SOME cars leave you with an instant warm glow. In the case of Honda’s CR-V, the glow is a green one.

Drive carefully and the large speedometer is illuminated by a ring of eco-friendly green light topped off by a small green tree.

Push harder on the accelerator and the light shifts to white. It is a bit of fun in a thoroughly self-assured vehicle that is building on a solid sales base.

Since its introduction in 1995, more than five million CR-Vs have been sold worldwide. The fourth generation CR-V is as car-like to drive as ever, with bolder looks, a more refined interior, and two- and four-wheel-drive versions.

It might be a compact vehicle but it is crammed with equipment. The test model was the £30,000 top-of-the-range model so you might expect some luxury touches, but it’s quicker to list what is missing.

From keyless entry and locking; heated leather upholstery and a climate-controlled cabin, to satellite navigation and a panoramic sunroof, it is lavishly equipped.

It is also supremely cleverly designed. A small example is the system used to effortlessly fold the split rear seats. A gentle pull on a handle in the whopping loadspace automatically flips up the rear cushion and folds down the seat back to give a completely flat floor.

Combine that with a powered tailgate and access to the rear is easier than ever. Inside, the hip point of the rear passenger seats has been lowered to give a more comfortable seating position and increased headroom. And comfort is what travel in the CR-V is all about.

The car’s aerodynamics have been improved and cabin noise is also lower than on previous models. Honda’s build quality is legendary, so a comfortable, quiet, rattle-free ride is guaranteed.

Just as certain is a high level of technology that ranges from emissions-saving stop-start to a whiplash mitigation system on the front seats.

A battery of electronic systems, appearing on the CR-V for the first time, use cameras and radar to keep the car in its lane, hold the car at a pre-set distance from the vehicle ahead while using cruise control, and even automatically activate the brakes if a collision is unavoidable.

Power for the test model came from a quiet, refined 150 horsepower 2.2-litre diesel engine, with the option of a 2.0-litre petrol model that develops similar power. And strips of LED daytime running lights and LED tail lights ensure that night or day, the CR-V always emits its own distinctive glow.

Auto facts Honda CR-V 2.2 i-DTEC EX

  • Price: £30,995
  • Insurance group: 27 (1-50)
  • Fuel consumption (Combined): 48.7mpg
  • Top speed: 118mph
  • Length: 457cm/180in
  • Width: 182cm/70.9in
  • Luggage capacity: 20.8cu ft
  • Fuel tank capacity: 12.8 gallons/58 litres
  • CO2 emissions: 154g/km
  • Warranty: 3 years/90,000 miles