There are plenty of reasons why you'd want a compact SUV. First is the practicality, second is the on-road presence, and third, low MSRP compared to larger SUVs. You could opt for a larger SUV, but the consequent rise in price and fuel consumption might throw you off your budget. Compact SUVs are also easier to drive, easier to manage in traffic, and much, much easier to park.
Honda has had a reputation, and not in a bad way. If you ever want to buy a new car, and you're not sure which one to pick, the best choice would be a Honda. They're affordable, reliable, and economical to run as well. Regardless of which car or segment it is, a Honda will always be one of the best bets. So, does the same hold for its compact SUV as well? Let's find out.
Turbocharged engine delivers a rare combination of thrift and zest
Roomy interior with cavernous cargo capacity for this class
Rides comfortably yet handle corners athletically
Plentiful and thoughtful storage areas
Cons
The touchscreen can be finicky to use and lacks a separate tuning knob
Base LX's engine is weaker and thirstier than the turbo
The optional navigation system isn't as reliable as expected
What's New?
No changes for the 2020 model
Features
vehicle bio
base price
$29750
bodystyle
4dr SUV
passenger capacity
5
drivetrain
front wheel drive
engine type
displacement
91
horsepower
190 hp @ 5600 rpm
torque
179 ft-lbs. @ 2000 rpm
transmission
continuously variable-speed automatic
chassis
suspension front
Independent front strut suspension w/anti-roll bar
suspension rear
Independent rear multi-link suspension w/anti-roll bar
dimensions
wheelbase
104.7 in.
length
180.6 in.
width
73 in.
height
66.1 in.
curb weight
3377 lbs.
ground clearance
7.8 in.
capacity
passenger volume
102.9 cu ft.
cargo volume
75.8 cu ft.
maximum towing capacity
1500
performance
zero to 60 mph
8.4 sec.
fuel economy
city/combined/highway
28/30/34 mpg
highway range
476.0 mi. mi.
warranty
basic warranty
3 yr./ 36000 mi.
drivetrain warranty
5 yr./ 60000 mi.
corrosion warranty
5 yr./ unlimited
roadside assistance
Yes
Pictures
exterior
interior
Trims and Configurations
MSRP
LX
power
184 hp @ 6400 rpm
fuel
Regular unleaded
mpg
28 combined
$24,350 - $25,750
Style
Prices
MPG
Engine
Transmission
Drivetrain
Seats
Colors
LX 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl CVT)
Starting at $24,350 MSRP
(26/28/32)
184 hp @ 6400 rpm, 2.4 L, I-4, regular unleaded
continuously variable-speed automatic
front wheel drive
5
LX 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl CVT)
Starting at $25,750 MSRP
(25/27/31)
184 hp @ 6400 rpm, 2.4 L, I-4, regular unleaded
continuously variable-speed automatic
all wheel drive
5
EX
power
190 hp @ 5600 rpm
fuel
Regular unleaded
mpg
30 combined
$27,250 - $28,650
Style
Prices
MPG
Engine
Transmission
Drivetrain
Seats
Colors
EX 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
Starting at $27,250 MSRP
(28/30/34)
190 hp @ 5600 rpm, 1.5 L, I-4, regular unleaded
continuously variable-speed automatic
front wheel drive
5
EX 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
Starting at $28,650 MSRP
(27/29/33)
190 hp @ 5600 rpm, 1.5 L, I-4, regular unleaded
continuously variable-speed automatic
all wheel drive
5
EX-L
power
190 hp @ 5600 rpm
fuel
Regular unleaded
mpg
30 combined
$29,750 - $31,150
Style
Prices
MPG
Engine
Transmission
Drivetrain
Seats
Colors
EX-L 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
Starting at $29,750 MSRP
(28/30/34)
190 hp @ 5600 rpm, 1.5 L, I-4, regular unleaded
continuously variable-speed automatic
front wheel drive
5
EX-L 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
Starting at $31,150 MSRP
(27/29/33)
190 hp @ 5600 rpm, 1.5 L, I-4, regular unleaded
continuously variable-speed automatic
all wheel drive
5
Touring
power
190 hp @ 5600 rpm
fuel
Regular unleaded
mpg
30 combined
$32,750 - $34,150
Style
Prices
MPG
Engine
Transmission
Drivetrain
Seats
Colors
Touring 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
Starting at $32,750 MSRP
(28/30/34)
190 hp @ 5600 rpm, 1.5 L, I-4, regular unleaded
continuously variable-speed automatic
front wheel drive
5
Touring 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
Starting at $34,150 MSRP
(27/29/33)
190 hp @ 5600 rpm, 1.5 L, I-4, regular unleaded
continuously variable-speed automatic
all wheel drive
5
Colors and Styles
Basque Red Pearl
Vehicle images are guides only and may not reflect the model's exact specifications/features– exact specifications/features should be confirmed with the seller.
