SUVs have fast become the choice for company car drivers looking for a vehicle that can cope with family life.

They have quickly overtaken the traditional estate car, with all the major manufacturers offering an SUV in their line-up.

But if practicality and boot space are the guiding light, how does our Honda CR-V 1.6-litre i-DTEC SE-T compare to the competition?

The CR-V’s dimensions mean that headroom in the rear is good and it will comfortably sit three adults, while the flat floor also offers lots of legroom.

With the rear seats folded, boot capacity has increased by 148 litres over the old model to 1,648 litres. With the seats up, the capacity is still a cavernous 589 litres.

The load length has also been increased, by 140mm to 1,570mm, while the height of the load lip has been reduced by 25mm to make it easier to load heavy or awkward items.

Our car also includes a durable plastic tray at a cost of £100; a neat addition which allows you to throw those muddy wellies in the back without having to seek out a full valet at a later date.

In contrast, the Ford Kuga, even after its boot space was increased from its previous incarnation, offers only 456 litres with all the seats in place.

That’s provided you go for the tyre repair kit instead of the spare wheel. The capacity drops to 406 litres if you choose to have the spare.

Compare that to the Kia Sportage which, with the standard-fit 60/40 split-fold rear seats in place, offers 564 litres. Fold down the back seats and that expands further to 1,353 litres.

In short, if space and practicality are likely to define your choice, the CR-V will take a lot of beating.