Honda CR-V - TopCarNews

Honda CR-V (2018 – present) | Expert Rating [hide]

Summary

The Honda CR-V is a medium-sized SUV/crossover, available with either a petrol engine or a petrol-electric hybrid power unit. The current model was launched in 2018, with the hybrid model arriving in the UK in early 2019.

The CR-V has received consistently good reviews from the UK automotive media, with the hybrid model generally getting slightly better scores than the petrol version.

All models have received praise for their spaciousness and practicality, although the rear seats in the seven-seat models are quite cramped.

As of October 2021, the Honda CR-V has an Expert Rating of 67% based on 31 reviews.

Key specifications

Body style: Five-door SUV/crossoverEngines: petrol, hybrid
Price: From £23,060 on-road

Launched: Summer 2018Last updated: Spring 2019
Replacement due: TBA

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Media reviews

Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

The Car Expert

Model reviewed: CR-V HybridScore: 7.8 / 10“Looking for an SUV with lots of space and comfort? Not particularly bothered about being excited behind the wheel but just need to get where you’re going without drama? The Honda CR-V Hybrid could be for you.”
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“The CR-V is a decent car to drive with an experience which is neither awful nor write-home exceptional. As far as all-rounders go, it’s pretty well-rounded indeed.”
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Auto Express

Model reviewed: HybridScore: 8 / 10“We’ve had the car only a few days, but first impressions are good.”
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Score: 8 / 10“Updated Honda CR-V is more luxurious and just as practical as before, but has no diesel option and thirsty petrol engines.”
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Model reviewed: CR-V HybridScore: 7 / 10“The new Honda CR-V Hybrid is smooth, refined and economical, but PCP costs make it hard to recommend over its rivals.”
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Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 7.6 / 10“There are more spacious seven-seat crossovers than the Honda CR-V but, in standard five-seat guise, it’s a roomy and practical family car blessed with great reliability and a relaxing, refined character. It’s also very safe, with an impressive package of driver assistance functions fitted as standard.”
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Autocar

Model reviewed: CR-V HybridScore: 8 / 10“There’s certainly enough roundedness, real-world efficiency and drivability about this powertrain to make the hybrid option the new CR-V of choice.”
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Score: 7 / 10“Given its new proportions, its spaciousness and the optional third row of seats, it’s probably time to stop thinking of the Honda CR-V as a compact SUV. It has become a full-sized, fully fledged, super-functional SUV that could easily play the ‘big car’ role and wants for little in terms of comfort, equipment, versatility or ease of use.”
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Car

Score: 8 / 10“The new Honda CR-V is not an exciting car, by any means. But it is a good one. It quietly gets on with the job, and does it very well.”
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Car Keys

Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol automaticScore: 8 / 10“Honda has moved the latest CR-V forwards leaps and bounds with its stylish design and high-quality interior, which is also very well-equipped. The 1.5-litre engine is also a great unit, and despite being a bit thirsty, it’s a convincing alternative to other diesel models.”
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Carbuyer

Model reviewed: CR-V HybridScore: 8.2 / 10“Clever fuel-saving technology makes the hybrid our favourite CR-V.”
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Score: 8 / 10“The latest Honda CR-V shuns diesel in favour of petrol and hybrid engines. It now has five or seven seats and improved safety technology as standard”
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Carwow

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“The Honda CR-V is spacious, has a big boot and is comfortable in town, but its quality is questionable in areas and it has one of the worst infotainment systems on sale.”
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Company Car Today

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol/electric hybrid SRScore: 7.9 / 10“Honda is playing to a company car audience with the new CR-V Hybrid, offering low emissions figures, masses of practicality and good spec if you go as high as the SR trim.”
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Daily Mail

Model reviewed: CR-V Hybrid“Although not a fully electric car, it feels like one. Think of it more as an electric car with a petrol engine on board.”
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“Were you to compare Honda’s family favourite CR-V to a music genre, it would be easy listening. It’s comfortable, conservative, cosseting and roomy, but that doesn’t make it bland — rather it’s an engaging drive.”
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Daily Mirror

