2020 Honda CR-V

The 202 Honda CR-V comes in four trim levels. All trims come powered by a turbocharged 1.4L engine that outputs 190 hp and has a torque output of 179 lb-ft. This engine comes with a front-wheel-drive configuration and is mated to a CVT. All-wheel-drive is optional as well. The CR-V has a punchy performance, and the driving dynamics are on point, well-balanced and precise. The CR-V does not compromise on fuel economy in any sense and has one of the best fuel economies in this class.

In terms of interior space, the CR-V is comfortable, with roomy seating and an array of practical features. The CR-V also boasts of top safety features and gets advanced safety systems as standard. The CR-V however, has a few downsides. It is not as good as some other rivals off-road, and also lacks tech features on the base trim. The infotainment system is not very user-friendly as well. With all these positives and negatives, the 2020 Honda CR-V is priced at $25,150 and goes up against the likes of the 2020 Toyota RAV4, the 2020 Ford Escape, and the 2020 Nissan Rogue.

The 2020 Honda CR-V trim line-up is divided into four levels; the LX, EX, EX-L, and the Touring. Pricing for base CR-V starts at $25,150 and climbs all the way up to $34,850. The 2020 CR-V is offered with front-wheel drive as standard and comes with optional AWD. The AWD configuration will cost around $1,500 extra. All trims now come standard with Honda Sensing Suite, which adds advanced safety features. To get a touch screen or smartphone integration including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, you’ll have to move up to the EX trim or higher. The below table talks about the trims, their respective pricing, and the main features offered.

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The Honda CR-V EX trim brings the most value in the 2020 model lineup and should satisfy the most shoppers. The CR-V EX starts at $27,660, It gains a 7-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, a six-speaker stereo, two second-row USB ports, proximity keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, larger alloy wheels, and a moonroof.

"The base 1.4-litre turbo-4 has good power but its gift is fuel efficiency." -TheCarConnection

2020 Honda CR-V Engine and Transmission

All the trim levels of the 2020 Honda CR-V come with a standard 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The CR-V gets190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque, which is ample for the crossover to accelerate swiftly enough for most needs. Honda's CVT is smoother than other versions of the rivals.

The 2020 CR-V is capable of reaching 60 MPH from a standstill in just 7.6 seconds and does the quarter-mile run in 16.0 seconds. With that, it can easily do a top speed of 130 MPH. Also, the CR-V can tow up to 1,500lbs of trailer weight, which is average in the class. There's an optional real-time AWD with an intelligent control system for mild off-roading and all-weather capability.

In terms of power, the RAV4 is ahead of the CR-V with its 203 horses. When it comes to torque, the Ford Escape is the clear winner. Undoubtedly, the Honda CR-V is the lowest revving SUV with its CVT transmission where rivals offer automatic transmissions. Yet the CR-V is the fastest among the rivals with its surprising performance figures.

How well does the 2020 Honda CR-V handle?

The Honda CR-V is one of the most balanced SUVs in its segment. With its front strut and rear multi-link suspension, it tackles sharp corners with limited body roll. To keep all four wheels on the road, you have front and rear stabilizer bars as well. That's why the CR-V remains stable at high speeds.

Also, you have a variable-ratio electric power steering that varies according to the speed and movement of the wheels. Thus, it makes it easier to handle the massive SUV. The low friction dampers keep the suspension soft and enhance the ride quality and comfort.

2020 Honda CR-V Braking Performance

The 2020 Honda CR-V is equipped with 4-wheel disc brakes to ensure safe braking. The antilock braking is paired with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assistance that assists the driver when the brakes are applied. In terms of braking, you get 11.1-inch brake rotors at the front and 10.2-inch rotors at the back allow the 3,337 lbs weighing SUV to stop in 125 feet of distance from 60 MPH.

As compared to the rivals, the CR-V has the smallest brake rotors size still posts a decent stopping distance to inspire confidence. However, the lighter weight works in its favor as the CR-V stops at a shorter distance as compared to the heavier Sorento. The Ford Escape has the shortest stopping distance, thanks to its lightweight and bigger brake rotors.

The 2020 Honda CR-V gets a refined 4 cylinder engine and a CVT that delivers exceptional fuel economy. The CR-V returns EPA estimated 28 MPG in the city, and 34 MPG on the highway. the AWDequipped CR-V gets 27 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. The standard 14.0-gallon fuel tank will get you a maximum driving range of 476 miles in mixed driving conditions. When equipped with the Real-time AWD system, the highway driving range drops to 448 miles. However, the CR-V has the best in class city mileage of 28 MPG.

