But for the boring looks, the CRV would have the cramped, pricey Land Rover Freelander beaten on all fronts. The large cabin means it feels more like a tall estate car than an off-roader. The 2.0-litre petrol engine delivers crisp performance, and ride and roadholding are considerably better than the class standard - only the Subaru Forester offers a noticeably better drive. Fitting Honda's powerful i-CTDi diesel engine has given the CR-V added appeal. Sure, the CRV isn't very good off-road (as if that matters) but it is a highly competent tow-car. This is as close as the profoundly silly off-roader segment comes to making sense.