Model reviewed: HybridScore: 10 / 10“I have to admit, I’d not been sure about hybrids until I drove the Honda CR-V. And, I must tell you, if we were in the market for buying an SUV, this would now be at the very top of our list.”
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Green Car Guide

Model reviewed: Hybrid EXScore: 8 / 10“The Honda CR-V Hybrid is decent to drive overall, with a particularly comfortable ride, but the hybrid system doesn’t operate on electric power as much as its rival the Toyota RAV4, and the result of this is shown in the real-world economy figure of the CR-V being considerably lower than that of the RAV4.”
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Honest John

Score: 8 / 10“On first impressions, Honda has done an excellent job of recreating the world’s best-selling SUV. Smooth, comfortable, safe completely up to date and a pleasure both to ride in and drive.”
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Model reviewed: CR-V Hybrid“The Honda CR-V hybrid is a lovely thing to drive. Pleasant and calming, yet with enough handling and performance to be hustled along quickly. It’s roomy, fine riding and even has wide opening doors and flat seats that make ingress and egress pain-free for the elderly.”
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Parkers

Model reviewed: Range reviewScore: 7.6 / 10“Practical family SUV is refined and good to drive”
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The Sun

Model reviewed: CR-V Hybrid“The single-speed transmission can drone on a bit when you boot the throttle, the satnav unit is dated and the boot has shrunk to make space for the battery pack. Despite this, the CR-V Hybrid remains an extremely spacious, well finished and comfortable SUV.”
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“As if it wasn’t big enough already, Honda’s uber reliable sports utility now boasts an interior the size of a small cathedral.”
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The Sunday Times

Model reviewed: CR-V HybridScore: 8 / 10“The family favourite gets a surprisingly fun-to-drive hybrid.”
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The Telegraph

Model reviewed: Hybrid SE 2WDScore: 6 / 10“Its small boot and keening engine mean this isn’t quite the full diesel replacement Honda would like you to believe it is, but the CR-V Hybrid is nonetheless a smooth, slick and well-built SUV that should appeal if you’re keen to ditch diesel.”
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Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol manualScore: 6 / 10“Competent and not unattractive, the petrol-only CR-V plays to Honda’s strengths with transatlantic styling, easy-to-use features and familiarity, but this market has moved on apace and this new CR-V hasn’t kept up.”
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Top Gear

Model reviewed: HybridScore: 6 / 10“The fifth generation CR-V gets a lot of things right. Keep the spec down, decide whether you need 4WD or 2, make sure you tick the box for Apple CarPlay and unless you’re really of an eco mindset, stick with the simple drivetrain. You’ll have all the car you could ever need.”
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Score: 7 / 10“CR-V is far from exciting but remains one of the most sensible buys in this sector.”
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What Car?

Score: 6 / 10“All versions of the CR-V are okay – rather than outstanding – to drive. Five-seat models are very practical, while the poorly planned seven-seater disappoints.”
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Which?

Model reviewed: HybridScore: 7 / 10“Perhaps for the first time, we’ve found the hybrid is better than the petrol-only version of the same car – and not just for fuel reasons. The hybrid version of the CR-V is, at its best, quiet, refined and incredibly easy to drive.” Rated a BEST BUY.
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Model reviewed: (range review)Score: 6.7 / 10“The Honda CR-V is comfortable, has loads of space for passengers and luggage, and is pleasant and relaxing to drive, belying its large size. It’s not remotely exciting or dynamic, but is certainly safe. It’s well priced for the amount of kit you get as standard, but far too thirsty in petrol automatic form.”
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Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall rating: 5 stars
Date tested: February 2019

93%

ADULT OCCUPANT

83%

CHILD OCCUPANT

70%

VULNERABLE ROAD USERS

76%

SAFETY ASSIST

Read full Euro NCAP review

Eco rating

The Honda CR-V has not yet been lab-tested by Green NCAP. Check back soon.

Awards

Trophies, prizes and awards that the Honda Civic has received

2020

What Car? Awards – Best Hybrid Car over £30,000

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