The 2020 Kia Sorento evens out its poor fuel economy with a massive fuel tank. Both Toyota RAV4 and Ford Escape give tough competition to the CR-V with their combined MPG ratings of 30 mpg. In the city, the CR-V is the best performer with its CVT transmission. The small fuel tank pulls the CR-V back as rivals have better fuel capacity, thus they deliver better overall range.

"The CR-V's interior dimensions are generally larger than those of rivals, and rear-seating space is among the biggest you'll find in a small SUV." - Edmunds

Honda is known for its quality and space inside the cabin and that's the case with the 2020 CR-V as well. A spacious cabin is designed with good quality materials and modern ergonomics to provide a stylish and elegant design. The appearance and quality of the cabin get better as we move up the trim levels. Even with a massive dashboard, you have great outward visibility. The CR-V retains its traditional dashboard layout with few modern touches that include better quality, bigger infotainment, metal-look and leather treatment, a TFT gauge display, and a leather steering wheel with numerous controls. 

With standard cloth upholstery, the front bucket seats offer the 6-way driver and 4-way passenger adjustments. The optional package adds heated front seats, a 12-way power driver seat with 4-way lumbar support, and 2 memory settings. At the rear, you have a 60-40 split-bench seat that can be reclined and folded as per requirement. The interior can be equipped with optional chrome accents, wood accents, carbon-fiber look trim, and leather seat trim. The higher trims offer such options as standard. The front seats offer seatback storage pockets as well. 

There's a sliding center armrest at the front and a center-mounted armrest at the back. For your convenience, you have a manual tilt and telescopic steering wheel, front and rear cupholders, one-touchdown power windows, day-night rearview mirror, a front row panoramic moonroof, and a dual-zone automatic air-conditioning with console and under-seat ducts. Most of these features are available from EX trim onwards.

All the SUVs have proper space inside to fit 5 people comfortably. The Sorento is the only SUV in its segment that offers 7 seat configuration with its third-row seating. Both CR-V and Escape offer similar seating space at both the front and the back. If we compare the 5 seat rivals, the Honda CR-V is the most spacious SUV. Behind its rear row seating, you have a massive cargo capacity of 39.2 cubic feet, which is the biggest in the segment. With the foldable rear bench seat, you get a maximum cargo space of 75.8 cubic feet. Some highlighting interior features are:

• Spacious cabin
• Premium quality materials
• Leather with wood accents
• TFT gauge display
• 12-way power driver's seat
• Heated front seats
• Sliding center armrest
• Dual-zone air-conditioning
• Active noise cancellation
• Panoramic moonroof
• Voice-activated functions

What's there to keep you entertained?

The 2020 Honda CR-V moves ahead with its dated 5.0-inch infotainment display on the base LX trim. It offers minimalistic features such as an AM/FM radio with seek-scan, Pandora compatibility, Bluetooth HandsFreeLink, and USB and Bluetooth audio connectivity. The Infotainment is connected with 4 speakers that come with a 160W amplifier.

From the EX trim onwards, you can avail of the 7.0-inch Electrostatic touchscreen infotainment powered by HondaLink. The high-resolution customizable display adds entertainment features such as SiriusXM radio subscription, Apple CarPlay, and Android auto. It offers a bigger 180W audio system with a 6 speaker setup.

The EX-L gets better audio with 8 speakers and a 180W amplifier. The top-end Touring trim is equipped with a bigger 9 premium speaker setup that comes with a 330W subwoofer. Also, the Touring trim gets the HondaLink satellite navigation system to arrive at your destination on time.

There's a 7.0 inch TFT display in the gauge cluster as well. It acts as a digital speedometer and displays information about engine coolant temperature, a trip computer, fuel meter, background safety systems, and a driver attention monitor. Some of the highlighting infotainment features include:

• HondaLink infotainment
• 7.0-inch Electrostatic touchscreen
• Bluetooth and USB
• Apple CarPlay and Android auto
• 330W audio system with premium speakers
• SiriusXM radio subscription
• HondaLink satellite navigation system

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For 2020, the Honda CR-V gets a mild refresh, with a revised front end featuring a new grille and front bumper with metal-look accents and LED headlamps. The CR-V EX and Touring models get new 18- and 19-inch wheels, and EX and higher trims now come standard with LED fog lights. The beltline is designed with chrome accents and reworked side skirts. With time, the CR-V has gone bigger and better in terms of design, dimensions, and shape. The aerodynamic approach of Honda keeps the CR-V one step ahead of its rivals. 

