2.0 i-VTEC EX automatic

A refined, comfortable, practical car which is also stylish and good to drive.

I test-drove a few SUVs and top of my list were a Freelander XS SD4 auto and the Honda. On decision day, I drove the Land Rover first, and it put a smile on my face. I almost made up my mind not to keep the appointment to drive the Honda later that day. But I did, and rather to my surprise found it more refined and more comfortable than the Freelander. Also the auto box and the acceleration were both smoother. I realised I was swayed the Land Rover's image as 'the real deal' but I've no need for its off-road capabilities. If the Honda gets me about when we have a bit of snow, that's all I need. For about the same price the Freelander was nearly two years older.

Being older and a bit arthritic, getting in and out was important and I find the Honda perfect in this respect. The satnav system I find excellent. I think the parking sensors work well save there isn't one in the middle of the front nose. Visibility is excellent. The heating system works well when you get used to it (like any other). I'm 6 foot and twenty stone but the driving position is fine; just a touch more rearward travel for the front seat would be good, but it's all right. I wish the folding door mirrors would fold out automatically on starting - I keep forgetting. Unaccountably, there are no lights inside the load compartment - only a light in the roof above which is no use when you have the tonneau cover and/or the upper shelf in place. The load cover arrangement is the only thing I really dislike - I see no purpose in the upper shelf and would rather have a folding rigid shelf than a tonneau cover which can flap a bit sometimes. A heated windscreen might have been useful.

At my age, I'm no longer an enthusiastic driver and I find the car completely suitable in terms of acceleration and performance. No buys an SUV for a sporty drive. It's too soon to comment on reliability and so on but I'm expecting the car to live up to Honda's reputation. The dealer (Glyn Hopkin) was fine to the point of being laid back. So was the Land Rover dealer (Lookers). I told both I was test driving the other and both sales people just said of the competitor, 'fine car'.

I don't yet about servicing costs. Petrol consumption isn't brilliant but then I wasn't expecting it to be. I do less than 10k miles a year so no point in buying diesel. In four weeks which included one long run and the rest local urban driving, the computer says 30.5 mpg.

I told my neighbour I was going to buy a Freelander: 'hmm, a bit pretentious'. Came home in the Honda and he said, 'now, that's more classy'.

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