2020 Honda CR-V

The 2020 Honda CR-V is available in 4 trim levels where the base trim has a starting price of $25,150. The Real-time AWD system can be availed for an extra $1,500. Price for the top-end Touring trim reaches $34,850. The CR-V rivals the likes of Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape, and the Kia Sorento.

The CR-V lineup is quite dynamic that starts with budget-friendly LX trim and moves up towards trims with better convenience features. All the trims offer an optional real-time AWD system. The table below presents the standout features of the particular trim level. There are various options and features you can avail of if you move up the trim level.

The crossover also has 8 new packages to choose from, most of them bringing in cosmetic changes and frills to excite the consumer. The most famous options include the Illumination Package, Utility Package, and the All-Season Protection Package that add in features like blue illuminated door sill, interior trim with blue illuminated logo, all-season high-wall floor mats, splash guard set, and trunk tray.

Which trim should you buy?

The EX trim is the best-valued trim of the CR-V lineup. It costs a couple of thousand bucks more than the base trim but adds a great value. The standard package gets bigger 18-inch wheels, heated seats, LED fog lamps, a panoramic sunroof, a 7.0-inch electrostatic touch screen, and a panoramic moonroof. This package is good enough as the EX trim offers everything you need to make the experience better.

All the trim levels of the Honda CR-V offer a 1.5L turbocharged inline 4 cylinder engine. It outputs 190hp of power at 5,600 RPM and 179lb-ft of torque at just 2,000 RPM. The engine is mated to a 2-Speed CVT transmission. With the FWD drivetrain, the CR-V has a great throttle response, however, the CVT pulls it back.

The CR-V is capable of reaching 60 MPH from a standstill in just 7.6 seconds. The quarter-mile run takes 16.0 seconds at the most. 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. There's an optional Real-time AWD with an intelligent control system for mild off-roading.

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, which allows the 3,337lbs weighing SUV to stop in 125 feet of distance from 60 MPH.

The Honda CR-V is slightly heavier than the Ford Escape. As compared to the rivals, the CR-V has the smallest brake rotors. 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 is the quickest stopping SUV with its lightweight and bigger brake rotors.

The 2020 Honda CR-V gets a refined 4 cylinder engine that delivers exceptional fuel economy. The CVT transmission saves fuel by revving at low RPMs. The CR-V fetches 28 MPG in the city, 34 MPG on the highway, and a combined 30 MPG. With the 14.0 gallon tank, you get a maximum range of 476 miles.

When equipped with the Real-time AWD system, the CR-V delivers a lesser fuel economy. You get 27 MPG in the city, 32 MPG on the highway, and a combined 29 MPG. That decreases the highway range to just 448 miles. However, the CR-V has the best in class city mileage of 28 MPG.

The 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. In the city, the CR-V is the best performer with its CVT transmission. The highway range is greater on the RAV4. The small fuel tank pulls the CR-V back as rivals have better fuel capacity, thus they deliver better overall range.

Honda is known for its quality and space inside the cabin. And that's the case with the Honda 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

Honda CR-V has been an attractive SUV all along. The recent facelift has updated it with a more appealing design. With time, the CR-V has gotten bigger and better in terms of design and shape. The aerodynamic approach of Honda keeps the CR-V one step ahead of its rivals. From the front, the 2020 CR-V looks wider and stylish with the redesigned bumper with metal-look accents and LED headlamps that are integrated with the new chrome bar signature grille. You can avail the optional LED fog lamps as well with the EX and above trims. The beltline is designed with chrome accents and reworked side skirts.

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. 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 title from IIHS and scored 5 Stars safety in the NHTSA ratings.

In terms of active safety, the 2020 CR-V gets various standard safety features and driver assistance systems. The list starts with forward-collision warning, collision mitigation braking system, lane keeps assisting, and road departure mitigation system. 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. It is still a sedan-inspired SUV as it shares its platform with the Honda Civic. That's why you get remarkable performance and handling. 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.