2021 Honda CR-V

After deeply analyzing the different trim models, we would recommend the EX trim for its features to price ratio. The EX trim is about $2,510 more expensive than the base LX trim and $1,310 more than the Special Edition trim. So, for that additional money, buyers get access to multiple features like heated front seats, one-touch power moonroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, LED fog lights, and power driver’s seat. In addition to the Honda Sensing suite of ADAS features in the EX-trim, a Blind Spot Information Center with Cross Traffic Monitor is standard as well.

See all Specs and Features >>

The Honda CR-V is a brilliant small SUV due to its high competency across the board- Edmunds.com

Honda’s five-seater SUV offering is available in five main trim configurations: LX, Special Edition, EX, EX-L and Touring. The starting prices of the above-mentioned CR-V 2021 trims are $25,350, $26,550, $27,860, $30,450 and $33,650 respectively. The good thing is that every trim offers Honda Sensing suite of driver-assistance features as standard. Some features like lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, auto high-beam headlights, lane departure warning, collision mitigation braking system are standard. 

The Honda CR-V LX trim is equipped with multiple features like 17-inch alloy wheels, multi-angle rear view camera, automatic climate control system, 5-inch LCD screen, 4-speaker audio system, cargo area lights, and manually-adjustable driver seats. With the Special Edition trim, features like heated front seats, dual-zone climate control system, 7-inch touchscreen display, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay are offered. The EX trim offers 18-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lights, power driver’s seat, front and second row USB ports, and one touch power moonroof.

The EX-L trim offers power tailgate, leather-trimmed upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel, front power seats with memory function for driver’s seat. The top-tier Touring trim offers 19-inch alloy wheels, all wheel drive, roof rails, full LED headlights, dual chrome exhaust finishers, hands-free access power tailgate, wireless phone charger, 9-speaker audio system, heated steering wheel and Honda satellite-linked navigation system. The Dark Accent Package adds darkened elements, Rugged Package adds ruggedness, All-Weather Packages improve weather resistance and multiple accessories like frame mount, crossbars, roof basket, and kayak attachment adds versatility. 

Thrilling? No, but it's more than adequate for the day-to-day commute- Edmunds.com

The 2021 Honda CR-V is powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 190 hp and 179 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a CVT and FWD is standard. However, you can opt for AWD drivetrain for an additional charge of around $1,500. The CR-V performs well in different driving scenarios but misses out on the grunt that you would expect. The CVT is tuned for fuel economy and seamless shifts. The hybrid trims are equipped with a 2.0-liter engine and two electric motors for a combined output of 212 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque.

The 2021 CR-V can sprint 0-60 mph in about 9.3 seconds and complete a quarter-mile run in 16.0 seconds. When equipped with the optional AWD drivetrain, the CR-V takes 9.0 seconds for a 0-60 mph sprint and completes a quarter-mile run in 16.0 seconds. The main benefit of having an AWD drivetrain is better traction on different terrains. The performance is quite good in the urban jungle but on highway you would miss the sudden thrust of acceleration as the CR-V builds up speed in a more linear manner.

As mentioned in the expert review section, the driving experience is just about average. The ride quality is pliant and offers good comfort on bad roads. However, when thrashed hard, the engine noise can creep inside the cabin. So, yes, the NVH levels are under control but they require improvement in spirited driving conditions. Similarly, the steering wheel is precise but cornering is not a confidence-inspiring affair. The braking force is one of the best in the segment and good brakes certainly improve driver’s confidence at high speeds.

All the SUVs in the comparison are pretty neck-to-neck with each other in terms of outright acceleration. However, the way the power is put on the road matters. The Toyota RAV4 comes with the biggest powerhouse, offering much higher output. Surprisingly, the Ford Escape offers better acceleration despite being the least powerful. The reason is higher torque output than the rivals. The Kia Sorento is the slowest, offering very similar performance and output figures as the Honda CR-V. 

Good to look at, good to drive, and good on gas- Car and Driver 

The 2021 Honda CR-V is EPA-estimated to deliver 28/34/30 miles per gallon (mpg) in city/highway/combined driving conditions. The all-wheel-drive (AWD) trims are rated at 27 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway and 29 MPG combined. With a gas tank size of 14.0 gallons, the 2022 CR-V with FWD drivetrain can offer a combined driving range of 420 miles. The AWD models deliver 406 miles of combined driving range. For additional gas mileage, you must check out the CR-V Hybrid 2022 with 38 mpg in combined driving conditions

Honda has the highest fuel economy in the city, 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 the Honda CR-V makes it up with better performance compared to Toyota RAV4. The Kia Sorento has the biggest fuel tank which allows for way more driving range than the others. It is followed by Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Ford Escape. 

A stylish and spacious interior creates a cool and comfortable environment in the CR-V- Car and Driver

The 2021 Honda CR-V offers one of the most comfortable interior spaces in the segment. Honda’s best-selling SUV offers adequate comfort for up to five passengers. The dashboard is ergonomically-designed with the infotainment screen in the center and sleek air vents above it. Most of the controls are well within the reach and even outside visibility is good. The quality of materials is pretty good from the base trim itself and improves as you climb the trim ladder. The front and rear seats are comfortable as well and passengers would like the adequate headroom and legroom. 

