. This minor omission can induce shoulder fatigue during extensive periods behind the wheel. But hey, remember my comment regarding expectations?

Like a spoiled child wanting sugarcoated cereal over basic Cheerios,

The only real flaw of the CR-V is its lack of an armrest for the driver. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

I have also come to expect steering-wheel-mounted audio controls. Due again to its entry-level trimmings my tester was devoid of this convenience, resulting in a long stretch to the audio unit situated atop the centre stack. For compulsive button-punchers the "stretch" effect could result in momentary driver inattentiveness.

Despite the potential risk, remaining focused on the road is enhanced by excellent visibility through the CR-V's expansive greenhouse and the generous helping of head and legroom the vehicle furnishes, especially in the rear where the seat slides fore and aft to maximize either legroom or cargo space. As much as I admire the CR-V for its versatility and practicality, it was its agreeable disposition and ease of operation that won me over.

The

Unsurprisingly, the CR-V is a lightweight. It only weighs 1,530 kilos. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

CR-V is perhaps the most effortless of SUVs to drive. Its rack-and-pinion steering is lightly weighted yet very responsive allowing this compact car-based unit to handle more like a wagon than an SUV. Its increased ride-height improves driver sightlines over those of a typical wagon. Combining the CR-V's great outward visibility with its pocket-sized exterior dimensions makes it a delight to maneuver through tight areas such as parking lots. To put its diminutive girth into perspective, in overall length the CR-V is a substantive 257 mm (10 in) shorter than Honda's mid-size Accord sedan - and slightly narrower as well. The CR-V's compact size also contributes to its compact curb weight of 1,530 kg (3,366 lbs); not many 4WD 5-seat SUVs can match that. They may also have difficulty matching the CR-V's stopping power.