Used 2020 Honda CR-V

#1 in Best Compact SUVs of 2020

Americans buy lots of Honda CR-Vs, helping to make it one of the best-selling compact crossovers in the country. No wonder it’s won so many KBB.com Best Buy Awards over the years. For 2020, the CR-V lineup gets even better, with the introduction of a hybrid model, a turbocharged engine on the entry-level LX trim, and the addition of the Honda Sensing driver-assist system on every CR-V. So how does the 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid compare to the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid? The Honda costs less and holds better resale values, but the Toyota gets slightly better fuel economy.

As compact crossovers go, the Honda CR-V offers much of what people really want. Unlike some competitors, the CR-V’s interior is roomy and bright. In fact, only the Subaru Forester and Hyundai Santa Fe come close when it comes to overall interior space, and even then, the CR-V still has a larger cargo hold than both. Couple this with a smooth ride plus excellent marks for safety, reliability, and fuel economy, and it’s hard to find fault with the Honda CR-V. For the record, the Ford Escape offers more power and towing ability, as do the Hyundai Santa Fe and Jeep Cherokee, so if these are important attributes, the CR-V may not be right for you.

For 2020, the familiar 1.5-liter turbocharged engine becomes standard across the model range. While we had no issues with Honda’s bread and butter 2.4-liter 4-cylinder, the 190-horsepower 1.5 turbo is a much better fit. It offers excellent low-end torque for a quick burst of power when passing or merging, yet its fuel economy remains competitive.

Is the 2020 Honda CR-V as fast as a Ford Escape or Hyundai Santa Fe? While the CR-V is turbocharged, both the Ford and Hyundai engines deliver more power and therefore speed, but not nearly as good fuel economy. The CR-V’s engine strikes a nice balance between performance and economy, with steady acceleration courtesy of a CVT transmission that simulates gear changes, just like a standard 6-speed automatic. It’s a driving experience superior to the slower and less responsive powertrains in the Subaru Forester and Nissan Rogue. The CR-V’s steering response is exactly what you want in a small crossover, light enough that it doesn’t require much effort, but still providing good feedback in the curves. The CR-V’s ride is on the soft side, allowing it to absorbs bumps much better than in a Mazda CX-5 or Kia Sportage.

The big news for 2020 is the introduction of the CR-V Hybrid. This model employs a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder gas engine paired with a 2-motor hybrid-electric system. Is the CR-V Hybrid as efficient as the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid? The answer, sadly, is no. The RAV4 still beats the CR-V Hybrid’s fuel economy by a few mpg. Still, the CR-V’s fuel economy is improved over the standard CR-V, as is acceleration and passing times. The hybrid system’s battery pack adds about 200 pounds to the CR-V Hybrid’s overall weight and takes up space where the spare tire should be. The hybrid powertrain can operate in electric-only mode, but only at low speeds and only for a few miles at best. A plug-in hybrid like the Ford Escape offers much better mileage and electric-only range.

All-new for 2020 is the Honda CR-V Hybrid, which pairs a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with an electrified 2-motor system. In addition to being the most efficient CR-V, thanks to its 40 mpg EPA rating, it’s also more powerful than the standard gasoline model: 212 horsepower. The CR-V Hybrid’s acceleration is similar to that of the conventional model, but it’s quieter thanks to the ability to operate in electric-only mode at city speeds. When the powertrain transitions to the gasoline engine, the handoff is seamless.

The hybrid powertrain is among the smoothest and most refined we’ve experienced in an SUV. We also like its linear brake feel and steering wheel-mounted paddles that enable you to tailor how much regenerative braking you want.  On the other hand, the hybrid system’s battery pack adds about 200 pounds to the CR-V Hybrid’s overall weight and takes up space where the spare tire should be.

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While many compact crossovers are labeled as 5-passenger, 2-row vehicles, not many can actually fit five adults comfortably. The 2020 Honda CR-V can. In fact, it has one of the roomiest interiors in the class, with an enormous cargo hold that only gets larger with the rear seats folded. The seats can be quickly folded thanks to an easy-to-reach lever, and the cargo hold features an ingenious 2-level floor that can be lowered to keep objects from sliding about. For the record, the CR-V Hybrid does surrender some cargo space in order to accommodate the battery pack, and deletes the cool split-level cargo floor. With the rear seat up, cargo volume decreases from 39.2 cubic feet on the non-hybrid CR-V to 33.2 cubic feet.