Ratings
Features
8.0
Interior
8.5
8.1
OVERALL RATING
Expert Review, Pricing Analysis and Buying Guide
8.1
Overall Rating
On the surface, it does look like it. Honda CR-V offers a lot of space, has great driving dynamics, and has decent performance as well. There are a lot of cars in this segment though, and some of those might catch your fancy too. So, let's take a deeper look into what makes this car better.
2019 Honda CR-V front three quarters
2019 Honda CR-V rear three quarters
8.0/10 Features
8.5/10 Interior
2019 Honda CR-V Features
8.0/10
Sans the ‘Touring’ trim, Honda CR-V costs less than 30 Grand. The base variant is surprisingly cheap, under $25,000, at which point it could become an alternative to the best sub-compact cars.
Trim
LX
EX
EX-L
Touring
MSRP (FWD)
$24,350
$27,250
$29,750
$32,750
Key Features
LX trim gets the following features
EX gets the same features as LX with following addition/replacements
EX-L gets the same features as EX with following addition/replacements
Touring gets the same features as EX-L with following addition/replacements
Blind Spot Monitoring System with Cross Traffic Monitor
Automatic Climate Control System
Adaptive Cruise Control
Remote Entry System
Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control System
Easy Fold-Down 60/40 Split Rear Seatback
Power Side Mirrors
Bluetooth HandsFreeLink
USB Audio Interface (Optional)
Available Real Time AWD with Intelligent Control System
We Recommend
Get the EX trim; it gets all the great safety features like Blind spot monitoring, Forward collision warning, Auto high beam headlamps, etc.
2019 Honda CR-V Engine and Performance
The 2019 Honda CR-V comes in four basic flavors, turbo, and non-turbo with either front- or all-wheel drive. None inspire, but the turbocharged engine in 2019 CR-V EX, EX-L, and Touring trim levels provides decent oomph with good fuel economy. -The Car Connection
Engine and Transmission
The 2019 model uses the same powertrains as the 2018 Honda CR V. It gets two engine choices, a sprightly 1.5 liter inline-4 turbo, and the base 2.4 liter inline-4 naturally aspirated. The base engine, which is only available in the base model, pushes out a maximum of 184 horses. The smaller turbocharged engine on other trims churns a little more, 190 Horsepower.
While the difference in power output doesn’t seem much, the turbo engine is an absolute joy to drive. Power comes in strong but linear and is in no way hampered due to its tiny capacity. You could have both the engines with either front wheel or all-wheel drive system. CVT comes standard with sports mode in all trims, which although rear for a CVT, isn’t as engaging as a manual could have been. It is much easier for everyday use though.
