2020 Honda CR-V

Overview

It's not hard to see why the 2020 Honda CR-V is one of the brand's top-selling products: It's refined, practical, and well-designed. Aside from offering one of the largest cargo bays in its segment, the CR-V also offers two fuel-efficient powertrains—including a hybrid—to help it go head-to-head with its main rival, the Toyota RAV4. All CR-Vs come well-equipped with creature comforts and technology features that SUV buyers want, plus it has earned excellent crash-test ratings, which will appeal to families. Our complaints are few—and mostly centered around the CR-V's mediocre acceleration performance—but it's unlikely that average buyers will find the same faults.

What's New for 2020?

Fresh-faced and better equipped, the 2020 CR-V is now an even more compelling choice among compact SUVs. Aside from the styling improvements versus last year's model, Honda is now offering a hybrid powertrain which consists of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors; the base 2.4-liter four-cylinder has been dropped and the previously optional turbocharged 1.5-liter engine is now standard on all non-hybrid CR-Vs. More standard and optional equipment enhances the CR-V's value for 2020, starting with a suite of driver-assistance features that includes automated emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control that will be standard on all models.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Honda did its homework planting its first turbocharged engine—a 1.5-liter unit that makes 190 horsepower—in a CR-V and pairing it with one of the best continuously variable automatic transmissions (CVTs) available—praise we don’t give lightly. While most compact crossovers have meager towing limits, the CR-V has one of the lowest at 1500 pounds. Any parent moonlighting as a street racer might be disappointed with the CR-V’s acceleration. On the other hand, they—along with everyone else—will appreciate its refined ride, enthusiastic steering, and strong brakes. The composed and compliant ride of the CR-V makes for pleasant commutes, long or short. Its responsive brake pedal means you receive the stopping power you want when you ask for it. The CR-V hybrid is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and two electric motors that combine for 212 horsepower. We found the hybrid system to be smooth and unobtrusive, and we appreciated that Honda mitigated engine drone at wide-open throttle by adding sound-deadening materials and giving the audio system an active noise-cancelling feature. This provided a much quieter experience than the base engine, which was one of the loudest in its class when matting the gas pedal.

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Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

Good to look at, good to drive, and good on gas: the CR-V is among the most fuel-efficient compact crossovers we’ve tested. The EPA estimates the gas-only model will earn up to 28 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway. The last CR-V we tested on our 200-mile highway route, which simulates real-world fuel economy, had all-wheel drive and earned 32 mpg—matching its government rating. The hybrid CR-V is estimated to earn 40 mpg city and 35 highway. However, the Toyota RAV4 hybrid is rated at 41/38 mpg city/highway. In our real-world testing, the Honda earned 32 mpg on the highway, but the Toyota beat it by 5 mpg (37 total).

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

A stylish and spacious interior creates a cool and comfortable environment in the CR-V. Quality materials and a familiar layout combine for a contemporary look and feel. A tasteful balance of faux-wood accents, chromed plastic, and brushed-satin finishes looked particularly upscale in the Touring version we tested. Supportive and nicely sculpted front seats hug their occupants in all the right places. Leading its class in cargo volume and luggage space, the CR-V not only earns high marks in those subjects, but also by way of its inclusion of user-friendly and useful equipment. We managed to fit 10 carry-on suitcases behind the rear seat, which matched the Ford Escape and beat the CX-5 by one. Fold the back seat flat, and the Honda offers best-in-class luggage space.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

An otherwise excellent presentation is offset by Honda’s frustrating infotainment system. Base LX models come with a 5.0-inch color radio screen, but all other models get a 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio; navigation is optional, as is a nine-speaker audio system. Honda reintroduced a rotary volume knob last year and we appreciate that, but a lack of other controls, slow infotainment responses, and the absence of an auxiliary input can’t be forgiven.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The CR-V earned a five-star crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and it was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The Honda also comes standard with a suite of driver-assistance technology to help prevent collisions from happening in the first place. Key safety features include:

• Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Standard lane-keeping assist with lane-departure warning
• Standard adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Honda covers every CR-V with limited and powertrain warranties that are competitive with most other manufacturers. The Hyundai Tucson and the Kia Sportage are the exceptions, besting Honda and company with an unrivaled 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Their limited warranty is significantly better, too.

• Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance