A strong competitor in the small SUV class, the Honda CR-V has proven to be among the most popular, selling more than 200,000 vehicles a year. Traditionally it’s done well in our tests although in recent years it’s been a bit overshadowed by the Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester. We recently had an opportunity to live with the redesigned, fourth-generation CR-V, thanks to an example borrowed from Honda, to capture and share our first impressions.

Visually, it’s clear that Honda didn’t stray far from the previous generation. To my eyes, the styling reminds of a Volvo XC60 from the back. It’s still powered by the same 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed automatic. The steering is now electrically assisted; Honda also says that they managed to shed 110 pounds of the body, all of which would show up in fuel economy gains. Lower loading floor, standard rear camera and a neat one-touch action for folding the rear seat are also new.

On the road, the CR-V is pleasant and unobtrusive but not exactly fun. The powertrain is largely a carryover, although it gained 5 hp for a total of 185 hp. Some complain the CR-V doesn’t offer a V6, but this engine is one of the smoothest most refined available. Even though it’s only a five-speed in a world of six- and eight-speed gear boxes, it’s smooth and responsive, and it works really well overall. So while there are no thrills here, the CR-V packs a pleasant powertrain.

Handling is sound, though not sporty. It has a prompt initial turn-in response, and no excessive body lean. The steering, while quick and well-weighted, is quite vague on center. Honda says the AWD system is now quicker in transferring power front to rear.

The ride is firm yet supple and controlled--very much in the laudable Honda tradition. It’s nice to see they haven’t spoiled this one like they did with the Civic.

Previous CR-Vs suffered from a lot of road nose. Our sampled model had some of it still, but it wasn’t to a level of discomfort or nuisance.

Inside, the cabin is well constructed. Even though the dash looks like soft touch it actually isn’t. A rear-view camera is standard. For the first time the CR-V will offer a rear entertainment system, adding appeal for those who want to downsize from a Pilot or Odyssey.

The rear seat can be folded either by pulling a lever or in case you happen to be standing by the side, by pulling a strap. This handy feature creates a flat loading floor in an instant. The rear gate has a large opening and requires a little effort to raise or lower it.

Overall, the new CR-V presents an evolutionary change--nothing wrong with that when you have a competitive and successful product. It may not be the most exciting vehicle, but in terms of pure functionality, the new well-rounded CR-V is hard to fault. Based on this experience, we think that if you liked the old CR-V, you’ll like this one. We’ll see exactly how it stacks up against the competition when we buy one and thoroughly test it.