2018 Honda CR-V Road Test and Review

2018 Honda CR V Red Parked Front Quarter ・ Photo by Honda

Honda’s best-selling vehicle is no longer the Civic or Accord. It’s this, the 2018 CR-V compact SUV. So far this year Honda has sold more CR-Vs than any other vehicle, and the automaker is poised to sell more CR-Vs than it ever has before. But robust sales are nothing new for the CR-V. For quite some time, this award-winner has been one of the best-selling SUVs in its crowded and very competitive class, and Honda says it is America’s best-selling SUV over the last 20 years. 

Fully redesigned just last year, and now in its fifth generation, the 2018 Honda CR-V is also one of our favorite vehicles in the compact SUV segment. Larger than the Honda HR-V but smaller than the popular Pilot, the family-friendly CR-V is attractive, fuel efficient, and safe, with high overall safety ratings and a long list of high-tech driver aids. It competes with a long list of popular rivals, including the Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape, Nissan Rogue, and Mazda CX-5.

Six Trim Levels to Choose From

Our all-wheel drive 2018 Honda CR-V 1.5T Touring test vehicle cost $35,145, including a $995 destination fee. It represents the top of the extensive CR-V lineup that includes five trim levels and two engines. Front-wheel drive is standard on all models, but all-wheel drive is offered across the board for an additional $1,400.

Prices start at $25,145, for the Honda CR-V LX with front-wheel drive. That trim level is powered by a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder rated at 184 horsepower, which is competitive for the class. The better-equipped EX, EX-L, EX-L with Navi, and Touring models use a 190-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder. Prices for the popular EX start at $27,945, and our loaded test vehicle was extremely well-equipped with a leather-trimmed interior, 18-inch wheels, navigation, and a multi-view rear camera. Built in Indiana, every 2018 CR-V uses a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and has a maximum seating capacity of five.

Photo by Honda

Upscale Style

Undoubtedly Honda’s best-looking SUV, the 2018 CR-V is more aggressively styled than the smaller HR-V and the larger seven-passenger Pilot. With bulging fenders and sporty proportions, the CR-V looks more expensive than it is and it’ll never be mistaken for a minivan. It doesn’t scream mommy-mobile, and that youthful appearance is a large part of the Honda’s widespread appeal.

Overall, it’s one of the most attractive vehicles in the compact SUV class. Honda’s designers have gotten the details right including LED headlamps and taillights, our test vehicle’s Black Olive Metallic paint — which really complemented its lines — and just the right amount of chrome. The grille also manages to be unique and attractive without following the larger-is-better trend that has polluted so many recent designs, and the CR-V’s rear view is just as strong with an integrated rear spoiler and two round chrome exhaust tips.

Photo by Honda

Impressive Fuel Economy

One of the most fuel-efficient compact SUVs, the 2018 Honda CR-V is rated at 26 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway with the base 2.4-liter engine and front-wheel drive. With all-wheel drive those numbers dip to 25 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.

The CR-V is even more fuel-efficient with the turbocharged 1.5-liter engine. The front-wheel drive 1.5-liter earns EPA ratings of 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. With the additional weight of the all-wheel drive system, the CR-V loses just one mile per gallon in both tests. Both engines run on regular-grade gasoline to keep costs down, and every CR-V comes with a convenient capless fuel filler. I averaged 27 mpg during a week of mixed driving around Los Angeles in our all-wheel drive test vehicle.

Photo by Honda

Impressive Safety and Cargo Space

The Honda CR-V has also has received very high safety ratings. It’s rated a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and has a five-star overall crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Parents with infants or toddlers will appreciate the Honda’s easy-to-reach LATCH connectors and easily accessed upper tether anchors.

Inside, the CR-V offers 39.2 cubic feet of space behind its rear seat, which is above average for this class and a smidge more than you get in a Toyota RAV4. Every CR-V comes standard with a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, which easily drops flat to expand that space to 75.8 cubic feet. That’s also more than you get in the Toyota and only about 7 cubic feet less than you get in the larger Honda Pilot. A power liftgate is available. 

