Honda CR-V Review & Prices

The Honda CR-V is a spacious family SUV that, in typical Honda fashion, somewhat flies in the face of convention. Most alternatives are available with a selection of petrol and diesel engines, plus a few hybrids. The CR-V, though, is only available with petrol/electric hybrid power.

Think of it like that kid in the class at school that brought in fruit and veg when everyone else had chocolate.

The CR-V’s styling stands out, too. It’s got a muscular look and sits relatively high off the ground for better off-road ability. As you work your way up through the range you’ll get bigger alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof and roof rails, while range-toppers have more shiny exterior trim than a presidential limo – which may not necessarily be to everyone’s liking.

Still, you can swap it out for a little extra cost and the rest of the dashboard is nicely designed with soft-touch plastics and leatherette in abundance. Higher up on the dash and doors, at least. The lower part of the doors and centre console don’t feel as plush.

It’s not even worth considering the entry-level infotainment system on S models because it’s extremely basic – you’re better off going for an SE model or higher. From that point on the range you get a 7.0-inch touchscreen system with sat-nav, DAB digital radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. These smartphone mirroring systems prove their worth more in the CR-V than they do in other cars because Honda’s own menu system is very difficult to navigate.

Very tall people sitting in the front seats are able to stretch out and get comfy while you get a wide range of steering wheel and seat adjustment. On some versions this is manual while high-spec models offer electric adjustment. You’ll be happy in the back too. There’s generous headroom and loads of space between passenger’s knees and the front seats.

Likewise, boot space is pretty generous compared to many of the alternatives. Its square shape and great access makes it easy to load big bulky stuff in, too. Drop the back seats down and the space is cavernous.

The 184hp hybrid powertrain that’s fitted to all CR-V models provides decent get up and go. It’s virtually silent when running on electricity alone at low speeds, but the CVT gearbox means the engine can get a bit noisy when you’re pressing on. It settles into the background when you’re cruising along, though. You’ll also get similar fuel economy to a diesel. 

The CR-V is easy to drive around town thanks to good visibility and light steering. Soft suspension helps iron out most lumps and bumps, too. Tackle a country road and the CR-V does lean quite a bit in corners, but it has plenty of grip so feels good and secure. It’s comfortable on the motorway, too, even if noticeable wind and road noise finds its way through to the interior.

All told, the Honda CR-V ticks enough boxes to be worth considering, especially if you want hybrid power. Check out our Honda CR-V deals for the very best prices, browse the latest used CR-V stock, or have a look at an extensive stock of other used Honda models. When it's time to sell your car, carwow can help with that, too.

There are five trim levels available on the CR-V – S, SE, Sport Line, SR and EX. The S doesn’t have many standard features, so you’re better off getting at least the SE. Every model has a hybrid powertrain (Honda calls it i-MMD) with a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor driving the front wheels. Sport Line and SR models have a sportier look; the top-of-the-range EX feels rather luxurious.

All-wheel-drive is optional on some models and standard on high-spec models. With all-wheel-drive, the car remains front-driven most of the time, but in slippery conditions some power is sent to the back wheels to improve traction and grip. A CVT automatic gearbox is standard across the board.

Alternatives to the CR-V include the Citroen C5 Aircross, Ford Kuga, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Volkswagen Tiguan, Peugeot 5008, Skoda Kodiaq and Toyota RAV4. Prices for the Citroen, Ford, Hyundai, Kia and Volkswagen start at a point that significantly undercuts the Honda. The Peugeot, Skoda and Toyota cost more but, if you match standard features between them and the Honda, the price gap narrows.

The Honda CR-V gives a comfortable ride but some noise does get through to the interior

In town

Being a hybrid, the CR-V is capable of driving on electric power, without the engine running, for short distances at lowish speeds. Ideal for driving around town in near-silence. The car switches in and out of electric mode on light throttle and low speed as and when there’s enough charge in the battery. Acceleration is pretty peppy when the engine kicks in. 

The driver’s seat and steering wheel have lots of adjustment, so you can easily find the best driving position for you. Usefully, the backrest has a greater range of adjustment than alternatives that use a ratchet, so you can find a comfortable angle for your back.

Visibility is really good. The windscreen pillars are thinner than on many alternatives, so there’s a good view to the side at junctions. It’s a biggish car, but you can see the extremities so parking is hassle-free. All but the base S trim have front and rear parking sensors, plus a reversing camera to help out.

The suspension soaks up speed humps and potholes, so you don’t get bounced around driving along rough roads. 

On the motorway

The 2.0-litre petrol engine’s 184hp hauls the CR-V up to 70mph quickly enough and doesn’t feel strained maintaining that speed. However, the engine is rather noisy when accelerating. That’s because the CVT gearbox (which doesn’t have normal gears) holds the engine revs at whatever point works best at that moment. When accelerating hard, that point is pretty high, so the engine makes a bit of a racket.

Once up to speed, though, the noise disappears into the background and you can enjoy a smooth and quiet ride. Standard adaptive cruise control helps take the strain off, too. It’s not quite as serene as the Citroen C5 Aircross, but you could spend an entire day in the CR-V and none the worse for it.  

