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Small Changes That Add Up: What We Love about the 2020 Honda CR-V Midsize SUV

August 11, 2020 by Scotty Reiss Leave a Comment

A side view of the 2020 Honda CR-V. 📸 Scotty Reiss

If you run a lot of errands you’ll appreciate Honda’s thinking.

You see them around town, park next to them and probably even know someone who drives one: The Honda CR-V. It’s become one of the most popular small SUVs on the road and for good reason: It’s everything you need for a busy life without cramping your style or your posture. 

Related: Finally! The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid is Here and We Couldn’t Be Happier

Adjustable cargo floor in the 2020 Honda CR-V

My family heads out for a ride in the 2020 Honda CR-V. 📸 Scotty Reiss

New Features Make the CR-V Even Better in 2020

Honda updated the CR-V for the 2020 model year with subtle changes to the exterior and more features on the inside. Even fans may not notice the changes on the outside — the front end is a bit more sculpted and the headlights and grille are new, but it is still distinctly a CR-V. 

On the inside there are more upgraded details including driver assist and safety features that are now standard equipment. Honda calls this suite of technology Honda Sensing, and it includes forward collision warning and crash mitigation, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control and Honda Lane Watch (on all but the base model). We love lane watch: when you hit your right turn signal a camera is activated for a view of the right side of the car. You can see traffic in your blind spot, especially bikes or cars trying to squeeze by as you make a turn. 

Also updated for 2020 is a more powerful turbo charged engine that actually gets better fuel economy. Horsepower is now rated at 190 (up from 184) with 29 MPG combined in the AWD model (front wheel drive is estimated to get 30 MPG combined). We averaged 27MPG in city driving during our test drive and found the turbo engine to have ample power and  was easy to drive. And that is the point of the CR-V: Easy. 

Related: Demystifying Safety Features in Cars By Auto Maker

Adjustable cargo floor in the 2020 Honda CR-V

A view of the front seat in the 2020 Honda CR-V. 📸 Scotty Reiss

What Does CR-V Stand For?

Yes, it has a meaning, it’s not just a random group of letters that can seem to be a jumble until you become familiar with them: It stands for Comfortable Runabout Vehicle. 

And think about it: one of the things we love about SUVs is the ability to slide right into the driver’s seat without too much bending or having to squat-and-fold the way we might in a small sedan or sports car. SUVs are all about accommodating our lives, from lots of cargo space to flexible seating, room for everyone and yes, even a place to put your handbag so it won’t spill when you turn a corner and you can reach it when you need it For me, my handbag went nicely in the footwell behind the passenger seat or on the rear passenger seat; if I could possibly get away with a smaller bag I could fit it in the center console.

Related: 2019 Honda HR-V Sport: Choosing a Compact SUV for Some Mother Daughter Fun

Adjustable cargo floor in the 2020 Honda CR-V

Adjustable cargo floor in the 2020 Honda CR-V. Notice how the floor an be adjusted to keep groceries from falling out or to make loading things easier. 📸 Scotty Reiss

An Adjustable Cargo Floor For Even More Flexible Cargo Space 

In the 2020 CR-V you’ll also find a great feature that makes running errands easy: an adjustable cargo floor. The floor cover, which conceals the spare tire, can be left in its low position; this leaves a lip at the lift gate opening. This is great for things like groceries or sports equipment that may roll out of the car when you open the lift gate; the lip prevents that.

But when you want to put the rear seats down and slide something into the back, like a table or a bike, the cargo floor can be adjusted to a higher position, flush with the lift gate opening to create a flat floor. Love this.

Related: 2019 Honda Pilot: This Full Size SUV is the Perfect Minivan Alternative — and Rocks Off-Road Trails

Adjustable cargo floor in the 2020 Honda CR-V

The cargo area is a great place for a photo. 📸 Kristin Shaw

What We Love

So many great new features are standard or available on lower priced trims. And, in the Touring edition we tested, there are even more things to love (these features are noted with an *).