Models
Honda CR-V LX
Chevrolet Equinox L
Volkswagen Tiguan S
Mazda CX-5 SPORT
Hyundai Santa Fe SE
Mitsubishi Outlander ES
Nissan Rogue S
GMC Terrain SL
Subaru Forester 2.5i
Kia Sorento L
MSRP
$25,345
$24,795
$25,190
$25,345
$26,545
$25,690
$25,795
$26,195
$24,295
$26,980
Engine
2.4L Inline-4
1.5L Inline-4 Turbocharged gas
2.0L Inline-4
2.5L Inline-4
2.4L Inline-4 Regular Unleaded
2.4L Inline-4
2.5L Inline-4
1.5L Inline-4 Turbo Gas/Ethanol
2.5L Boxer-4 Regular Unleaded
2.4L Inline-4 Regular Unleaded
Transmission
Continuously variable automatic
6-Speed automatic
8-Speed automatic
6-Speed automatic
8-Speed automatic
Continuously variable automatic
Continuously variable automatic
9-Speed automatic
Continuously variable automatic
6-Speed automatic
Horsepower
184 hp@ 6400rpm
170 hp@ 5600rpm
184 hp@ 4400rpm
187 hp@ 6000rpm
185 hp@ 6000rpm
166 hp@ 6000rpm
170 hp@ 6000rpm
170 hp@ 5600rpm
182 hp@ 5800 rpm
185 hp@ 6000rpm
Torque
180 ft-lbs.@ 3900rpm
203 ft-lbs.@ 2000rpm
221 ft-lbs.@ 1600 rpm
186 ft-lbs.@ 4000rpm
178 ft-lbs.@ 4000rpm
162 ft-lbs.@ 4200rpm
175 ft-lbs.@ 4400rpm
203 ft-lbs.@ 2000rpm
176 ft-lbs.@ 4400rpm
178 ft-lbs.@ 4000rpm
As for the competition, all the cars here come at the same entry price, and make nearly identical power figures, save for a few horses. The torque figures are a bit more diverse, but nothing that deserves special attention. Mitsubishi Outlander is quite underpowered, with just 160 HP propelling it forward.
Acceleration
Performance has never been a strong point for SUVs, or for budget cars, and CR V is both! 60 Miles an hour comes up in a generous 7.7 seconds, just enough to not be called lazy at full clip. Quarter mile comes up in a similarly cool and clam fashion, in exactly 16 seconds.
Models
Honda CR-V LX
Chevrolet Equinox L
Volkswagen Tiguan S
Mazda CX-5 SPORT
Hyundai Santa Fe SE
Mitsubishi Outlander ES
Nissan Rogue S
GMC Terrain SL
Subaru Forester
Kia Sorento L
0-60 MPH
7.7 sec
N/A
N/A
8.7 sec
8.9 sec
N/A
N/A
6.8 sec
9.6 sec
7.3 sec
Quarter mile
16 sec
N/A
N/A
16.7 sec
16.7 sec
N/A
N/A
15.4 sec
17.3 sec
N/A
Engine
2.4L Inline-4
1.5L Inline-4 Turbocharged gas
2.0L Inline-4
2.5L Inline-4
2.4L Inline-4 Regular Unleaded
2.4L i4
2.5L Inline-4
1.5L Inline-4 Turbo Gas/Ethanol
2.5L Boxer-4 Regular Unleaded
2.4L Inline-4 Regular Unleaded
Emission
(Tons/yr. of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)
N/A
6.3
7.7
6.3
N/A
6.5
6.1
N/A
N/A
N/A
The Acadia takes the cake here, though not by much. The little GMC SUV is a second quicker to the 60 MPH mark by a whole second against the Honda.
Braking
Braking is quite effective in the Honda CRV, with disc brakes on all wheels. The front pair consists of 11.1-inch discs, and the rear, 10.2 inches. The curb weight isn’t light, and you can feel weight under panic braking situations. Under all other circumstances, the weight is well masked.
Model
Honda CR-V LX
Chevrolet Equinox L
Volkswagen Tiguan S
Mazda CX-5 SPORT
Hyundai Santa Fe SE
Mitsubishi Outlander ES
Nissan Rogue S
GMC Terrain SL
Subaru Forester
Kia Sorento L
Brake Front (in.)
11.1
N/A
13.4
11.7
12.6
11.6
11.7
11.6
11.8
12.6
Brake Rear (in.)
10.2
N/A
11.8
11.9
12
11.9
11.5
11.2
11.3
12
Curb Weight (lbs.)
3307
3274
3721
3541
3591
3329
3456
3449
3499
3810
60-0 MPH (ft.)
