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"The SUV that deserves high praise."
"The SUV that deserves high praise."
The Honda CR-V has been in production since 1995, and since then it's gone through five generations. For this fifth generation, Honda did so well with the CR-V that it got the 2018 MotorTrend SUV of the Year award. The CR-V sells very well for Honda, where they moved almost 380,000 units in both 2017 and 2018, and sales have been better than the previous every year since 2009. 2020 rolls around and Honda gives the CR-V a refresh and some reshuffling of features to try and keep its spot at the top of the list for the compact SUV class. Did Honda do enough to stay at the top?
Trim Levels
Trim Levels
Trim levels and pricing applies to 2020 model year CR-V.
LX
LX
MSRP $25,050
(AWD +$1,500)MSRP $25,050
EX
EX
MSRP $27,560
(AWD +$1,500)MSRP $27,560
EX-L
EX-L
MSRP $30,050
(AWD +$1,500)MSRP $30,050
Touring
Touring
MSRP $33,250
(AWD +$1,500)MSRP $33,250
Exterior Design
Exterior Design
Honda tweaked the front bumper noticeably compared to the 2019 model, with a new silver or chrome-accented lower trim piece that adds a sportier edge. The body plastic has extended upwards, there's a new grille design, and that's practically it. LED headlights are still only on the Touring trim, which Honda should have made them standard for 2020, but I'm not complaining. I do like the refresh Honda did with the CR-V. I'd say it's one of the most appealing-looking compact SUVs in the segment.
Honda changed nothing but the wheels here when you come to the side of the CR-V. The CR-V has been known to be on the larger side of the compact SUV class, and its 182-inch length and 105-inch wheelbase do have the upper edge in the segment, which should mean more cargo capacity and more rear leg room. Wheel choices start from a basic 17-inch alloy rim to a slightly attractive 19-inch machined rim with gray inserts. Personally, I'd option the 19-inch alloy rims with black pockets for only $1,400 because I think the CR-V would look a touch nicer if those wheels were the standard option.
You have to squint to see any changes Honda made in the rear of the CR-V. But I'll cut to the chase and tell you what's different. First noticeable difference is the taillights. They are almost fully LED; the reverse light is the only incandescent light here. Also for 2020, Honda gave the taillights a smoked-out look, adding some sportiness. The rear bumper is tweaked slightly, and the exhausts are the most noticeable difference with the 2020 CR-V. Instead of being round-tipped and tucked into the bumper, Honda went with a flatter design, which appeals to me very well.
Interior Design
Interior Design
Honda didn't need to make any changes for 2020 in the CR-V, because the interior was surprisingly above average in quality.
Honda is still using the 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that I really criticized in the Civic Si and Civic Hatch reviews. The system is laggy, slow, dark, and frustrating to use, and that holds true with the CR-V.
The seats have to be the most comfortable seats I've ever sat in. They are so cushy, soft, and supportive. Bolstering is adequate, although I'd like a little more in the lower cushion.
In the rear is where the CR-V really shines. It has a literal ton of leg room. Even my 6-foot-2 figure had just about 3 to 4 inches of leg room left, even with the passenger seat slid all the way back in its tracks. The CR-V would benefit slightly with sliding second row seats, but it does need just some more recline to it and an easier way to access it rather than the lever on the top of the seat backs.
Honda always does cargo space extremely well, and the CR-V walks away nearly the champion. Because of the upright hatch and roomy second row, you can access up to a whopping 75.8 cubic feet of cargo capacity. The CR-V also can beat much of the larger midsize two-row SUVs. The only compact SUV the CR-V falls behind on cargo capacity is the Subaru Forester, but by a minimal 0.3 cubic feet.
Subaru Forester
76.1
76.1
Honda CR-V
75.8
75.8
VW Tiguan
73.5
73.5
Nissan Rogue
70.0
70.0
Toyota RAV4
69.8
69.8
Ford Escape
65.4
65.4
CR-V vs. Midsize Two-Row SUVs (I picked the most spacious ones of the class)
Honda CR-V
75.8
75.8
Subaru Outback
75.7
75.7
Ford Edge
73.4
73.4
Hyundai Santa Fe
71.3
71.3
Jeep GC
68.3
68.3
Nissan Murano
67.0
67.0
Safety & Technology
Safety & Technology
For the 2020 CR-V, the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver-assist and safety technology becomes standard on all trims. It includes Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), and Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS).
The instrument cluster has nearly the same LCD screen as in the Civic Si and Civic Hatch I reviewed, and it is very clear and crisp graphics and has a very high refresh rate.
The 2020 CR-V hasn't been evaluated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) yet, but 2019 models with the Touring's LED headlights earn a 2019 IIHS Top Safety Pick award. It already has a good start, as it passed all six crashworthiness tests, even the new passenger-side small overlap crash test, as well as providing a Superior-rated vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system. With IIHS's new criteria to earn a 2020 Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award, the vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system is essential to win an award. Honda's off to a good start, as the CR-V earned a Superior rating for its vehicle-to-pedestrian crash prevention system.