Front-seat comfort in the CR-V is excellent, and the rear seat offers a good amount of legroom for taller passengers. On EX and higher trims, rear-seat passengers also enjoy two USB charging ports. Thanks to ample side glass, visibility is good in all directions, and daylight easily makes its way into the cabin, creating an open and inviting interior. If you’re a fan of warm ivory or mocha interior colors, you’ll be somewhat disappointed to learn the CR-V offers only two options: black or gray.

For 2020, the Honda CR-V gets a slight freshening, with a more pronounced front end featuring a new grille and front bumper. EX and Touring models get new 18- and 19-inch wheels, and EX and higher trims now come standard with LED fog lights.

The CR-V has a wide, muscular stance, with 8.2-inches of ground clearance for those times you need to venture off-road (that figure drops to 7.8-inches on the front-drive CR-V). Even on the base LX, bold wheel designs are a welcome addition, but the CR-V could do with a few more bright paint colors.

On the CR-V Hybrid, clear distinctions are drawn with 5-LED fog lights, a different rear bumper design that conceals the exhaust pipe, and clearly visible hybrid badges.

HONDA SENSING SAFETY SUITE
This impressive suite of driver assists is now standard on every 2020 Honda CR-V. Along with forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, the group includes automatic high-beam headlights, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, low-speed automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control with a low-speed following feature.

HYBRID MODEL
Although Honda has a long history of making hybrid cars, the 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid is the company’s first hybrid SUV. It’s also the first time Honda has paired a hybrid system with an all-wheel-drive SUV. The hybrid adds about $1,200 to the CR-V sticker price regardless of trim and boosts fuel economy and power output.

Four trims comprise the CR-V lineup. They are: LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring. The CR-V Hybrid follows the same pattern, only with standard all-wheel drive.

Step into a CR-V LX, and you’ll find automatic climate control, a 4-speaker 160-watt audio system with a 5-inch color LCD, a rear backup camera, cruise control, 17-inch alloy wheels, power mirrors, Idle-stop, Bluetooth smartphone connectivity, and the Honda Sensing suite of driver assists.

For just a few more dollars, the EX trim brings a power driver’s seat with 4-way power lumbar support, dual-zone automatic climate control, blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, heated front seats, heated side mirrors, LED fog lights, Smart Key entry with push-button start, remote start, and a security alarm system.

True to Honda’s long-time practice, optional equipment is bundled by trim. For example, if you want navigation, you’ll have to go to the most expensive CR-V Touring to get it; same goes for upgraded audio options.

The EX-L includes all of the EX’s content plus leather seating, a power tailgate, 4-way power passenger seat, 8-speaker audio, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, 2-way memory for the driver’s seat, and a remote garage door opener.

The Touring comes fully-loaded with a foot-activated hands-free power tailgate, rain-sensing wipers, a heated steering wheel, navigation, LED headlights, roof rails, a wireless cell phone charging pad, and a 330-watt premium audio system with nine speakers.

Standard on every Honda CR-V is a plucky 1.5-liter turbocharged engine. With 190 horsepower, this engine isn’t as strong as the 2.0-liter turbo in the Ford Escape, but it delivers excellent low-end grunt needed for smooth passing and merging situations. The 179 lb-ft of torque comes on at a low 2,000 rpm, and the CVT transmission makes the most of it while helping return EPA highway fuel economy figures of 34 mpg (32 mpg with AWD). The CR-V’s engine does have an idle-stop feature to help save on fuel and reduce emissions, but it can be shut off.

Towing for the CR-V is limited to 1,500 pounds, which is much lower than most rivals. On the flip side, the CR-V doesn’t demand the use of premium fuel to make its optimal horsepower, something some turbocharged rivals can’t claim.

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid uses a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and dual electric motor pack. A combined output of 212 horsepower makes the hybrid slightly faster than the conventional CR-V. All-wheel drive is standard on the hybrid trim, but unlike the RAV4 Hybrid that places its electric motors at each rear wheel, the CR-V uses the same mechanical all-wheel-drive setup as the standard CR-V.

Fuel economy for the CR-V Hybrid is better than in the CR-V, but falls just a few mpg short of the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. As there is no plug-in hybrid in the CR-V lineup, the best compact SUV fuel economy numbers go to the Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid with an EPA rating of 100 MPGe.

1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 (LX, EX, EX-L, Touring)
190 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
179 lb-ft of torque @ 2,000-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 28/34 mpg (FWD), 27/32 mpg (AWD)

2.0-liter Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder, dual electric motors (CR-V Hybrid)
212 horsepower total
232 lb-ft of torque total
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 40/35 mpg