Overview & Reviews

When the original Honda CR-V debuted in the late 1990s, its mission was simple: to offer a distinct alternative to more mainstream mid- and full-size large SUVs. With its car-based design, economical four-cylinder engine and sedanlike ride and handling, the CR-V was an instant hit. Priced competitively and offering plenty of passenger room and cargo capacity for most people's needs, the Honda CR-V has long enjoyed strong sales numbers and much loyalty from consumers.

Today, the compact- or small-SUV segment has grown to include more than a dozen different models, with varying philosophies of what constitutes the perfect blend of size, power and capability. While some models offer more powerful upgrade engines and others can deliver true off-road capability, the Honda CR-V remains focused on its more practical aspirations. True to form, it is one of the best choices available in the all-important areas of being both easy to drive and family-friendly.

Current Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V is offered in familiar LX, EX and EX-L trim levels. Even the LX comes pretty well equipped, while the EX and EX-L get additional convenience and luxury features. The EX-L is also eligible for either a navigation system or a rear-seat entertainment system. You can't get the navigation and the DVD systems together, however.

Powering all CR-Vs is a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine that's good for 185 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque, mated to a five-speed transmission. On all models, front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional.

The newest Honda CR-V's list of merits is a long one. Its interior is intelligently thought out and boasts strong fit and finish. Its ride is more comfortable and quieter than before, and handling and steering remain high points. Its major shortcoming concerns passing power in certain circumstances. We've found the CR-V's acceleration peppy enough around town, but somewhat sluggish during merging and passing maneuvers on gradients. However, as long as your beaten path doesn't include many steep roads or overly heavy loads, the Honda CR-V should provide all the room, refinement and performance you will ever need.

Used Honda CR-Vs
The current, fourth-generation CR-V was redesigned for 2012. Changes were of the more evolutionary sort, as its size, basic interior packaging and engine were similar to the previous model. Key alterations included a quieter and more comfortable ride, additional features and a backseat that flipped down from levers in the trunk.

The third generation of the Honda CR-V was produced from 2007-'11. Compared to the previous-generation CR-V, this one had few key improvements, including a new liftgate (instead of the previous side-mounted door with an outside-mounted spare tire), improved handling and steering, and the option for a navigation system for the first time.

Trim levels included the traditional LX and EX, plus the EX-L -- the L signifying leather upholstery (along with heated front seats). CR-Vs from 2007-'09 made 166 hp versus 180 hp for the following two years. A five-speed automatic transmission was standard across the board, and all trims could be had with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Those looking for maximum luxury in a CR-V should know that the EX-L gained a power driver seat, automatic climate control and a premium stereo for 2008. An SE trim level, which slotted between the traditional LX and EX trims, was made for just the final year of this generation.

In reviews, we've found this CR-V to be a very well-rounded model. High points included a comfortable and sensible interior, top crash test scores and agile handling. Elevated amounts of road noise might be a problem for some shoppers, as would be the engine's modest power, but overall this CR-V should be a great choice for a used small crossover SUV.

Produced from 2002-'06, the second-generation CR-V boasted a number of improvements compared to the original CR-V, including more power, more interior room and improved passenger protection. It was available in base LX or uplevel EX trim. The EX had more features, as well as standard antilock brakes and side airbags for the entire run (the LX didn't get them as standard until 2005), so picking an EX might be a wise idea. Notably, stability control and side and side curtain airbags became standard across the lineup in '05. The Special Edition model, available only in 2005 and '06, included exterior styling tweaks, a hard spare tire cover and heated leather seats and mirrors.

Power came from a 2.4-liter four cylinder rated at 160 hp, though this number dropped to 156 hp in 2006 due to a revised rating procedure. The LX had standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive, while the EX was AWD-only until 2006, when a FWD version was also made available. Both LX and EX initially came standard with a five-speed manual transmission, but from 2005 onward the manual was limited to the EX. The other transmission, an automatic, had four speeds until 2005, when it was upgraded to five.

In reviews, our editors lauded the second-generation CR-V's comfortable ride and refined powertrains, though the significant road noise at speed was deemed regrettable. Some of us found the four-cylinder a bit meek, but its smooth power delivery and reasonable efficiency were mentioned as admirable traits. All in all, the second-generation CR-V was roundly praised when new and remains a solid choice on the used-car market.

The original first-generation Honda CR-V compact SUV was produced from 1997-2001. It was priced competitively and offered more passenger room and cargo capacity than its peers. A manual transmission was added in 1998, and a welcome 20-hp boost the following year gave it a new output of 146 hp. In 2000, a leather-trimmed SE (Special Edition) model was added to lead the model lineup.

User Reviews:

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  Thoroughly Dissappointed - 2012 Honda CR-V
  By wh_labrador - January 14 - 7:02 am

  I bought this vehicle for my Wife to replace a 2005 Chevy Equinox. We live in a very cold climate and since the Equinox had failed to start a few times, I thought Id get her the "Best of the Best" to replace it. Its now on its third battery, the steering wheel locks up so that you have to fight to get the key to turn, the electric power steering fails at cold temperatures and last week, it blew the oil pressure sensor out of it when it was being warmed up. All the oil pumped out and now the engine is ruined. My F150 starts fine as does the Neighbors new Chevy Equinox. It may be okay in Florida but it fails miserably here. I will say though, that their roadside assistance is great.

