Honda CR-V Is Our Compact SUV Best Buy of 2025

Outstanding overall package
Reliability champ
Robust resale values
Hybrid version is so good
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The Honda CR-V is Sirius. No, that’s not a spelling mistake or some reference to a Harry Potter character. It seems like there are just as many compact SUVs as there are stars in the sky. But see that brightest one? That’s Sirius. And that’s the Honda CR-V, the brightest star in the compact SUV firmament.

Only two years into a new generation, Honda took the CR-V’s well-known attributes of wonderful practicality and utter dependability, then raised them a notch or two, while adding yet more virtues. Such as a hybrid drivetrain in the upper trims, and even an element of driving fun. Everywhere we look in the CR-V, we find things to like — from the build quality to the ride quality, the design to the driving dynamics, and the tech to the textures. And especially the way the CR-V retains its value.

All these factors contribute to the CR-V winning our Kelley Blue Book Best Buy award more often than any other compact SUV.

Exceptional Resale Value

Choosing a CR-V today is like giving your future self a cash bonus when it comes time to sell. Having established a decades-long record for reliability, the Honda CR-V is an especially attractive used vehicle. That means five years from now, a used 2025 Honda CR-V will likely fetch up to a few thousand dollars more than most of its competitors. Buying cars with strong resale value is among the key tenets of financially prudent car shoppers. That’s why we weigh it so heavily when naming our Best Buy awards.

Functional, Comfortable Interior

Cargo capacity and flexibility are key talents of any SUV. The CR-V has more cargo room than any of its competitors. Fold down the rear seatbacks, and the CR-V transforms into a small moving van, offering class-leading volume of 76.5 cubic feet. That applies to the hybrid version as well. Combined with a relatively low cargo floor, the CR-V doesn’t just haul more, it hauls more easily.

Let’s not forget us humans. The 2025 CR-V is also abundantly roomy up front, with comfortable seats surrounded by well-placed controls, cup holders, and cubbies. And the CR-V features one of the sector’s most accommodating rear seats — 41 inches of legroom, plus reclining backs. This roomy, versatile, and functional interior is among the many reasons why the CR-V is a regular entry on our annual list of Best Family Cars.

The CR-V’s interior design is contemporary, leaning toward conventional, balancing a mix of screens and physical controls, as well as delivering an appealing familiarity that can resonate with a wide range of compact SUV shoppers.

Winning Combination

The CR-V does virtually everything better than most other compact SUVs. In addition to a proven history of reliability and resale value, along with an inviting and accommodating interior, the CR-V is also stylish as well as efficient.

This current CR-V lives up to Honda’s reputation for engineering vehicles that are exceptionally satisfying to drive. As stated in our full review: “It responds quickly and sweetly to inputs like steering and braking, so the driver feels completely in control — as well as being kept aware of what’s going on with great outward vision.” And if it’s a little more fun to drive than previous generations, that’s no bad thing. The hybrid-powered models deliver even more responsive and robust acceleration, in tandem with up to 40 mpg in city/highway combined fuel economy. Driving a CR-V feels as natural as having a conversation with your best friend.

The CR-V also features an impressive collection of driver assistance and safety technologies to make life a little easier, safer, and better. We think its appealing proportions and assertive grille also make it the most attractive CR-V ever, which is a nice little cherry on top. It’s no accident the CR-V is perennially one of the best-selling vehicles in the country. And no surprise that it’s our Kelley Blue Book Best Buy among compact SUVs. Yet again.

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2025 Honda CR-V

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