The rear end of the CR-V is designed with massive LED brake lights that are integrated with a chrome bar. To give the CR-V a sporty feel, you can opt for the lip spoiler. The blacked-out bumper gets metal-look treatment as well. Below that you have dual chrome tip exhausts that give the humble CR-V an aggressive appearance. With standard 17-inch alloy wheels, you get bigger 18-inch and 19-inch wheels with the above trims. The optional packages add features such as gloss-black grille, gloss black side lower trim, roof racks, fender accent trim, and a trailer hitch. With up to 12 color options, you can personalize your CR-V as you want.

The new dimensions of the CR-V make it the longest 2-row crossover SUV. It shares its width with the RAV4 and its height with the Escape. The Kia Sorento is comparatively bigger. The 104.8-inch wheelbase is the smallest in the whole segment but doesn't affect the balance and agility of the Honda CR-V. The CR-V's 8.2-inches of ground clearance and AWD drivetrain makes it ready to venture off-road (ground clearance drops to 7.8-inches on the front-drive CR-V). Some of the highlight exterior features are:

• LED headlamps
• Chrome and metal-look exterior accents
• Chrome bar grille
• 12 color options
• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Tailgate spoiler
• Dual chrome tip exhausts

The Honda CR-V is designed with Advanced Compatibility Engineering which stands for lightweight and strength. The unibody structure can withstand impacts with its collision absorbent crumple zones. With that, the 2020 CR-V bagged the Top Safety Pick award from IIHS and scored a 5 Stars overall safety ratings in the NHTSA crash test.

In terms of active safety, the 2020 CR-V comes with features including a rearview camera, automatic high-beam headlights, and Honda Sensing Safety Suite. This package includes advanced driver-assistance features such as a collision mitigation braking system, road departure warning, traffic sign recognition, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The top trims also offer a blind spot information system and a cross-traffic monitor. The standout safety features include:

• Advanced Compatibility Engineering
• Collision mitigation braking
• Lane keep assist
• Road departure mitigation
• Blindspot monitor
• Cross-traffic monitor

2020 Honda CR-V vs 2020 Toyota RAV4

The Honda CR-V is a laudable competitor against its Japanese arch-rival, the Toyota RAV4. Both SUVs are quite impressive with their offerings where the RAV4 takes over with its better fuel economy and off-road capabilities. The Honda CR-V is more of a family SUV that delivers a nimble ride, a spacious cabin, and various optional features.

2020 Honda CR-V vs 2020 Ford Escape

The Honda CR-V is one step ahead of the Ford Escape in terms of performance. However, the Ford Escape is relatively cheaper and offers similar features, which makes it a tough rival against the CR-V. Still, the customers looking for a versatile crossover always pick the CR-V over others. With its premium interiors, the CR-V is also more appealing.

2020 Honda CR-V vs 2020 Kia Sorento

The Honda CR-V is among the best 2 row SUVs in the segment. Though the Kia Sorento adds the convenience of 7 seats with its slightly longer body. However, for the price of a base Sorento, you can get a decently equipped EX trim of the CR-V. Moreover, the CR-V is also the better refined of the two with much better comfort, space, performance, and design.

The Honda CR-V has made its way to the top by offering the best in class features and performance. For a base price of $25,150, Honda has kept the LX trim economical as it offers limited features for convenience, comfort, and entertainment. As you move towards the EX trim, the list of features gets longer, hence, the 2020 Honda CR-V suits all kinds of customer needs. The small crossover is practical, comfortable, and fuel-efficient certainly checks many boxes \for both a commuter and a small family vehicle.

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2020 Honda CR-V FAQs

Is the 2020 Honda CR-V AWD?

The Honda CR-V is available in both FWD and AWD configurations. The CR-V hybrid models come standard with an AWD drivetrain.

What year is the best Honda CR-V?

The 2020 Honda CR-V tweaked the exterior styling and dropped the 184-horsepower base engine from the lineup, leaving the turbocharged engine as the only power plant. The Honda Sensing suite of safety features is now included with the base trim. However, Honda redesigned the CR-V for the 2017 model year.

Does the Honda CR-V have paddle shifters?

No, the 2020 Honda CR-V is no offered with paddle shifters.