Great for date night, even if your date is a toddler
The SUV is the un-minivan: macho, self-reliant, rugged. And that’s what we like about them. But who doesn’t like creature comforts and smart, functional features, too? Especially when your car accommodates your kids, your significant other, and sometimes your mom, your boss and your besties.
And if this is your first option for a used car, then we’ve got you covered on that front. Read our review to see our first impressions, then scroll to the bottom of the story to learn about how the 2016 Honda CR-V has aged.
The Honda CR-V wants to please everyone
The 2016 Honda CR-V front cabin is nicely edited and not too overwhelming; it has nice spaces for cups or bottles, a change tray that also held my phone, and inside the arm rest are two USB charge ports and a 12V adapter port. Photo: Scotty Reiss
Luckily, auto makers have been listening to what buyers want and need in a vehicle and are striving to fill those needs. This is the case in the Honda CR-V; it incorporates some of the more popular features of its bigger sibling, the popular three row Honda Pilot SUV.
The Honda CR-V, which is an ideal small SUV for young drivers, is also a great transitional car that can chauffeur you from single-hood through couple-hood and into family life. It is even ideal for older drivers whose kids have flown the nest.
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2016 Honda CR-V Touring Edition side view. Photo: Scotty Reiss
Who The Honda CR-V Car is For:
- Singles, couples or small families
- Buyers who may be transitioning from single to couple or couple to small family
- Empty nesters
- Drivers who like or need higher ground clearance
- Drivers who appreciate flexible cargo space
- Drivers who need all wheel drive
- Buyers who intend to put a lot of miles on their vehicle
- Buyers who need a smaller vehicle but the performance of an SUV
- Buyers who want a low maintenance vehicle
- Buyers looking for lots of amenities for a value price—$34,000 for the model we test drove
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Cargo space and flexibility for singles and couples
The rear cargo space has ample room for luggage, strollers and more; center seats fold down for even more space. Photo: Scotty Reiss
The small size of the Honda CR-V makes it perfect for places where space is a premium, especially cities and college campuses. In urban spaces where hauling things like furniture, laundry or people always comes with a price, a crossover can come in handy. The CR-V has 70.9 total cubic feet of cargo space with the center seats folded down, and 37.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats.
Add to that all wheel drive for tough terrain and colder climates and 1,500 pounds of towing capacity so buyers can attach a trailer for small moving jobs.
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The CR-V’s passenger doors open wide to make car seat installation easy; the 60/40 split seats offer convenient cargo space. Photo: Scotty Reiss
A considerate design for young families
The CR-V is also a good transitional vehicle for buyers with growing families. We found several features that make it ideal for parents with babies or toddlers including:
- Rear passenger doors that open wide enough to make installing a child car seat easy
- Ample center row legroom that makes getting in and out of the car easy, even with a car seat installed
- 60/40 split folding center seats with the ’40’ on the passenger side lets you optimize cargo space and still see the car seat and its occupant
- A conversation mirror so drivers can see what’s going on in the back seat
- 6.7 inch ground clearance means less back strain when getting kids and car seats in and out
- A minimal ‘lip’ in the cargo space, making it easier to get the stroller or other items in and out
- Rear seats that fold down with the pull of a single tab; you can do this with one finger. Seriously.
Space, safety and ease for empty nesters
The front of the 2016 Honda CR-V show’s Honda’s classic shape. Photo: Scotty Reiss
You would think a car that is so accommodating for young drivers would not appeal to older drivers, but no. The CR-V is a great option, too. The 6.7 inch ground clearance of the AWD model (6.3 in the rear wheel drive model) means the CR-V’s seats are just about hip height for most people. This makes it easy to get in and out of without back, leg or neck strain.
Add to that a cargo space that is easy to load, rear seats that are so easy to fold —just pull a single tab with one finger— and voila, seats flip and fold flat against the floor (they are almost as easy to put back up and this can also be done with one hand).
Safety technology that is great for all drivers
The Lane Watch feature in the Honda CR-V activates a camera on the car when the right turn signal is activated. Photo: Scotty Reiss
Has this happened to you? You’re about to make a right turn and you notice that a bicyclist is zooming up on the right side. If you had made the turn he would have hit you (and of course it would be your fault).
With our cities increasingly crowded and bicycling growing in popularity, this is a greater and greater concern. Honda took note and installed Lane Watch in all its cars.