On a twisty road

Winding country roads aren’t the natural habitat for a car like the CR-V, but it’s surprisingly capable. The suspension rides rather than bounces over lumps and bumps and the body leans over a bit in corners, but it’s a controlled lean. The engine and gearbox don’t really add anything to the experience, but neither do they get in the way of making rapid progress. 

If you really enjoy driving, the Ford Kuga is the most rewarding car of this type to drive. But you can still have quite good fun driving the CR-V. If you just want to quietly get where you’re going, though, it’s more in its element and reassuringly safe and stable.

The Honda CR-V has more than enough passenger and boot space for most families, but be aware the towing limit isn’t great and there’s no seven-seat option

Practicality

There’s good space in the front of the CR-V, with ample leg, head and shoulder room for all but the very tallest. The seats are supportive and have lots of adjustment, so it’s easy to get comfortable, too.

Storage space includes large door bins, a huge cubby hole under the centre armrest, plus a pair of cupholders and assorted trays in the centre console. The glovebox is only average size, but there’s a glasses holder in the roof lining. Usefully, the holder also doubles as a wide-angle mirror pointed towards the back seats, making it much easier to keep an eye on the kids.

Space in the back seats

Again, there’s a huge amount of space in the back of the CR-V. Anyone under about six feet three inches tall is unlikely to have any complaints about leg, head and shoulder room. It’s not quite wide enough to fit three adults in the back comfortably, but three kids won’t be squeezed. 

For two, the space is positively palatial. There’s two sets of easily-accessed ISOFIX mounts and the back doors open to nearly 90 degrees, so installing both child seats and children is a doddle. 

Ultimately, there’s more space to spread out in the back of Skoda Kodiaq, which is the better bet if you regularly have adult passengers. But a family of four is very generously accommodated in the CR-V.

There used to be a seven-seat version of the CR-V, but it was only available with a petrol engine because the hybrid system’s batteries reduce boot space. But it wasn’t very good, anyway – the seven-seat Peugeot 5008 and Skoda Kodiaq are much more spacious and better thought out.

Boot space

The CR-V’s hybrid system takes up some of the boot space that would otherwise be available, resulting in a capacity of 497 litres. Indeed, it’s quite small compared to many of the alternatives, which are led by the cavernously capacious Skoda Kodiaq's 720-litre boot.

The only car that really gets close is the Citroen C5 Aircross. It has the same capacity but only if you push the rear seats forward, which limits kneeroom for rear passengers. Pushed back, its capacity is 580 litres.

That's a similar figure to most alternatives, such as the Toyota RAV4 (580 litres) and Kia Sportage (591 litres), while the Hyundai Tucson has 620 litres. They are all more spacious than the Honda.

Despite this, the boot should be a good enough size for most, only struggling with luggage for a big family holiday, while the opening is huge and the loading lip is low and flat, so heaving in big and bulky stuff isn’t a strain. There aren’t any clever extra storage spaces, but the back seats fold down easily creating a space big enough to carry a fridge-freezer.

If you have a caravan, the CR-V isn’t really an option because its towing limit is a very modest 750kg. Some alternatives can tow as much as 2,500kg.

The controls are simply laid-out, which is something that can’t be said for the fiddly infotainment

The CR-V’s interior has a clear, simple layout that helps you find the controls for the features and functions without taking your eyes off the road for too long. Honda has thankfully ditched the rather nasty fake wood trim it used to use, replacing it with metal effect inserts. Everything you touch most frequently has a quality feel, though some other surfaces are made from cheap and scratchy plastic. Aside from a slightly wobbly centre console, everything feels very solidly put together.

The entry-level S trim has a very basic infotainment system with a small screen, DAB radio and Bluetooth. Higher-spec models get a more advanced system with a seven-inch touchscreen and built-in sat nav. Honestly, though, it’s pretty terrible, with a laggy screen and difficult menu navigation. Fortunately, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, so you can just connect your phone.

Depending on trim level, other features include climate control, up to four USB ports, heated leather seats, heated steering wheel, wireless charging pad and an opening panoramic roof.

According to official figures, front-wheel-drive CR-V models have an average fuel economy of 42mpg and all-wheel-drive models 39mpg. CO2 emissions are 151g/km and 161g/km, respectively.

Those numbers aren’t great. The hybrid Toyota RAV4, for instance, hits 49mpg. And there are plenty of diesel alternatives that can do over 55mpg. The CR-V does at least compare well with petrol-powered alternatives.

For private owners, vehicle excise duty costs £165 per year once the car turns one year old. If you spend more than £40,000 on a brand new CR-V, though, it’ll incur an extra charge of £520 per year between the car’s second and sixth birthdays.

The high CO2 emissions mean company car drivers will want to give the CR-V a miss, because the benefit-in-kind rates are pretty lofty.

Car safety experts at Euro NCAP awarded the CR-V a full five star rating, scoring it very highly for protecting adult and child occupants in a crash. Loads of safety features are fitted as standard, too. Even the entry-level model has automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, traffic sign recognition and an emergency call system.

Hondas are very reliable and well made, achieving high marks in customer satisfaction surveys. That’s certainly the case with the CR-V. Honda provides a three-year/90,000-mile warranty as standard. When that expires, you can get an extended warranty from Honda on a rolling contract basis.