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This is the Honda CR-V Concept, a new SUV that showcases the styling direction the company will take, says Honda.

The next CR-V, tipped to keep much of the concept car’s beefy styling, is set to go on sale next autumn.

The car will get its first public viewing at the Orange County International Auto Show in Anaheim, California, in September. Honda has yet to confirm if the CR-V Concept will be at the Frankfurt motor show later on that month.

The current Honda CR-V is built in the UK, but it is unclear whether the new car will be built here.

If you don’t want until next year for the new CR-V, you could pick up a great deal on the current model. We’ve found 2.0i EX for £23,905 at Coast2coastcars.co.uk.
More Honda CR-V deals here

What is it? You won’t get a much bigger car launch this year than the eagerly awaited ‘baby’ Range Rover, the Evoque.

We’ve already tested two models: the five-door diesel, which will account for the vast majority of UK sales, and the three-door Coupe petrol turbo model. This is closest to the original LRX concept car that first showed what a smaller, trendier Range Rover could look like.

The version we’ve just tested, however, is the Coupe diesel that’s likely to be the most popular of the three-door versions.

Our test car was in Prestige spec, with four-wheel drive and powered by a 187bhp 2.2-litre diesel engine mated to an six-speed automatic gearbox.

What’s it like to drive? Just like the other Evoques that we’ve driven, it’s impressive on the road. The 2.2-litre turbodiesel doesn’t quite have the punch or refinement of the excellent 2.0-litre petrol, but it’s capable of brisk progress nonetheless and is genuinely fun to drive – especially if you flick the gear selector to ‘Sport’ and use the wheel-mounted paddles to shift the gears.

The Coupe feels agile, too. Not just because it has quick, direct steering, but also because there’s little body lean and huge amounts of mid-corner traction. In fact, we’d go so far as describing it as a high-riding hot hatch.

Yet it also takes on the role of motorway cruiser well. The diesel’s commendably refined at motorway speeds and although there’s a little more wind- and road noise than you might expect from a baby Range Rover, it’s certainly not off-putting.

Just like the five-door, the ride is firm but not uncomfortable. That said, it was firm enough for us to question the need to have anything bigger than the 19-inch alloys our test car had fitted.

Our test route also included some mild off-roading, covering mud ruts, steep descents and plenty of green-lanes, so we’re confident that the Evoque is good enough off-road to cater for what most of us would throw at it – and, importantly, good enough to be rated as a proper Land Rover too.

Review continues below our gallery

Range Rover Evoque Coupe gallery

What’s it like inside? If you go for the more svelte Coupe you will have to put up with a more confined cabin. It has a lower roofline than the five-door, which is evident when you’re in the back seats.

That said, we’re only talking about an inch. Despite what it looks like from the outside, once you’ve clambered into the back it’s acceptable for two tall adults, even if the narrow rear windows make it feel a little claustrophobic.

The radical styling also has minus points when you’re behind the wheel, because this is the first Land Rover where visibility isn’t terrific.

Visibility aside, the rest of the cabin is simply superb. Apart from a few centre console plastics it’s all beautifully crafted, well-thought through and easily a match for the big Range Rover, not to mention its would-be rivals.

Seat comfort is superb, too, although it does take quite a while to find an optimum driving position and even then the steering wheel feels like it is set a shade too high.

Should I buy one? Yes. If you want the best-looking, trendiest Evoque, the three-door Coupe is definitely the one to go for. The 2.2-litre diesel engine is the optimum choice for most drivers and available in a wider variety of specs than the petrol.

However, with practicality in mind, the five-door is likely to be a much better bet even if you use the rear seats only occasionally. You’ll also save some cash in the process.

Either way, this version proves that it’s hard to go too wrong if you buy any Evoque.

Rivals
Audi TT
BMW 3 Series Coupe

What Car? says

Chas Hallett
Charles.Hallett@whatcar.com

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Range Rover Evoque driven:
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Prices and specs:
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Range Rover Evoque vs Audi Q3:
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Range Rover Evoque gallery:
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Range Rover Evoque: the rivals:
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Range Rover Evoque Coupe: the rivals:
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Despite a price war on supermarket forecourts in June, fuel prices failed to drop by a significant amount, a report has found.

The AA Fuel Price report revealed that although a price between the big supermarket chains cut petrol price by 2.5p a litre, the average price fell just 0.5p a litre in June, to 135.6p.

The cost of diesel fell 0.1p last month, with the average price now 139.7p.

The AA said recent speculation on the price of oil pushed fuel costs back up after the supermarkets lowered the prices of petrol and diesel.

The news comes as BP announced profits of £3.2 billion in the three months to the end of June.

Keep the costs of motoring down
Use our guides to keep your fuel bills as low as possible.

Petrol versus diesel: which is cheaper

How to drive economically

What is it? A lighter, more powerful version of the Cayman S. There’s also a bodykit – to improve downforce – decals and lightweight alloy wheels. It’s also fair to say that no-one’s going to buy the R for its creature comforts – there’s no air-conditioning, and you don’t even get a stereo. What it does have, though, is a lower kerbweight than the Cayman S model it’s based on – 55kg lighter to be exact – and a more powerful engine.

What’s it like to drive? The R has the same 3.4-litre six-cylinder boxer engine as the S, and it has exactly the same 273lb ft torque output. However, it’s been retuned to give 325bhp, which is 9bhp more than the S. That doesn’t sound like a vast difference, but you certainly feel the extra thrust. Nailing the throttle away from the mark results in a blistering surge of pace accompanied by a loud, throaty bellow from the exhaust.

The numbers support the R’s superiority, with a 0-62mph sprint time (5.0sec) that shaves two tenths off the S’s best effort. It’ll also keep going until you hit 175mph, while the S tops out at 172mph.

Porsche Cayman R gallery

Even more impressive than its pace, though, is the way that the R munches through corners. With its reduced weight, lowered suspension and mid-engined layout, the R changes direction with incredible agility and balance. It’s helped further by a limited-slip differential that provides mammoth traction, and by steering that always keeps you informed about how you’re doing on both counts. The steering is also quick, deadly accurate and beautifully weighted, while the throttle responses are crisp, the brakes are mighty and the short-throw gearshift is satisfyingly snappy.

The hardcore cornering ability isn’t accompanied by a hardcore ride. The suspension is quite supple, so it’s surprisingly forgiving in town, and comfortable and settled on the motorway.

What’s it like inside? It has to be said, pretty sparse. There’s a big gaping hole where the stereo would normally be, and with few other toys, you’ll see lots of blank buttons on the dashboard. The door handles have gone the same way as the stereo, being replaced by bits of red ribbon.

That said, the build quality and materials are up to the same high standard you get from all Porsches, the driving position is fantastic, and with two boots (one behind the engine and one under the bonnet), you get a surprising amount of luggage space.

Should I buy one? That depends on how dedicated you are to the idea of ultimate performance, and more importantly, how much you’re prepared to pay for it. Yes, the Cayman R is a better, more enjoyable car to drive than the Cayman S, but the S really isn’t far behind, and you don’t have to live without basic equipment. Choosing the S will save you around £4000, too, and that’s why we think it’s the better bet for most people.

Rivals
BMW M3
Lotus Evora

What Car? says

Ivan Aistrop
Ivan.Aistrop@whatcar.com