The CR-V was able to completely avoid hitting the crossing adult tests in both the 12 and 25 mph speeds, but the CR-V slowed 10 and 22 mph for the 12 mph and 25 mph crossing child tests, respectively.
In the 25 and 37 mph parallel adult tests, the CR-V had avoided the 25 mph test, and slowed 32 mph with a warning time of 2.2 seconds for the 37 mph test.
The pedestrian detection system is very strong in the CR-V, and it was one of very few vehicles first tested to earn a Superior rating for its vehicle-to-pedestrian crash prevention system.
Honda likely made some tweaks to the aim of the headlights for the 2020 refresh, so expect the CR-V to upgrade to a Top Safety Pick+. For more info, click here to hyperlink to the CR-V's safety ratings.
Driving Impressions
Driving Impressions
The CR-V has always been known as a more refined and comfortable compact SUV, and the latest CR-V reflects that.
Before the refresh, the CR-V had a base 2.4L naturally-aspirated I4 engine with an upmarket 1.5L turbo I4 available. For 2020, Honda got rid of the 2.4L engine and made the turbo engine standard across the board.
The turbo engine is hooked up to a CVT transmission, which is a good thing since Honda makes some very good CVTs, but I noticed in the CR-V that it is a little slow and unresponsive, and sometimes takes a while to deliver power. It still delivers power smoothly, but there's a noticeable delay in the throttle response compared to the Civic Hatch I reviewed a couple months prior. Handling is secure, but you will really feel the CR-V roll into the corners. Honda clearly designed the CR-V to be a comfortable compact SUV, but Honda could've done a little better with the suspension and body control. Steering feel in the CR-V is good, with just a touch more feedback than I'd like, but it's almost perfect. NVH is also very low, the CR-V is extremely quiet, even at highway speeds.
Honda's i-VTM4 4WD system is fully automatic, and will turn on and off as needed. I noticed that you can't really feel if the car is in 4WD or not, unlike my Tucson where it can be moderately felt (others can't really tell). It did temporarily switch to 4WD when we were setting up the car for the review, as we had to travel down a gravel road to get to the area we were reviewing at. It never felt like the system was taxed to be in 4WD.
0-60 in the CR-V is said to be 7.6 to 7.7 seconds, but personally the CR-V feels slower than that, I'd say just a couple ticks over 8 seconds. The turbocharged engine has good torque spread, but down low the engine is very dull, and up very high is where the engine runs out of steam. Honda should maybe put the 2.0T from the Accord into the CR-V maybe as an Si model or an up-level option? That would be formidable competition to the 2.0L EcoBoost in the Escape Titanium and the 2.5T Mazda CX-5 Signature. Just a suggestion, but the 1.5T will be powerful enough for most consumers.
Performance
Performance
Honda had two engines for the CR-V, a 2.4L I4 and a 1.5L turbo I4, but for 2020 Honda made the 1.5L turbo as the only engine option. It makes 190 horsepower, a strong number for a 1.5L, and 179 lb/ft of torque, which is right on par for the segment.
The engine has some weak spots, particularly down low (idle to about 1500 RPM) and up high near redline (from 6000 onwards). It has a noticeable amount of turbo lag, which I struggled to find in the Civic Hatch that has the same powertrain. Now, the CR-V isn't slow, as it will scoot to 60 in around 8 seconds or maybe just a tick under, but it doesn't feel all that quick. It feels more like the HR-V than a CR-V.
The best part of the CR-V is its outstanding fuel economy. It has one of the highest highway fuel economy estimates of the segment, and it has best-in-class highway mileage of the segment, at 34 MPG.
Subaru Forester
33
33
Ranked with AWD option
Toyota RAV4
33
33
Honda CR-V
32
32
Nissan Rogue
32
32
Ford Escape
31
31
Chevrolet Equinox
30
30
Performance Figures
Performance Figures
1.5L turbocharged I4
Horsepower (hp @ RPM)
190 @ 6000
190 @ 6000
Torque (lb/ft @ RPM)
179 @ 4200
179 @ 4200
Transmission(s)
CVT
CVT
Drivetrain
FWD or AWD
FWD or AWD
EPA Fuel Economy (city/hwy)
26-27 / 33-34
26-27 / 33-34
0-60 Time
8.0 seconds*
8.0 seconds*
1/4-mile (sec @ mph)
N/A
N/A
* - estimated
Final Verdict & REVIEWS Score
Final Verdict & REVIEWS Score
The CR-V is a comfortable, safe, and spacious compact SUV, but the CR-V can't hide it's flaws with outdated electronics and some missing features.
The CR-V is a comfortable, safe, and spacious compact SUV, but the CR-V can't hide it's flaws with outdated electronics and some missing features.
60/85 | Accumulated Score
60/85 | Accumulated Score
09 | Reliability
09 | Reliability
08 | Ergonomics
08 | Ergonomics
06 | Value
06 | Value
08 | Innovation
08 | Innovation
04 | Electronics
04 | Electronics
06 | Wow factor
06 | Wow factor
10 | Safety
10 | Safety
51/70 | Subtotal Score
51/70 | Subtotal Score
09/15 | Subjective Category
09/15 | Subjective Category
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