An all-new Honda CR-V has been announced today, with the new car going on sale in October.Unusually for a new car, it is slightly smaller than the outgoing model. It is 5mm shorter and 300mm lower, but a lower floor means luggage space has actually gone up by 148 litres to 1648 litres. Interior space is also slightly better and the new CR-V has one of Honda’s clever rear seat folding systems (first seen on the Jazz). This one enables the both the squab and the backrest to fold down with a single movement.

The engine options remain as a 2.0 petrol and a 2.2 diesel, but CO2 outputs have been reduced. The 148 bhp 2.2 diesel sees CO2 emissions fall from 171g/km to 153g/km (10%) for the manual version, and from 195g/km to 175g/km for models equipped with the five-speed automatic transmission. The 153 bhp 2.0 petrol sees CO2 emissions reduce from 192g/km to 174g/km for the manual version, and from 195g/km to 176g/km for the automatic.While all improvements are to be welcomed, this still puts the CR-V in the middle of the pack, rather than at the front. For example, both the BMW X1 and Range Rover Evoque are available with engines producing under 130 g/km of CO2. However, help is at hand, with a new low-emission 1.6 diesel waiting in the wings for 2013.

We wish the CR-V well. It has been a big success for Honda, especially in the UK, and is a cornerstone of Honda’s output at its Swindon factory.