Pros:
- Honda's latest-and-greatest driver-aid technologies.
- Great rear-seat legroom.
- Athletic, sporty-looking exterior.
- Great power across all trims, especially the EX, EX-L, and Touring trims.
Cons:
- The CVT is the only transmission option.
- Handling isn't as good as some competitors'.
- Rivals offer more standard tech amenities.
Would we buy one? Oh my stars, you betcha!
Vehicle Type: Four-door, five-seat compact crossover.
Price Range: From $24,985, including an additional $940 destination charge, up to $33,795 before options.
Powertrain: The base EX trim comes equipped with a 2.4-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque.
Every trim above possesses a potent turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder, which produces 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque.
Front-wheel-drive and a CVT automatic transmission are standard; all-wheel-drive is a $1,300 option.
Competitors: Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4, Volkswagen Tiguan, Chevy Equinox, Ford Escape, and Hyundai Tucson.
Overall Score: 8/10
Safety Features: 8/10
The 2017 Honda CR-V is an IIHS Top Safety Pick, earning a 'Good' overall rating. It also achieved a five-star NHTSA crash test safety rating, earning five stars across most categories, and four stars in their Rollover Rating.
The CR-V has a host of modern safety tech, all included in the Honda Sensing suite of driver aids, which is new for the 2017 model. These include Collision Mitigation Braking System, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assist System, Road Departure Mitigation, Lane Departure Warning, and Adaptive Cruise Control with Low Speed Follow. The latter is excellent for slow-moving traffic on the highway.
Conventional safety equipment is quite thorough: under its body lives Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control, Advanced 4-Channel ABS, Electronic Brake Distribution, Brake Assist, Advanced Front Airbag System, Driver and Front Passenger Airbags, and Side Curtain Airbags.
Value: 9/10
Honda knows how tough a segment this is; the compact crossover segment is packed with heavy hitters, so it takes a lot to stand out and offer tangible value. We think Honda does this well with the CR-V.
There are four trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring.
The base LX starts off the list, with pricing around $24,000.
Then there's the EX, which starts at just over $28,00, then the EX-L at $29,295, and finally the very-well-appointed Touring, which starts at $32,495.
These prices exclude Honda's $940 destination fee, as well as tax, title, and license. Adding all-wheel-drive to any of these trims is an additional $1,300.
A fully-loaded Honda CR-V Touring with all-wheel drive can reach a little over $36,000 before tacking on optional accessories like a roof rack, cargo organizer, floor mats, splash guards, etc.
If we were to outfit our very own, we would go with an EX AWD with upgraded exterior accents to sharpen up its looks a tad. With optional black 19" alloys, Obsidian Blue Pearl paint, and all of the base tech and convenience features of this trim, it comes to around $31,000. Convenience features like push-button start, remote start, automatic headlights, and a power moonroof are all standard when one moves up to the EX over the LX. We think it's the best value, with room to add accessories to suit an individual's needs.
Tech Features: 8/10
All CR-Vs come standard with a 7" touch screen infotainment system, with excellent resolution and (thankfully) a physical volume knob, which consumers complained the previous-generation was lacking. Standard for this segment is an 8" touch screen, so Honda lacks a tad there.
Elsewhere, they certainly make up for it: on every trim above the LX, BlueTooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 180-watt stereo system, Pandora compatibility, SMS Text Messaging, dual USB charging, and automatic climate control are standard. Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation system, automatic high beams, and a 330-Watt premium audio system are standard on the Touring model.
Going one further, Honda offers an innovative driver information interface in the instrument cluster on all trims above LX. Drivers can keep an eye on the car's health and the road by having audio settings, customizable feature settings, digital speedometer, driver attention monitor, Honda' Maintenance Minder, phone settings, AWD torque distribution monitor, and shift lever position all within quick reach.
Practicality: 8/10
Allowing for five passengers and as much as 76 cubic feet of cargo space makes the CR-V quite appealing when it comes to practicality. Even with the rear 60/40 split rear bench seat folded up, it has 39 cubic feet in its cargo area, which is impressive for its size.
Honda does both cargo room and cargo loading quite well with their modern crop of vehicles, and the CR-V is no exception. The CR-V has a lift-in height that is one of the lowest in its class, accommodating consumers of all heights. It's one-motion dive-down 60/40 split rear seat can be quickly lowered from either the rear doors or the tailgate, which creates a flat floor around 10 inches longer than the previous generation. Storage under the floor is available behind the rear seats, expanding cargo capacity even more.
The CR-V is more spacious for occupants than ever, with 41.3 inches of legroom up front and 40.4 inches of legroom in the back. The headroom is a generous 40.1 inches up front and 39.2 inches in the back as well.
Styling & Design: 9/10
Like we hinted at above, this 5th-generation CR-V looks excellent for a modern compact crossover. It looks trim and athletic and in no way boxy or bulbous. It's not as sleek and stylish as the Mazda CX-5, but it still has a nice clean design. Optional 19" alloy wheels clean up its looks even more, and as many as ten color choices are available, of which five are actual colors and not some form of white, silver, or black.
On the inside, the dash layout and materials look and feel more upscale than previous generations. Ivory-colored upholstery is available with specific exterior colors, as is a pleasing grey with black accents. The dash flows nicely between the A-pillars, and everything is laid out intuitively and within easy reach of the driver. The CR-V's driving position is good, too, with well-bolstered seats and a very minimal blind spot.
Driving Experience: 8/10
Reviewers found the 2017 Honda CR-V to have great power for its segment. It's capable of hitting 60 MPH from a standstill in just 7.5 seconds when equipped with all-wheel drive, which is suitable for its segment.
Though, when it came to twistier roads and other scenarios that required a bit of finesse with the steering wheel, it didn't handle as well as some of its competitors, notably the Mazda CX-5.
Fuel Efficiency: 8/10
When equipped with all-wheel drive and a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, the 2017 CR-V achieves an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 27 MPG City and 33 MPG Highway. Front-wheel-drive models perform significantly better, with gas mileage at 28 MPG City and 34 MPG Highway.
The 2.4-liter naturally-aspirated engine under the hood of the base LX trim returns 26 MPG City and 32 MPG Highway with front-wheel-drive, and 25 MPG City, and 31 MPG Highway with all-wheel drive.
Reviewers' real-world tests resulted in a 21.9 MPG City and 34.2 Highway on a 1.5-liter turbo model with all-wheel drive, significantly lower in the city but a tad better on the highway. Usually, real-world testing is a bit better than EPA estimations. Though, this is still good for the class and significantly better than previous CR-V generations.
