Honda CRV - Diesel or Petrol?

[MadeInYorkshire]

I'm considering getting a Honda CRV automatic and am wondering about the diesel against petrol dilemma. The car needs to be an automatic due to my dodgy left knee.
The 2 litre petrol auto does not have very good performance and I need that when overtaking. The diesel is better however I've never had a diesel and I'm wondering whether the type of journeys I do will be okay from a DPF point of view.
The car will do about 8000 miles a year but my wife does a monthly return journey of about 40 miles each way, mostly on the M1, so would that be satisfactory for the DPF to do a regen and keep itself in order.

Any thoughts on the matter would be much appreciated.

[Willy Nilly]

Petrol. Honda Make great petrol engines. It will have enough performance for an SUV, if you want a performance car, buy a performance car. It will be juicer than a diesel, but will likely just keep going.

[rallycross]

What year car are you looking at?

I've had a few 2007 to 2011 and for an auto of that age you must go for the diesel the petrol auto 2.0 is terrible to drive compared to the diesel. Reason being it's a fairly gutless engine that needs revs to get it going and it just makes for a very poor combination with the auto, whereas the diesel
Is effortless in Comparison and quite refined for a diesel.

Not driven the newer post 2014 models so can't comment on the later
Cars.

[MadeInYorkshire]

I'm looking at the Mk4 model, probably around a 2013-15.
I drove a petrol auto and while it was really nice and refined I'm not sure I could live with such poor acceleration. I overtook a car yesterday in my Mondeo and thought to myself that it wouldn't have been possible in the CRV.

[ZX10R NIN]

Does it have to be a CR-V the reason I ask is that other makers offer turbo petrols which means you get the acceleration you're looking for but saves you the hassle & potential bills.

[Willy Nilly]

MadeInYorkshire said:

I'm looking at the Mk4 model, probably around a 2013-15.
I drove a petrol auto and while it was really nice and refined I'm not sure I could live with such poor acceleration. I overtook a car yesterday in my Mondeo and thought to myself that it wouldn't have been possible in the CRV.

Petrol Hondas have plenty of power, they just need revving, so rev it. The petrol will be just getting into its stride when the diesel is out of puff. The "poor" acceleration is relative, there are always faster cars, so if you want a fast car, buy one, not a school run mum mobile.

[MadeInYorkshire]

ZX10R NIN said:

Does it have to be a CR-V the reason I ask is that other makers offer turbo petrols which means you get the acceleration you're looking for but saves you the hassle & potential bills.

I like the CRV specifically because it has a very low boot lip. I need this so my elderly dog can get in and out.
I tried putting my foot down when I drove the petrol auto and could just tell that its acceleration was lacking.

Specifically I'd still like reassuring whether the journey types i stated will be suitable to have a diesel.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say you'd probably be marginal in getting the diesel the majority of your journeys are short which isn't what diesels are great at.

[steve-5snwi]

buy the petrol, if you want a 4x4 and the ability to overtake by a range rover sport.

[MadeInYorkshire]

Most of the journeys will be a 7 mile cross country run. Not really urban stop start.

[MadeInYorkshire]

There is a very specific reason why I like the CRV. The low boot lip. Find me an SUV with a similar one and I'll consider it.

[ZX10R NIN]

The trick would be to test drive a diesel one & see if it gets up to temp within a 7 mile journey, that will tell you whether a diesel is suitable.

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Sunday 29th October 18:06

[Jag_NE]

On 8000 miles per annum the diesel saving won’t be huge, maybe 2 or 3 tanks worth of fuel.

I agree with what another poster said in that the petrol will need revving harder to overtake but isn’t necessarily slower.

I’d take the very solid petrol unit, maintain it fully and your car will last you for well over ten years.

[rallycross]

Unless you have driven them why even bother commenting?

[Willy Nilly]

ZX10R NIN said:

The trick would be to test drive a diesel one & see if it gets up to temp within a 7 mile journey, that will tell you whether a diesel is suitable.

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Sunday 29th October 18:06

A scooter would hardly be up to temperature in 7 miles. The OP is asking for expensive trouble.

[MadeInYorkshire]

Odd that my 2.3 petrol Mondeo is up to temperature after doing half that distance.

[Willy Nilly]

MadeInYorkshire said:

Odd that my 2.3 petrol Mondeo is up to temperature after doing half that distance.

It won't be, even if it's blowing warm air. But anyway, petrol engines burn hotter and cleaner, and more crucially don't have a DPF to clog up that need cleaning with a lot of heat. If you were able to do 7 miles at wide open throttle, it would hardly be long enough to burn the crud that will eventually cause you issues.

[ph9]

I think diesels generally take a lot longer to warm up.

I drive a Land Rover, and that takes a good few miles to warm up. They don't have the best of heaters either, so in winter it can take 15 miles or so before the cab is warming up.

[grumpyscot]

I'm on my 3rd CRV petrol auto - had a Mk1, Mk3 and now on the facelift Mk4. The Mk4 returned 38mpg on a 250 mile run (about half on motorway) to England, and returns a steady 34-35mpg locally. Put it in sport mode and it flies!

Friend has the diesel version wishes they'd got the petrol so as to get the 4 wheel drive.

[MadeInYorkshire]

Thanks for that Grumpyscot.
Interesting what you say about Sport Mode. Is that the secret to fast and safe overtaking?

Edited by MadeInYorkshire on Monday 30th October 09:55