2021 Honda CR-V

The CR-V entered its fifth generation for the 2020 model year, in which Honda made a lot of big and small changes to the car. It is fuel-efficient, affordable, comfortable, and safe, which is all it takes to compete with the class rivals like Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5. How good is the 2021 Honda CR-V actually? Let's check in the article below.

Just like the previous year, Honda offers the CR-V in four trims, starting from the base LX trim going all the way to the top Touring trim. All the trims come with an optional AWD system which costs extra. The base trim starts with an MSRP of $25,350 for the standard FWD CR-V. Honda has cleverly divided the trims so you get exactly what you want, and it sure does come within budget. 

A host of safety and comfort features are available right from the base trim, and as you progress through the trims, you will see the addition of better tech and comfort features. Even the base trim comes with a host of features, so you will not be disappointed. One thing worth noting is that smartphone integration features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are available from the EX trim and are absent in the base trim. 

We recommend

The best trim to buy if you are on a budget would be the mid-tier EX or EX-L trims. They come at a very reasonable cost, and when you consider the features on offer, it is not much you're missing out from the Touring trim, and you gain a lot more features from the base trim. The addition of a few advanced safety features also make it a more convenient choice.

Honda focuses more on fuel economy and a less polluting engine with the 2021 Honda CR-V as the older slightly bigger 2.4L motor has been replaced with the 1.5L turbocharged engine, which was previously seen as an option in the CR-V range. The 1.5L turbocharged engine combined with a CVT transmission puts out 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque, which is adequate for the size of the CR-V. The whole power is directed to the front wheels as standard, with an AWD system available as an option. 

The engine has quick acceleration and feels fast enough to zoom around town with ease, although it might struggle a little to perform overtaking maneuvers at the highway, it won’t disappoint you. This compromise comes with a blessing to your pocket, as it is one of the most fuel-efficient engines in the class. A 60 MPH comes up in just under 10 seconds, a respectable time for the class. The engine’s lack of power results in a towing capacity of 1,500 pounds, the lowest in the class. There is a hybrid trim available, which is slightly up on power with a 2.0L engine combined with an electric motor.

Ford is the quickest to 60 with the Inline-3 engine and also offers a top speed that matches that of the Toyota RAV4, which has a bigger engine and offers more power. Honda has better power output than Ford and Kia but offers less torque than Ford and Toyota. In short, Kia is the worst performer among them all, while the others stay ahead of each other in one way or another in terms of performance. 

How well does the Honda CR-V handle?

There is no lack of fun while driving the 2021 Honda CR-V. While the engine might not be able to reach high-top speeds, it sure is quick off the mark and would keep up with the traffic at highway speed with ease. The transmission does a pretty good job of keeping the engine at the right revs all the time, and Honda has been well praised for their CVT. 

With the improvement in the body, Honda also gave attention to the suspension which now gives a more plush and comfortable ride around town. The suspension does a pretty good job of flattening out bumps and imperfections on the road. Honda has also made the cabin even quieter and less road noise now enters the cabin, giving you a smooth and sound ride. 

Braking Performance

Even the base trim of the CR-V comes with a standard FWD system with an optional AWD system that is more focused on keeping the car under control and providing better traction at all times. It does not have the biggest brakes, but they sure do a perfect job of stopping the car in time. The brake pedal has a sharp response, and the brakes offer quite a bite. It takes 128 feet to stop the CR-V from 60 mph to a standstill, which is very decent for the segment.

Kia with the bigger brakes takes the shortest distance to come to a halt, although it weighs more than the rest, which actually suggests that it has overall better brakes. Toyota has bigger brakes than Honda and also weighs less but still goes a bit further to come to a dead stop. Both Honda CR-V and Ford Escape have identical stopping distances.

In the class, CR-V and Toyota RAV4 offer unmatched fuel efficiency. There are hybrid versions available that take the MPG figures even further than what the standard engine on offer, which is already very impressive. With the standard FWD drivetrain, EPA estimates that the CR-V would return 28/34/30 MPG for city/highway/combined cycles. When you opt for the AWD drivetrain, the figure will dip slightly but does not harm the MPG with the figures being 27/32/29. Honda equips the CR-V with a 14-gallon fuel tank that offers a range of roundabout 420 miles in mixed driving conditions.

Honda has the highest fuel economy, with Toyota offering identical MPG figures, or even better on the highway with a bigger and more powerful engine, something which makes the Honda look bad. But Honda makes it up with better performance compared to Toyota. Kia Sorento has the biggest fuel tank which allows for way more range than the others.

While the 2021 Honda CR-V might not have the most luxurious interior you would get to sit in, it sure is the most practical interior. The interior fitting and build quality are also very refined. Moving up to the higher trims, you also get leather upholstery which completes the overall look of the interior and gives a slightly upscale feel to it. The design remains minimalistic which would handle the rough use it would go through while carrying around a small family with children for a long time to come. 