Photo by Honda

One of the Best Interiors in Its Class

Honda has also thought through the storage space in the CR-V’s cabin. There's plenty of storage, including a huge console bin between the front seats and sufficient door pockets with slots for water bottles. There’s also a well-sized cubby behind of the shifter, which is perfect for your phone or wallet. The two large front cupholders are well-placed.

Overall, this is one of the best cabins in the compact SUV class. The CR-V’s high-quality materials and exacting fit and finish are what we expect from Honda, and the heated front seats in our test vehicle were comfortable and supportive. Some may find the CR-V’s gauges to be a little overstyled, although the large digital speedometer is easy to read at a glance. We were disappointed by its lack of paddle shifters, but our test vehicle’s wood trim was a nice touch. Passenger space is about typical for this segment, which means four adults fit comfortably, but you can fit three pre-teens in the backseat without any complaints.

Photo by Honda

Solid Infotainment Tech

Honda has placed the CR-V’s infotainment screen well within reach of the driver and passenger. It's mounted high on the dash, which means you don’t have to divert your eyes too far from the road to check the nav screen or one of its many other functions. Although we would like the touchscreen to be larger, its 7-inch size is common for this class. Unfortunately, some of the navigation system’s graphics seem dated, and the touchscreen’s prompts could be more intuitive. Just changing the radio station can be more complicated than it should be. At least the CR-V has an ergonomically friendly volume knob, a feature still missing in some Honda models.

Bluetooth is standard, and the system is compatible with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. However, onboard Wi-Fi is not available.

Photo by Honda

Advanced Safety Systems

The Honda Sensing suite of advanced safety features is standard on most CR-V models. Notable safety gear includes collision-mitigating braking, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, lane-keeping assist, a forward collision warning, a lane-departure warning, and road-departure mitigation. Our loaded test vehicle was also equipped with blind-spot and rear cross-traffic monitoring, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and walk-away automatic locking.

Another cool feature is the CR-V’s Driver Attention Monitor, which monitors your behavior behind the wheel. If it determines a low level of awareness, a coffee cup icon and a four-level bar graph appear below the speedometer. If the driver’s attention drops further, fewer bars are illuminated. Drop to two bars, and the system will suggest the driver take a break. If the graph drops to just one bar, a beeper sounds and the steering wheel vibrates, prompting the driver to pay closer attention or take a rest break.

Photo by Honda

Excellent Driving Dynamics

With 190 horsepower, the 2018 Honda CR-V is one of the most powerful and one of the quickest compact SUVs. The turbocharged four-cylinder isn’t the smoothest or the best-sounding engine in this class, but it's responsive and acceleration is strong. With a 0-60 mph time of 7.6 seconds, it’s quicker than the Mazda CX-5 and the Toyota RAV4. Some may find the CVT automatic transmission to be a little slow to respond, but there’s a Sport mode to wake it up a little. Unfortunately, there’s no manual mode. Overall, the transmission operates smoothly and is a good match for the small 1.5-liter engine.

The CR-V’s chassis, steering, and brakes also live up to Honda’s well-earned reputation for engineering fun-to-drive vehicles with sporty handling. It’s not quite as fun in the turns as the Mazda CX-5, but it’s well-balanced and it hangs on if you push it around a few corners. The CR-V feels substantial on the road without feeling too big and heavy. Its steering is lightly weighted and responsive, and the CR-V rides comfortably even on choppy concrete sections of highway.

Photo by Honda

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a roomy, comfortable, and fuel-efficient compact SUV, the stylish 2018 Honda CR-V is a very desirable overall choice. It offers one of the most functional interiors in the segment, high safety ratings, an excellent driving experience, and plenty of cargo space.

With so many attributes and a wide range of trim levels ranging from $25,000 to $35,000, the CR-V's broad appeal is easy to understand. Although the base CR-V LX is well-equipped, we recommend stepping up the EX trim level. The additional standard safety features, as well as the improved fuel efficiency and performance of the turbocharged engine, are all worth the modest increase in sticker price even for buyers on a tight budget.

Photo by Honda