Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V is a crossover SUV which was released in 1995 by Honda, and based loosely on the Honda Civic. Other than the Element, the CR-V is the smallest SUV Honda has to offer. The Honda CR-V was given an 8.6 rating by U.S. News, which also ranked it #1 in Affordable Compact SUVs, Affordable SUVs with 2 Rows, and Affordable Crossover SUVs categories. The CR-V hits all the right marks, and is perfect for cost-conscious families. It has excellent safety ratings and a top notch interior layout, and while other competing SUVs have more power, the roomy interior and nimble handling allows the CR-V to shine.

Performance

The weakest aspect of the Honda CR-V is without doubt its performance. It was given only a 7.2 rating by U.S. News, by far its lowest score. Although it offers great handling and feels like you are driving or riding in a car, it definitely lacks the power of other SUVs. The CR-V features a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 185 horsepower. The five-speed automatic transmission is paired with all-wheel drive or just front wheel drive, depending on the buyer’s preference. The EPA states the CR-V gets 32 mpg for city driving and 31 mpg for highway driving, which is terrific when compared with similar compact SUVs. Despite the lack of power, the CR-V models that offer the Real Time AWD system are very capable of handling mud or snow covered roads.

Interior

The Honda CR-V has a spacious interior and useful cargo area to go with its attractive, sleek cabin design. It received an 8.1 rating from U.S. News. All of these features make the CR-V one of the most accommodating compact SUVs. It seats five, and offers supportive and comfortable front seats to go with a spacious back seat that provides enough room for even tall adults. Standard interior features include a four-speaker stereo with Bluetooth audio and phone streaming and a USB port, and a backup camera. The system can also connect with Pandora Internet Radio, available on your iPhone. When the back seat is folded down, the CR-V has 70.9 cubic feet of space for cargo. When the back seat is occupied, it still offers 37.2 cubic feet of space, allowing multiple people to sit in the car while still having enough room to store luggage or other cargo.

Pros/Cons

The Honda CR-V gets excellent gas mileage compared to other SUVs in its class, although some rivals (like the Mazda CX-5) does have a slightly better fuel economy. The ride is firmer than other SUVs in its class but is still composed and comfortable. It also offers more space than other compact SUVs, and reviewers have said the low cargo floor makes it easy to unload and load cargo. The CR-V is not as powerful as other compact SUVs however, and there have been some complaints the engine is noisy during acceleration and on the highway. The interior could also be nice, and the navigation system can be difficult to use and is outdated. The Pandora system only works with the iPhone, which is another negative.

Other Features

The Honda website has the base price for the CR-V at $22 795. This will increase depending on the trim level and what features you add. Buyers can expect to pay between $25 000 and $35 000. The CR-V has the best crash-test ratings in its class, and was given a 9.8 safety rating by U.S. News. It is currently one of the best safety-minded vehicles available. All models include wide-angle side mirrors, electronic stability, front side airbags, and side-curtain airbags. There is also an optional multi-angle rearview camera available, which provides you with three different views to help the driver see obstacles. The top trim level features a rear entertainment system which comes with a remote, wireless headphones, a DVD player, and a seven-inch display.