Used 2016 Honda CR-V Touring: There’s a Reason for the Love Affair

Erica Mueller   |  

Sep 22, 2021

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Getting to know the 2016 Honda CR-V Touring.

If you’re paying any attention at all as you’re driving down the highway you’ll notice a lot of Honda CR-Vs. I’d always wondered about this phenomenon and why anyone I asked gushed about their CR-V. Then I got to drive a 2016 Honda CR-V Touring for a week and I understood the love affair. This is one crossover I wouldn’t mind owning!

For one, the Honda CR-V is just the right size for a small family. It’s larger than a sedan, which makes it easier to get kids in and out of the vehicle (less stooping over to buckle) and makes it more roomy for road trips. We were so comfortable in the CR-V! It’s also (slightly) smaller than a mid-size SUV making it easier to park and better on gas mileage. All around it made sense.

And it still makes sense as a used car several years later. Scroll to the end of this review to see how the CR-V has fared in the long term.

The 2016 Honda CR-V Touring has ALL the safety technology

From one geek to another, this isn’t your ordinary family car. In fact, it’s the closest thing I’ve experienced to autonomous driving. The Honda Sensing Feature Suite is incredible. It not only warns you when you’re departing from your lane, it assist you in getting back into your lane if you’re not paying attention.  My husband tested this while we were on an open highway. He let go of the steering wheel for short periods of time to show me how it was sensing the lane departure then correcting the steering all on its own. Now, you couldn’t actually count on this to work all the time because it’s not perfect, but it was a really cool feature that impressed us.  No wonder the 2016 Honda CR-V achieves the highest overall score for collision safety from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

I also loved the camera mounted in the passenger side mirror that senses when your right turn signal is on, then displays the view on your screen. It’s really helpful with the blind spot on that side, especially when you’re changing lanes. Between these features, the adaptive cruise control, Collision Mitigation Braking System, and Forward Collision Warning, it’s clear that safety is a top priority for Honda and that made me feel really good about driving the CR-V.

With the 2016 Honda CR-V you get both brains and beauty

While the CR-V isn’t the boldest, most eye-catching car on the market, it is beautiful. I’m usually not a fan of hatchbacks and find that cars designed for families lack in the cool department. But Honda has taken great care to make a beautiful crossover that doesn’t scream “mom car” and feels classy enough for a girl’s night out.

I really liked the copper sunset pearl exterior and beige interior of the Touring we drove. It wasn’t brown, but it wasn’t red either, and it was super shiny.

Nothing lacking on the 2016 Honda CR-V interior

From leather trimmed seats to dual automatic climate control, the interior of the CR-V comes well equipped. We were very happy about the memory driver’s seat for the 10-way positioning. It simply worked, first try. Usually we have to read a manual to figure out how to set our preferences. But not in the Honda.

The center console was neat and tidy with a spot just for your cell phone, and ports for everything hidden away in the arm rest.

There is a 7-inch touch screen for navigation and entertainment, plus steering wheel controls so you can keep your eyes on the road while you drive.

The cargo area really impressed me. We travel a lot, so the first thing I check for is whether or not we could fit everyone AND their luggage. The CR-V has a whopping 37.2 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the second row. Fold down the second row (60/40 split), and it expands to 70.9 cubic feet. Yep, you’ve got room for everything!

If I were replacing our family sedan, the 2016 Honda CR-V would be at the top of my list of vehicles to consider. I couldn’t find a single thing I didn’t like about it!

How Does the 2016 Honda CR-V Fare as a Used Car?

When it comes to SUVs from 2016, the Honda CR-V ranks incredibly well; it ties with the Acura RDX for third best out of 18 models released that year — not bad. Even better, 85 percent of people have said they’d buy the CR-V again. That’s a testament to its reliability, safety, and overall value. Of course, there are some trouble spots — but there’s a reason why folks love this car.

Market Value

You can expect the 2016 Honda CR-V to cost about $17,000 to $24,000, but exact pricing will vary depending on location, trim, and wear.

Trouble Spots

There are two NHTSA recalls for this vehicle. First, the engine may stall as a result of reduced performance. Second, front airbags could rupture when inflating, resulting in metal fragments hitting passengers. When buying your Honda CR-V, ensure that the seller has taken care of these issues; Honda will repair them for free.

Owners found some other issues with excessive brake wear, some water leaks and road noise, and the automatic headlights. Check maintenance repairs with your seller to learn about any past problems.

What Owners Are Saying

• “What I like most is the height of the seats. It is very easy to enter and exit the vehicle. It gets great gas mileage and rides well enough.” – Anonymous, FL
• “The CRV is a classic that outperforms cars in the same category in most of the measures. The resell value is very attractive too.” – Carlos A., MD
• “driving in the rockies in January with strong winds seeping in to the door handles and on the side doors, we had the temp in the car very high, yet the wind coming in froze a drink sitting in the side panel drink holder. VERY cold!” – Anonymous, KS

By Erica Mueller

A web developer, digital marketing consultant, auto journalist, truck expert, photographer and lover of gadgets, Erica is a textbook ... More about Erica Mueller