Used 2022 Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V was one of the original compact SUVs, and it’s still one of the best. It truly takes the driveability and efficiency of a Honda compact car and packages it as a versatile SUV. This crossover has one of the roomiest interiors in its class, with tons of space for passengers and cargo. Whether you’re looking for a daily commuter, errand runner, or small family vehicle, the Honda CR-V is a perfect fit for a wide range of drivers. The CR-V is also available as a hybrid model, which is reviewed separately.

The CR-V is among the best in a highly competitive class of compact SUVs. Its top rival is the Toyota RAV4 which is similar in price, size, and feature content. Other leading players in this segment include the high-tech Hyundai Tucson, the fun-to-drive Mazda CX-5, and the value-conscious Chevrolet Equinox.

The Honda CR-V isn’t the most athletic SUV in this class, but if you’re in the market for a practical compact crossover, that probably won’t bother you. Its turbocharged engine has eager acceleration that’s good for around-town driving and building momentum on a freeway on-ramp. The steering and handling remind us of a compact car, but don’t expect sports-car-like driving dynamics.

Power is delivered to either the front wheels or all four wheels via an automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT). Although it doesn’t have gears, it simulates shifts as it climbs the rev range to make it feel more familiar. This is a nicely tuned CVT that doesn’t have the whine of some similar transmissions, and it’s part of what makes the CR-V so fuel-efficient.

The ride quality is smooth and comfortable. The seats are supportive and comfy enough for long-distance cruising, the daily commute, and everything in between.

The Honda CR-V benefits from one of the roomiest interiors in its class. There is plenty of room for both passengers and cargo. The back seats have legroom similar to a midsize sedan, and there’s a big cargo hold to boot. Cargo space gets even bigger when you fold down the back seats. This big cabin makes the CR-V a good SUV for small families.

The seating position in the CR-V is just right. From the driver’s seat, you sit higher up than you would in a sedan or hatchback, but you aren’t towering over the road as you would be in a full-size SUV. These seats are supportive and comfortable, and the interior materials are pretty nice for this price range.

The Honda CR-V has a sleek and modern aesthetic, but it does blend in with traffic. It’s not some big, ugly SUV, but it also doesn’t stand out in a parking lot. That said, we like the LED light signature in front and back, and there are some pretty stylish wheel options.

In terms of size, the CR-V is right in line with most of this segment. The dimensions are almost identical to its most popular competitors like the Toyota RAV4, Chevy Equinox, and Ford Escape. The 7.8-inch ground clearance of the CR-V is enough to traverse most snowy roads easily, but it’s still easy to get in and out of.

HONDA SENSING
This suite of driver assistance tech features comes standard across the CR-V model range, making your daily drive safer and more convenient.

ANDROID AUTO AND APPLE CARPLAY
Every model except the base trim of the Honda CR-V comes with a modern 7-inch infotainment system loaded with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity features.

The base LX trim of the Honda CR-V excels in standard safety tech, but it’s a bit light on standard features other than that. It comes standard with the Honda Sensing safety tech suite, including automatic emergency braking, road departure mitigation, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control.

Other standard features of the LX trim include 60/40 split-folding back seats, alloy wheels, Bluetooth streaming audio, 4-speaker audio, and one USB port. Many of this Honda’s rivals have a more modern standard infotainment system with more smartphone connectivity features.

Upgrading to the EX trim will get you the most bang for your buck in a Honda CR-V. The most significant upgrade is the infotainment system, a 7-inch unit with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Other standard features in the EX model include a power moonroof, blind-spot monitoring, power driver’s seat, heated front seats, USB charging ports in the second row, dual-zone automatic climate control, LED fog lights, bigger wheels, push-button start, 6-speaker audio, and more.

The EX-L trim is very similar to the EX model, the main difference being the addition of leather seats. It also adds a power liftgate, power front passenger seat, memory driver’s seat, auto-dimming mirror, and 8-speaker audio.

Finally, the Touring trim pushes the humble CR-V into luxury SUV territory. It comes with 19-inch wheels, a hands-free power liftgate, wireless charging pad, heated steering wheel, navigation, roof rails, full LED headlights, more chrome exterior trim, and a 9-speaker audio system.

On every trim of the CR-V, front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional. Unlike some of its rivals like the Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road and Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk, there are no off-road-oriented trims of the CR-V. An AWD-equipped CR-V is good for confidently traversing snowy roads but not suitable for serious off-roading.

A turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine lies under the hood of the 2022 Honda CR-V. This engine strikes a satisfying balance of performance and efficiency. It delivers lively acceleration while returning excellent fuel economy, even when equipped with all-wheel drive. Some SUVs in this class are more fun to drive, namely the Mazda CX-5.

Par for the course in this segment, the CR-V comes standard with front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive is optional. Power is routed through a CVT automatic transmission with a Sport mode in every CR-V.

One of the weak points of this powertrain is its low maximum towing capacity of only 1,500 pounds. If you need a small crossover with some towing muscle, the Toyota RAV4 can tow up to 3,500 pounds when properly equipped.

The CR-V also has the aforementioned efficient hybrid option available, reviewed separately.

1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4
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)