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  Head lights are awful - 2013 Honda CR-V
  By kvalenti - January 8 - 1:12 pm

  I have had this car for over a year and hate it at night I cant see the road even with the high beams on. The road noise is very loud. When I go down hill the gears dont down shift and the sound is awful. And the other day I had the ABS light the Power Steering light and the Traction control light come on so now I have to take it in for service I am trading it in as soon as I can and not for another Honda. Very disappointed.

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  Constant computer glitches! - 2014 Honda CR-V
  By tovalady - January 7 - 3:19 pm

  Our 2014 CR-V has had nothing but computer glitches from the day we bought it,it is in the shop again as I write this! 10 attempts later and the car is still not working correctly,So far we have sent a certified letter to corporate to lemon law this vehicle but we just keep getting the "let us fix it " song and dance! It has come down to having to lawyer up and demand a refund or replace the car...Tired of trips being cancelled and being inconvenienced and PAYING for a car that has obvious factory issues! One would think Honda Corp. would be more than compliant with doing the right thing! Very disappointed!

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  A real reviewer - 2014 Honda CR-V
  By golfcart2 - January 4 - 5:44 pm

  We bought this car based on the great reviews. After owning this car for almost 4 months, I now suspect that most of the reviews are written by the dealers. This car is a huge disappointment. It drives like a golf car. A little bit of wind on the highway, and you better be holding on to the steering wheel with both hands as the car blows all over the road. Just drove it today in about 2 inches of snow and actually got stuck coming out of a driveway - unbelievable. The rear visibility is awful and the back up camera is useless. The interior is cheaply made. And the exterior rear of this car has so much cheap black plastic around the window - it is really quite ugly.

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  awful seats, marginal a/c - 2013 Honda CR-V
  By rwalters1 - December 20 - 5:21 pm

  Owned this car for 15,000 miles. The seats are hard and crowned in the middle. Tried to fix them with the help of an upholstery shop. unless you are very large or very young you will not like these seats. They get very painful the more you drive this car. I believe the car critics are a bunch of biased reviewers. How could anyone miss the fact that these seats are this terrible. A friend at work wife has a CR-V and he says the same thing. Bought an Escape and it makes the Honda look and feel like it was a ten year old car. On a hot day we had to put the fan on high and turn temp to 65 and it barely worked.

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  OK, but features not up to high price - 2012 Honda CR-V
  By jenson23 - December 1 - 3:30 am

  A bit disappointed after reading so many stellar reviews. Lots of blind spots. Doors come up higher than my older cars (cant easily rest my arm on windowsill) probably for better safety, but that makes it very hard to see the 4 corners of the car, or see potholes by front passenger side, or see where the driveway edges are when Im backing up. Also very disappointed at the lack of lights. No light in glove box! No lights anywhere on outside door or mirror. When I open the door on a dark street at night, other cars cant see that its open! Very dangerous. Worst is getting in car at night and cant see button to quickly lock door, and have to feel / fumbling w/ key!

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  My 2007 CRV EX - 2007 Honda CR-V
  By r_man20001 - November 25 - 9:00 pm

  I purchased my certified new with 25K miles. I loved it and have been happy with it but have had reliability issues. My air conditioner failed and had to be replaced and the locking modulator has failed along with a door lock and my routine maintenance visit to the dealer yielded new struts. Im just at 77K miles with regular maintenance so thumbs down.

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  CR-V V stands for Vanilla - 2014 Honda CR-V
  By brifi - November 24 - 9:34 pm

  This car is like driving an appliance, its drives OK and gets me where I want to go but has very little character. Fuel economy declines drastically in cold weather. LX seats are not very comfortable after an hour. Rear visibility is very poor, the backup camera is not a solution to this. The stability control catches me by surprise, applying brakes in the middle of a turn when I am not expecting it. The front seat head rests have an aggressive angle that doesnt allow me to stretch and straighten my neck. I wish I had bought the Forester with true AWD. I also wish I could turn off the A/C function that automatically comes on in defrost modes, it is not necessary in my dry winter climate.

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  No more SUVs... - 2014 Honda CR-V
  By marusik - November 16 - 10:38 pm

  Since my Honda CR-V was my first ever SUV driving experience I knew I would take a little while to adjust to its unique driving dynamics. My first driving impressions where OK, but during one my long road trips I found out the worse case scenario while traveling at 70 MPH: high speed avoidance maneuver, which brought me to the brink of rolling over. From that quite scary experience I never trusted this vehicle ever again, despite its good braking power but horrible high speed handling. Not to mention the fact that the lack of the sixth speed makes it quite annoying when driving longer uphill roads. I guess after all, SUVs are supposed to be built for off-road and not much for pavement.

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  LOVE this car! (But IMID clock is insulting) - 2014 Honda CR-V
  By prowler_mq5qm_ - November 4 - 12:03 pm

  Local dealer needed more used Oddys. Traded in the 2010 I bought from them and they credited me 100% what was left owing on it towards leasing a 13 CR-V. Couldnt be happier! Increased my fuel economy 75% and lowered my monthly payment by 50%. Albeit I wont own it after 36 months, but usually I buy a new car every 3 years anyway. So far, it has been a wonderful vehicle. Standard features that one used to have to buy a Cadillac to get! The only complaint I have is the analog clock display on the center IMID. I love the looks of it center-dash like it is, but I find the inclusive digital time display insulting. I can read a clock, I dont nee the digital display along with it!