115
N/A
N/A
136
130
N/A
N/A
130
129
N/A
Kia Sorento and Volkswagen Tiguan deserve a mention in the weight segment. They are extremely heavy cars, approaching 4000 pounds on better-equipped trims. On the other end of the spectrum, we have Chevy Equinox, which is about 30 pounds lighter than the Base CRV.
2019 Honda CR-V Fuel Economy
Honda’s compact SUV, is quite an economical choice, as all Hondas are. A city drive would reach to about 26 miles if you’re careful, and on a smooth freeway, you could easily push that figure up to 32 MPG. This averages to a combined efficiency figure of 28 Miles per Gallon, which is quite impressive.
Model
Honda CR-V LX
Chevrolet Equinox L
Volkswagen Tiguan S
Mazda CX-5 SPORT
Hyundai Santa Fe SE
Mitsubishi Outlander ES
Nissan Rogue S
GMC Terrain SL
Subaru Forester
Kia Sorento L
MPG (city)
26
26
22
25
22
25
26
26
26
22
MPG (highway)
32
32
29
31
29
30
33
32
30
29
MPG (combined)
28
28
25
28
25
27
29
28
28
25
Range (city/highway (miles)
364 / 448
387 / 477
337 / 444
370 / 459
414 / 545
415/498
377 / 479
387.4/447
431.6/547.8
414 / 545
Tank Capacity (gal)
14.0
14.9
15.3
14.8
18.8
16.6
14.5
14.9
14.9
18.8
This entire segment consists of very frugal cars, which manage to squeeze anywhere between 25 to 29 MPG for city and highway combined driving. On paper, Nissan Rogue has been rated the highest in class, at 26 and 33 MPG in the city and highway respectively.
2019 Honda CR-V Interior
8.5/10
As noted, the 2019 CR-V's 2-row/5-passenger interior space is one of its best attributes -- an impressive feat given that the previous generation was already among the most spacious in its class. -Kelley Blue Book
Seating and Comfort
The CR V is a typical Honda, in that the interiors aren’t too fancy, but extremely spacious. It is probably the roomiest car here, primarily because it doesn’t try to fit in more than it can handle. There is ample space for 5 people, and the CR V doesn’t claim to seat anymore. All the sets are great for comfortably seating adults, and one could even argue that the Honda is the most comfortable car in the class.
Model
Honda CR-V LX
Chevrolet Equinox L
Volkswagen Tiguan S
Mazda CX-5 SPORT
Hyundai Santa Fe SE
Mitsubishi Outlander ES
Nissan Rogue S
GMC Terrain SL
Subaru Forester
Kia Sorento L
Passenger capacity
5
5
7
5
5
7
5
5
5
7
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg,(In.)
40.1/57.9/41.3
40.0/57.2/40.9
39.6/57.0/40.2
39.7/57.1/41.0
41.2/59.1/44.1
40.6/56.4/40.9
41.6/56.6/43.0
41.2/58.2/43.3
40.0/57.2/40.9
39.5/59.1/44.1
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)
39.2/55.6/40.4
38.5/55.5/39.7
39.1/55.9/36.5
39.0/54.8/39.6
39.2/58.3/40.9
38.4/56.0/37.3
38.5/55.9/37.9
39.6/57.2/39.4
38.5/55.6/39.7
39.3/58.0/39.4
Mitsubishi Outlander and Kia Sorento 7 seaters SUVs, and they make quite a fine companion for long rides as well. The last row is cramped, as is the case usually, but the first and second rows are quite spacious. Hyundai offers the best in class space, with tremendous headroom and legroom.
Infotainment
For the 2019 Honda CR V, a 7-inch touchscreen comes standard on the infotainment. Other standard features include:
Apple CarPlay
Android Audio
Satellite radio
Rearview camera
USB Audio interface and charging ports for front row
USB charging ports for second-row
Bluetooth HandsFreeLink
Cargo volume
Cargo Volume is an important criterion while buying an SUV. Their large dimensions on the outside lend themselves to open spaces inside. The little Honda SUV holds nearly 40 cubic feet in the trunk, or the equivalent of 4 large, stuffed travel bags. If that falls short of your needs, then simply lower the seats to reveal nearly double amount of space in total.