  • Leather seats*
  • Capless fuel tank
  • Smart key system 
  • Apple CarPlay/Android Auto 
  • Wireless phone charge pad*
  • Two USB ports right up front and easy to reach; two additional ports in the rear seat* and a 120 V cigarette-lighter stye power port in the arm rest
  • A deep, multi-function center console with sliding compartments that so you can configure it to fit your needs
  • The adjustable cargo floor for a fully flat cargo space
  • A really good rear view camera with multiple angles 
  • Standard Honda Sensing driver assist and safety features 
  • The motion activated liftgate*
  • Three new colors for 2020: Radiant Red, Aegean Blue Pearl and Sonic Gray Pearl, the color of our test model
Adjustable cargo floor in the 2020 Honda CR-V

The infotainment screen is nicely designed and easy to see. 📸 Scotty Reiss

What This Car Costs 

  • LX base model, with Honda Sensing, multi-angle rear view camera and the new turbo engine is $25,050
  • EX model, which adds Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, HD radio, power moonroof, power heated seats, 7” display system and smart key, is $27,560
  • EX-L, which adds leather seats, a power lift gate and a leather wrapped steering wheel, is $30,050
  • Touring model, which includes heated leather seats, premium audio with HD radio, 19” wheels, wireless charge pad, satellite navigation system, roof rails, rain sensing wipers and a motion-activated lift gate is $33,250
  • AWD adds $1,500
  • Delivery charge $1,095
  • Price of the model we test drove, about $35,845
Adjustable cargo floor in the 2020 Honda CR-V

The CR-V’s rear view camera is crisp and clear. 📸 Scotty Reiss

What You Need to Know 

  • 4 cylinder turbo engine with 190HP
  • Fuel economy estimated at 27 MPG city/32MPG highway
  • Regular fuel is recommended
  • I could not get my handbag in the center console, but a smaller bag would probably fit
  • Rear seats are comfortable and roomy but best for 4 passengers (though it seats 5)
  • Apple CarPlay/Android Auto available on EX and above
  • Leather seats on EX- L and above 
  • Features are available by trim level rather than packages 
  • Honda Sensing is standard on all models
Adjustable cargo floor in the 2020 Honda CR-V

The last generation Honda CR-V vs 2020 model. 📸 Scotty Reiss

Subtle Change is Good 

Overall, there are not a lot of changes to the 2020 model. If it ain’t broke…right? But the improvements that were made are good ones. I particularly liked the cargo floor and versatile center console, both offering lots of storage solutions, which for someone running around town, makes you day even easier.  And in the top end Touring edition, the Honda CR-V does it with even elegance and comfort.

What We Listened to In the Honda CR-V Touring

Because tooling around all day or heading out on a long road trip demands a good playlist. This is what we listened to during our test drive.

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Scotty Reiss

Scotty Reiss

Journalist, entrepreneur and mom, Scotty likes to say the automotive business found her, she didn't pursue it. But recognizing the opportunity to give voice to powerful female consumers and create a voice to match their spending power, her mission became to empower women as car buyers and owners. A career-long journalist, she has written for the New York Times, Town & Country, Adweek and co-authored the book Stew Leonard, My Story, a biography of the founder of the iconic grocery company Stew Leonard’s. Her love of cars started when her father insisted she learn to change the oil in her MG Midget, but now it mostly plays out in the many road trips taken with her family.
Scotty Reiss

@@scottyreiss

Scotty Reiss

Scotty Reiss

Scotty Reiss

Latest posts by Scotty Reiss (see all)

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  • Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 Luxury SUV Review: A Luxe Cocoon For You And Your Crew - January 17, 2021

Filed Under: Car Reviews, Honda Tagged With: family SUV, Honda CR-V, midsize SUV

Scotty Reiss

About Scotty Reiss

Journalist, entrepreneur and mom, Scotty likes to say the automotive business found her, she didn't pursue it. But recognizing the opportunity to give voice to powerful female consumers and create a voice to match their spending power, her mission became to empower women as car buyers and owners. A career-long journalist, she has written for the New York Times, Town & Country, Adweek and co-authored the book Stew Leonard, My Story, a biography of the founder of the iconic grocery company Stew Leonard’s. Her love of cars started when her father insisted she learn to change the oil in her MG Midget, but now it mostly plays out in the many road trips taken with her family.

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