This great feature, which is activated by turning on your turn signal, complements the rest of the safety technology in the CR-V: blind spot monitors, adaptive cruise control, crash mitigation (cameras keep an eye on traffic ahead), lane departure warning, lane keep assist (nudges you back in to your lane if you stray), brake force distribution (keeps the car from lurching during sudden braking) and stability control.
A confident drive experience and a comfortable space
Rear leg room in the Honda CR-V is ample, even with the car seat installed. Photo: Scotty Reiss
The CR-V was a delight to drive and spend time in. I liked having the capability of an SUV but the drive experience of a car: comfortable and confident on the road that kept passengers from feeling jostled or motion sick.
However, the continuously variable transmission (or CVT), which is designed to keep adjusting the engine’s speed to optimize fuel usage, sometimes sounded as if the car was struggling to get up to speed. But that was more perception than reality; the CR-V performed just fine.
Inside, I found the leather-trimmed seats to be comfortable and the cabin nicely edited—not an overwhelming amount of technology, buttons or controls. Storage space was good too, with several spots in the center console where I could put my phone, a coffee cup, the key fob or spare change.
There is a 12V power port on the console, but to find a USB charge port you have to look inside the center arm rest (where there are two USB ports, another 12V outlet, and an HDMI port, too).
A few more luxuries make the Touring edition complete
The conversation mirror, more common in minivans, is a nice family-friendly feature-it also holds your sunglasses. Photo: Scotty Reiss
With the Touring Edition at the top of the line, a little luxury is in order. The model we tested was loaded with a leather wrapped steering wheel, heated front leather-trimmed seats, a smart key system that unlocks the door automatically when you approach the car, a push button start system so you can leave your key in your purse, a premium sound system and power tailgate open and close. And luxury is something I personally think you should invest in, especially if your car is going to be a constant companion through so many of life’s changes.
What We Loved
- Value for the price
- Easy flip and fold center seats
- Lane Watch feature
- All wheel drive capability
- Small agile size and shape
- Honda’s suite of safety features including adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist
- Wide opening passenger doors that make installing a car seat (or toddler) easy
- Nicely edited front cabin
What You Need to Know
- Seating for 5 but more comfortable for 4
- Available in all wheel drive (AWD) or front wheel drive
- Base price of the CR-V: about $24,000
- Price of the model we tested: $35,145
- Fuel economy 25 city/31 Highway (we averaged about 25MPG)
- Uses regular fuel
- 3 year/36,000 mile warranty
- 5 year/60,000 power train warranty
- 5 year corrosion warranty
- 3 year/36,000 mile roadside assistance including fuel delivery, lockout assistance, winching and towing
How Does the 2016 Honda CR-V Fare as a Used Car?
The Honda CR-V has aged wonderfully for an older car, making it a great option for your child’s first car or for your own affordable daily driver. Most issues reported by longtime drivers are ones of personal taste, meaning that you’ll want to give this bad boy a test drive before settling on it as your keeper.
Market Value
The Honda CR-V ranges from $17,700 to $24,000. Exact pricing will depend on the trim, wear, and location of the specific model you’re investigating.
Trouble Spots
There are two recalls on this vehicle, one for a severely reduced engine performance that may cause the vehicle to stall, and the other for a potential shower of metal fragments when the driver’s front air bag deploys. Make sure your seller has addressed any recalls before purchasing.
Other drivers found the cabin to be noisy and let in cool air or rain, and many struggled with the infotainment screen.
What Owners Are Saying
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“Very nice car everything is good, this should be what Acura strives for in their lower devision. This CR-V is better than my loaded 2014 acura mdx,I plan on replacing the mdx with a different brand but will replace the CR-V with a new one.” – Anonymous, MA
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“Very good fuel economy for its size and acceleration. Good driving view. huge storage space and great value for the price.” – Anonymous, MA
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“The seats are extremely comfortable and I can drive for 8+ hours without a problem.” – Stephen W., CO
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“I have to say I really like the CRV overall. But a 185 HP 4cyl is way to little for this SUV. You can constantly feel it pulling to get up to speed. The RDX (sister with Acura) has a nice 265 HP V6 engine. They need to put that in the CRV. Acceleration is sluggish at best and handling is tepid.” – Anonymous, MD