Model
Honda CR-V LX
Chevrolet Equinox L
Volkswagen Tiguan S
Mazda CX-5 SPORT
Hyundai Santa Fe SE
Mitsubishi Outlander ES
Nissan Rogue S
GMC Terrain SL
Subaru Forester
Kia Sorento L
Cargo Volume (ft.3)
39.2
29.9
12.0
30.9
35.9
10.3
39.3
35.4
29.6
11.3
The 7 seaters sacrifice trunk volume in favor of one more row of seats. The trunk space is smaller than what you’d find in a small hatchback. Fold the last row though, and you get a useful storage space. Honda CR V and Nissan Rogue have the most space in the rear, nearly 40 cubic feet.
2019 Honda CR-V Exterior
The 2019 Honda CR-V has done well in crash-tests and most versions come well equipped with advanced safety gear. Moreover, unlike many of its rivals, the 2019 CR-V offers great outward vision thanks to its low window line and narrow roof pillars. -The Car Connection
Dimensions and Weight
As stated earlier, this Honda crossover is a compact SUV. You would have probably guessed by know that it isn’t a big car. If you want to visualize, the CR V isn’t even bigger than the Civic, except for the height. You could muscle the car into tight spaces like a sedan and easily see your way around due to the raised seats.
Model
Honda CR-V LX
Chevrolet Equinox L
Volkswagen Tiguan S
Mazda CX-5 SPORT
Hyundai Santa Fe SE
Mitsubishi Outlander ES
Nissan Rogue S
GMC Terrain SL
Subaru Forester
Kia Sorento L
Curb weight (lbs.)
3307
3274
3721
3541
3591
3329
3456
3449
3499
3810
Length(in)
180.6
183.1
185.1
179.1
187.8
184.8
184.5
182.1
182.3
189.0
Width(in)
73.0
72.6
72.4
72.5
74.4
71.3
72.4
71.5
72.4
74.4
Height(in)
66.1
65.4
66.3
66.2
66.1
67.3
66.3
68.1
65.4
66.3
Ground clearance (in)
7.8
N/A
7.9
7.5
N/A
8.5
7.8
8.7
6.9
7.3
Wheelbase (in)
104.7
107.3
109.8
106.2
108.9
105.1
106.5
105.1
107.3
109.4
Track width (in) F/R
62.9/63.5
62.2/62.2
62.2/61.8
62.8/62.8
64.3/64.7
60.6/60.6
62.8/62.8
61.6/61.8
62.2/62.2
64.3/64.7
2019 Honda CR-V Safety
Numerous advanced safety features are standard on the Honda CR V, including the following:
Six airbags
4-wheel Antilock Braking system
automatic high beams
blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
lane keeping assist
adaptive cruise control
forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking
Vehicle Stability Assist
Tire pressure monitoring system
Hill Start Assist
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children
2019 Honda CR-V Competition
Honda CR-V vs Nissan Rogue
Nissan Rogue is perhaps the most popular crossover in the US, and if there is a car that can lock horns together with the Honda CR-V, it’s this SUV by Nissan. Both these cars lead the sales charts for the segment and are a bang for the buck. You couldn’t go wrong with either of these SUVs. The Honda pulls ahead in terms of passenger space, though not by much.
Honda CR-V vs Chevrolet Equinox
To combat the Japanese contenders, homegrown car maker Chevy has brought out the relatively big guns. Equinox isn’t as spacious or as comfy. Honda also offers better drivability and handling. Overall, the Equinox is quite a few steps behind the CR-V.
Honda CR-V vs Mazda CX-5
If practicality and space aren’t too high on your priority list, then you can consider the Mazda CX-5 as well. It is a much more exciting car, with better performance and handling. Its steering is extremely precise and feedback-rich, and ride comfort isn’t compromised either. It also has a sleeker look. Still, for space and practicality, you’ll be better off with the Honda.
2019 Honda CR-V Final Verdict
You can always count on the Japanese to build solid, reliable cars for an affordable price. Honda CR-V is a great car, arguably the best in the segment. If you don’t have your heart set on some other car, you should definitely go for this one. With good space and usable performance, it will keep the driver and the passengers happy.