The CR-V is a perennial best-seller for Honda because it excels in so many areas. This compact crossover is easy to drive, has a roomy, comfortable and upscale cabin, and gets good fuel economy, especially with the hybrid powertrain. The one drawback is clunky controls on the infotainment system. Still, the CR-V is so good that it should be considered by anyone shopping for a compact crossover or SUV.
Base Price: $37,400
As Tested: $38,625
Horsepower: 212
Mileage: 40 mpg city/35 mpg highway/38 mpg combined
The fifth generation of the CR-V came out for 2017. It got some updates in 2020, including the addition of the Hybrid to the line-up. There are no big changes for 2021 or 2022.
The Hybrid comes in three trims: EX, EX-L, and Touring. Starting prices range from $31,610 to $37,400. All-wheel-drive comes standard on the Hybrid. The gas-powered CR-V comes in five trims: LX, Special Edition, EX, EX-L, and Touring with starting prices from $26,400 to $36,200. Front-wheel-drive is standard on all trims, except the Touring which comes with AWD. You can get AWD on any trim for $1,500. There’s room for five passengers.
The Hybrid is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors that have a combined output of 212 horsepower and 129 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission.
The Honda CR-V Hybrid has zippy performance. The electric motors help the CR-V Hybrid scoot off the line, and it’s also eager to accelerate when merging or passing at freeway speeds. The switch from electric to gas power happens smoothly. Steering is responsive, there’s little body lean when cornering, and the brakes have less of a squishy feel than many hybrids. The CR-V excels are delivering a smooth ride, with bumps and rough roads barely noticeable. This is one easy crossover to drive whether you’re driving around town or cruising on the highway.
Fuel efficiency is good for the class. EPA ratings for my tester are 40 mpg city and 35 mpg highway with a combined rating of 38. I got 35 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving.
The cabin is roomy and attractive with an upscale look and feel. Materials are of good quality. Adults are comfortable in both rows with decent leg- and headroom. Seats are supportive.
Standard features include remote start, push-button start, rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, cloth upholstery, power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, infotainment system with seven-inch touchscreen, eight-speaker audio system, HD Radio, satellite radio, Bluetooth, USB port, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and a moonroof.
Available features include remote start, leather upholstery, power-adjustable passenger seat, heated steering wheel, nine-speaker audio system, navigation, wireless device charging,
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, road departure mitigation and rear cross-traffic alert.
Available driver assistance technologies include front and rear parking sensors.
The infotainment system could use updating. The system can be slow to respond to commands. But the biggest peeve is there’s only one physical knob for volume adjustment; otherwise you have to go through the system or use the steering-wheel controls for common tasks such as changing the radio station. Depending on the function, you sometimes have to wade through menus and submenus. At least there are physical climate controls.
The CR-V Hybrid has almost as much cargo space as its gas-powered sibling. There are 33.2 cubic feet with both rows of seating in lace and 68.7 cubes with the second row folded. These are good for the class.
The good:
Smooth, comfortable ride
Peppy handling
Standard AWD on the Hybrid
Good fuel economy
Quiet, spacious cabin
Many standard and available features and tech
Standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
The not-so-good:
Infotainment system needs updating
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $37,400. Destination fee is $1,225 bringing the grand total to $38,625.
Bottom line:
The 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid is a solid choice among compact crossovers for its smooth ride, peppy handling, upscale cabin, long list of standard and available features, and good fuel economy. The one thing that could use improvement is the infotainment system.
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