2020 Honda CR-V review

By Jez Spinks

The Honda CR-V was a pioneer of it’s kind when released in the late 1990s, and the popularity of this family-friendly vehicle hasn’t waned since.

Since its release, two-wheel-drive variants have joined up with four-wheel-drive versions, and in 2017 larger families rejoiced when the fifth-generation CR-V offered a seven-seater option.

Safety – 3.5 rating

ANCAP gave the latest CR-V a five-star rating in 2017. However, the crash-test organisation has updated its scoring criteria since then. Today, most of the range would miss out on maximum marks because they don’t have autonomous emergency braking (AEB), which helps to prevent or mitigate low-speed accidents. Don’t let that put you off — the CR-V still scored well for occupant protection.

All models come with fatigue warning, tyre pressure monitoring, a rear-view camera with guidelines (base Vi excepted), and Trailer Stability Assist (not common for the segment) that can help when towing in windy conditions.

Only the VTi-S and VTi-LX variants come with the Japanese brand’s Honda Sensing safety technology.

These features include:  

• autonomous emergency braking
• adaptive cruise control 
• lane-departure and lane-keeping systems
• forward collision warning, 
• Road Departure Mitigation feature that can apply steering and braking if it detects a wild departure from a lane.

Those two trim grades alone have high-beam assist that removes the need to manually flick between low and high beams at night, while the VTi-LX exclusively gains LED headlights that can peer around corners.

From the VTi-S upwards, there are front and rear parking sensors.

So for us parents, it’s a case of figuring out which driver aid systems are crucial to the buying decision.

Seating set-up  

ISOFIX child-seat anchor points are embedded in the outer rear seats, while there are top-tethers for all three second-row seats (with the central top tether found in the rear section of the inner roof).

Importantly, full-length curtain airbags cover all seating rows.

There’s so much rear legroom in the five-seater CR-V that you’d think you were in a limousine. The same goes for head-room, and the second-row bench offers super-comfy cushioning for models with the standard cloth seats. 

And just like the original CR-V, the floor is completely flat – doing away with the central transmission hump found in most vehicles, giving the middle seat a bit of extra comfort.

The seven-seater versions feature boot-floor tethers to give parents the option of placing child seats in the two third-row seats, making this the pick of bunch if you need to fit more than two child seats/capsules. 

That said, it’s worth asking yourself if you really need the extra seats because they are fitted into the same exterior dimensions as the five-seater, reducing legroom, headroom and boot space.

Access to the third row is enabled by folding/tilting the 60:40 split second-row seats. Handily, the rear doors open super-wide.

And there are vents to keep rear passengers cool/warm.

Boot space and cabin storage– 4.5 stars

If boot space is what you’re after, then the HONDA CRV is for you — the boot is one of the biggest in the segment at 522 litres and easily fits our assorted test luggage (large suitcase, large duffle, medium suitcase and medium duffle), while also fitting a Mountain Buggy Swift pram between those bags and the boot opening.

The loading height is also quite low. And conveniently, there are release levers for lowering the split-fold rear seats which go completely flat thanks to smart seat bases that can be moved lower or forward into the footwells. 

There’s no shortage of drink holders in the CR-V, with the seven-seater model reaching double figures (10). Still, eight of them can be found in the regular five-seater CR-Vs too. 

You’ll also find four USB ports in the cabin, except for in the base Vi that has just one.

As noted earlier, boot space decreases if you choose a seven-seater CR-V – to 472 litres.

Higher-spec models gain a height-adjustable automatic tailgate.

How it drives

The CR-V’s suspension is great at ironing out bumps big and small in the road while you and the family cruise around town. 

All but the base model combine a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a CVT (continuously variable transmission) automatic. The gearbox uses an expanding/contracting belt rather than mechanical cogs, which can make the CR-V feel sluggish from low speeds before the engine’s mid-range pulling power (torque) kicks in.

Fuel economy– 3.5 stars

The CR-V’s 1.5-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder has official fuel consumption ranging between 7.0 and 7.4 litres per 100 kilometres, depending on the variant.

Honda installs a bigger 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine in the base model, though without a turbo it’s less powerful … and also thirstier, at 7.6L/100km.

Pricing and ownership  

For families who can’t stretch beyond $30,000 RRP, the good news is you can have a Honda CR-V Vi from just $28,290. This model uses a less powerful engine and is missing a lot of features, and has the smallest infotainment touchscreen in the range (5.0 rather than 7.0 inches).

Ideally, you want at least the CR-V VTi-S – from $33,290 – so you have some key safety assistance features (see Safety section for more detail).

Buy the flagship VTi-LX, and you’ll get all the bells and whistles, including electrically adjustable front seats with heating function, one-touch electric windows all round, LED headlights and foglights, and a useful tilt function for the passenger side mirror when selecting reverse.

Pros

• Superb cabin space with excellent storage
• One of the best boots in the medium-SUV segment
• Excellent ride comfort
• Seven-seater option

Cons

• Boot space and rear legroom reduced in seven-seater versions
• CVT auto can feel sluggish at lower speeds
• Lower trim grades missing some safety features
• Need seven-seater variant realistically if need to fit more than two child seats

Overall rating – 4 stars