No matter where you are seated inside, you have ample space at your disposal, and even on long trips, you won’t feel tired. The overseas market for the CR-V has a seven-seater trim, but the one available in the U.S. is a five-seater trim which feels more practical considering the size of the CR-V. The compact SUV manages to offer a cargo capacity of 39.2 cubic feet.

The CR-V, without a doubt, has the most cabin space, followed by the Ford. The RAV4 lacks in terms of cabin space and also has a smaller trunk than the CR-V. Kia, on the other hand, offers seating for up to seven with the third row of seats suited for children. This, in turn, reduces the standard trunk space. Some of the highlights of the interior include the following:

• Front Bucket Seats with 6-way manual adjustable driver's seat
• 4-Way Passenger Seat
• 60-40 Folding Split Rear-seats
• Remote Keyless Entry
• Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control

What’s there to keep you entertained?

One thing that Honda needs to look after is their infotainment system which has now started to look and feel a bit dated, and rivals have better systems on offer. The LX trim lacks a lot in terms of infotainment features as it comes with a standard five-inch screen and four-speaker sound system with basic Bluetooth connectivity, whereas features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard features in most other rivals. 

Moving up to the EX trim, the screen size increases to seven inches and this system is available in the top trim as well. The sound system also gets better on the upper trims, with the EX-L getting a better 8-speaker system and the top Touring trim boasting a premium 9-speaker system. Some of the highlights of the infotainment system include the following:

• 7” touchscreen system
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (available from EX trim)
• 9-speaker audio system
• SiriusXM 
• HD Radio
• Bluetooth connectivity
• 12-volt power outlet

Honda has a typical design language that is a no-nonsense smooth flowing design for their cars, although Civic is an exception. The 2021 Honda CR-V remains largely similar to the 2020 model in terms of design. A plane and flat-lined roof complete the overall look of the CR-V, which also provides more headroom. Features like LED headlights, panoramic sunroof, rear privacy glass, and LED fog lights are available in all the trims except the LX. 

The wheel sizes are also different for different trims, while the base trim has to make do with 17-inch alloy wheels, the top-end Touring trim comes with 19-inch wheels, and both the middle trims have 18-inch wheels. The base LX trim comes with multi-halogen headlights, while all the rest of the trims come with standard LED headlights. The crossover weighs 3,455 lbs and stands 82 inches above the ground.

Ford Escape is the lightest of them all. The Kia Sorento is the heaviest, longest, and widest, which explains the more seating inside the car. The extra length and width, however, would make it slightly harder to fit in tight garages or parking spaces. The Honda CR-V is a perfect balance of not being too heavy and offering generous space for the passengers and cargo. Some of the highlights of the exterior include the following:

• 18” or 19” alloy wheels
• Integrated roof rails
• Automatic projector headlamps with LED DRLs
• LED Brakelights
• Active Shutter Grille

Honda has given extra attention to the safety quotient of the 2021 Honda CR-V. It comes loaded with features right from the base trim, and the features just keep on increasing as you move up the trim. Not only do they offer the most features, but the CR-V also scores well in the crash tests conducted by the top safety institutions. 

NHTSA gave it a full five-star rating in their crash test, while the IIHS gave it their top rating of ‘Good’ in all the tests, and the higher trims with the LED headlights managed to grab the title of ‘Top Safety Pick.’ The standard list of safety features includes traction control, stability control, ABS and EBD, and six airbags. Some of the standout safety features are as follows:

• Forward collision warning system with pedestrian detection
• Collision mitigation braking
• Lane Departure warning
• Lane keep assist
• Adaptive cruise control

2021 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Toyota RAV4

The Toyota RAV4 gives a tough competition to the CR-V. It costs almost a grand more than the CR-V, and for the extra money, you get a more powerful engine, more infotainment features as standard, whereas the Honda offers better driving dynamics, costs less, and comes with more safety features as standard, and offers a more spacious and comfortable cabin.

2021 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Ford Escape

Ford Escape and Honda CR-V both come at a similar price and have almost every feature. There is no lack of safety or infotainment tech in either of the cars. The only thing that separates these two is the thought of personal choice and the fact that Honda has been deemed more reliable than Ford. If we have to choose, we’ll choose Honda’s reliability.

2021 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Kia Sorento

Kia Sorento is the only car that offers three rows of seats, but that doesn't make it any better than the rest, nor does it justify the price which is just shy of the $30,000 mark. Honda is affordable, spacious, and offers everything that the Kia does at a less price. If you want three rows of seats, then the Kia Telluride would be a better option than the Sorento, and it also falls in the same price range as the Sorento.

The 2021 Honda CR-V is an affordable, fuel-efficient, and comfortable compact crossover that offers tough competition to the class. The list of drawbacks is pretty small when it comes to the CR-V, and with slight improvements, it might just become the best-selling crossover. A lot of it can be attributed to the fact that it already has surpassed the sales of the automakers' sedans. All in all, the 2021 Honda CR-V is one of the best choices to buy in the compact crossover SUV class.