Some convenience features like power door and tailgate locks, center console storage with sliding armrest, sliding sun visors, automatic climate control, rear seat heater ducts, and cargo area lights are standard from LX trim onwards. From the Special Edition onwards, multiple features like push button start, dual-zone climate control system, and heated front seats are offered. The EX-L adds multiple features like leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, auto-dimming rear view mirror, leather upholstery and 4-way power-adjustable seats for the front passenger.  

The Touring trim offers ambient lighting, heated steering wheel, power-adjustable front seats with memory function for driver’s seat, ventilated seats and all the features of the other trims as standard. A one-touch power moonroof is offered from EX trim onwards. With a cargo capacity of 39.2 cubic feet, the CR-V has an edge over its rivals. The rear 60/40-split seat back can be folded down to access 75.8 cubic feet of cargo space. The 2022 CR-V with a stylish cabin that features different interior color schemes including gray or black, and soft-touch seating material options, including leather-trimmed seats. 

The Honda CR-V, without a doubt, has the most second row legroom, followed by the Ford Escape. The Toyota RAV4 lacks in terms of rear seat legroom and also has a smaller boot than the Honda CR-V.  The Kia Sorento offers seating for up to seven with the third row of seats best suited for children. This, in turn, reduces the standard cargo space. However, when the third row seats are folded, it offers 45 cubic feet of space, beating every rival hands down. The Honda CR-V offers the best cargo capacity, followed by Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape and Kia Sorento. 

The 2021 Honda CR-V features a “mixed-bag” infotainment system. The base LX trim comes with just a 5-inch LCD screen and lacks support for modern connectivity features. From Special Edition trim onwards, a 7.0-inch touchscreen display with support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and HondaLink are offered as standard. The base LX trim comes with a 4-speaker audio system, while the Special Edition, EX and EX-L gets an 8-speaker audio system. The Touring trim offers satellite-linked navigation system and a 9-speaker premium audio system including subwoofer. 

Some of the key interior and infotainment features of the 2021 CR-V are: 

• 60-40 Folding Split Rear-seats
• Remote Keyless Entry
• Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control
• 7” touchscreen system
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (available from EX trim)
• 9-speaker audio system
• SiriusXM 
• HD Radio
• 12-volt power outlet

Read more about the 2021 Honda CR-V interior >>

The Honda CR-V received a mid-cycle styling update just last year and the 2021 CR-V follows the same design language. The exterior dimensions are not intimidating and the CR-V looks rather athletic with its inverted-trapezoidal headlights and compact front grille. The fog lamps are not intrusive and merge well with the front bumper design. The black cladding on the doors make the SUV look rugged. The rear profile looks sharp as well with angular tail lamps that extend up to the roofline spoiler. 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. 

In terms of exterior features, none of the trims offer panoramic sunroof but a power moonroof is offered from EX-trim onwards. Some exterior features like power side mirrors, roofline spoiler with integrated brake light, active shutter grille, halogen headlamps and fin-type roof antenna are standard. The Touring trim offers LED headlights, roof rails, dual chrome exhaust finishers, rain-sensing wipers and hands-free power tailgate as standard. Honda offers a color palette of eight exterior colors including Sonic Gray Pearl, Radiant Red Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, Obsidian Blue Pearl, Platinum White Pearl, Modern Steel Metallic, and Aegean Blue Metallic.

The Ford Escape is the lightest of them all and offers the highesy ground clearance in the comparison. The Kia Sorento is the heaviest, longest, and widest, which explains the interior space inside the car. The extra length and width, however, would make it slightly harder to fit in tight garages or parking spaces. However, a longer wheelbase helps with better rear seat legroom and enhanced stability on highways. The Honda CR-V offers well-balanced exterior dimensions, known for not being too heavy and offering generous space for the passengers and cargo.

Some of the key exterior features of the 2021 Honda CR-V are:  

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

The 2021 Honda CR-V received the highest five-star safety rating in NHTSA crash tests, while the IIHS gave it it's a top rating of ‘Good’ in all the crashworthiness categories. The top-tier Touring model with the LED headlights managed to grab the ‘Top Safety Pick 2021.’ Honda has given extra attention to the safety quotient of the 2021 CR-V by offering multiple safety features from the base LX trim itself. 

The standard list of safety features includes traction control, stability control, ABS and EBD, and six airbags. All CR-Vs include the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assist active safety tech as standard which includes automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, road departure mitigation system, collision mitigation braking system and adaptive cruise control.  From EX trim onwards, a blind spot information system with cross traffic monitor is offered as standard. 

Some of the standout safety features of the 2021 CR-V are as follows: 

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

Read more about the 2021 Honda CR-V Safety >>

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.

However, the Honda CR-V offers better driving dynamics, costs less, and comes with more safety features as standard, and offers a more spacious and comfortable cabin. Even the cargo space and rear seat legroom are better than the Toyota RAV4. 

2021 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Ford Escape

The 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.

The Ford Escape offers better performance and ground clearance than the CR-V. The Ford Escape offers better infotainment system. However, in most other areas, the CR-V has an upper hand. So, if we have to choose, we’ll choose the CR-V. 

2021 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Kia Sorento

The 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. The Honda CR-V 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, albeit more expensive by around $2,500. The Honda CR-V has a lower fuel consumption and offers better cargo capacity than 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 short 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.