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5 Reasons Why New Honda CR-V Should Be At The Top Of Your Shopping List

The 2019 Honda CR-V is the brand’s best selling vehicle and there are five reasons why. If you are looking for a small SUV see if it's the best fit for you.

If you are looking to buy a small SUV, Honda sold nearly 400,000 2019 Honda CR-V compact SUVs last year and it's one of the top-rated small SUVs according to many automotive websites. What makes the CR-V so popular? If you are looking to buy a small SUV, we’ve found four reasons why it should be on your shopping list.

The 2019 CR-V competes in the highly competitive, and fastest-growing SUV vehicle segments with the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester, Nissan Rogue, Ford Escape, and Jeep Cherokee. Toyota reports more RAV4 sales than CR-V, but the Japanese automaker inflates the numbers using fleet sales where Honda only reports dealer deliveries.

2019 Honda CR-V cargo

It starts inside where the CR-V offers up a large cargo area, abundant back seat room, easily accessed LATCH anchors for car seats and more clever storage solutions for families. IIHS crash ratings give CR-V a Top Safety Pick award when equipped with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights. Driver-assist safety technologies are standard on all but the base trim.

Watch the 2020 Honda CR-V's the most and least favorite things by the owners and click to subscribe to Torque News Youtube channel for daily automotive news analysis.

When we drove the 2019 CR-V, it responded to driver inputs and offers up a comfortable ride and a quiet cabin for a small SUV. We chucked it around tight mountain corners and the CR-V felt secure and has little body lean.

Superior driving dynamics

We would recommend the 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that delivers a perfect combination of fuel-economy (28/34 mpg with FWD) and power for all driving situations over the base 2.4-liter naturally aspirated engine. The CR-V also offers all-wheel-drive, all-weather capability for those who live in cold weather climates.

The 2019 Honda CR-V is not without its flaws. Honda's touchscreen can be frustrating to use and hopefully, Honda has resolved the oil dilution issue with the 1.5-liter turbo engine. Overall, we think the Honda CR-V makes a ton of sense for growing families looking for cargo room, safety features, fuel-efficiency, and all-wheel-drive capability.

Honda reliability

The competition may offer more attractive styling and personality, such as the Mazda CX-5 but you won’t find a more well-rounded small SUV than the 2019 Honda CR-V. Wrapping everything up is Honda's excellent reputation for resale value and reliability.

You Might Also Like: New Honda CR-V Hybrid, When It Will Hit US Shores

Bookmark the TN Honda page and be sure to follow the latest 2020 CR-V model change reports on our Honda channels, FacebookTwitterInstagram, and tweet your news tips to us @Honda_Report and we'll give you a shout out! Check back tomorrow for more Honda news and updates.

Watch Honda's Solution to Civic and CR-V Oil Dilution Problem If You Smell Gas video and subscribe to the Torque News Youtube channel for daily Honda and automotive news analysis.

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Photo credit: Honda USA

Comments

Sandra Olsson (not verified)    September 16, 2019 - 3:47AM

In reply to by Denis Flierl

Never owned Honda. Best evah, you sit up high in comfortable seats. Lots of head room leg room. Got to love the backup camera and on directional handle push button and camera comes on. Use it alot. Love the cargo space. Mines pearl white, 2016, black and beige inside. Nice smooth ride and smooth steering. The only thing I wish I had was Sirius Radio but I guess I'll survive.

Paul MacFarland (not verified)    September 16, 2019 - 8:36AM

In reply to by Denis Flierl

Did a lot of research on Honda CR-V. I work part time for a honda dealer and talked to their mechanics who work on ALL makes of automobiles and they told me the CR-V is a tank! Meaning it’s well made and dependable. Bought a new’18 CR-V w/1.5 turbo and the vehicle is without fault . Had a comfortable ride, spacious, plenty of power, lots of interior room, fuel efficient and dependable. Haven’t had ( one ) problem. Simply put, a great little SUV.

Bruce Rhoten (not verified)    September 16, 2019 - 11:47AM

In reply to by Denis Flierl

My 2 month old CR-V Hybrid is wonderfully quiet, comfortable, and economic. I‘m getting 43.5 miles to the gallon here in Germany (5.7 Liters per hundred Kilometers) having driven a mix of Autobahn to Austria and back, as well as lots of city miles around home in a suburb of Hannover. There is the option of pressing the Econ button, which reduces the torque a bit, as well as the Sport button, which noticeably increases the power over the default compromise between the two options. The price one pays for the comfort and economy is an unusual disconnect between the accelerator and engine revolutions, which can be disconcerting in the beginning. The computer decides whether the engine revs charge the batteries, drive the wheels, or a combination of both. The electric motor truly supports the gasoline engine, resulting in great mileage for the weight. This new model is the largest CR-V made, and has plenty of room inside!

Michael Stephen (not verified)    September 16, 2019 - 1:35PM

In reply to by Denis Flierl

2017 Honda CR-V. I have lots of fuel in oil. Reached out to Honda, State attorney's office etc. Nobody wants to take ownership. Every 1000 miles in winter I get close to a quart of extra oil due to fuel in oil and the oil smells like fuel and has the consistency of fuel. I can see my turbo failing soon due to lack of lubrication. Stay away from honda turbo engines.

Alastair Stedman (not verified)    September 16, 2019 - 2:20PM

In reply to by Denis Flierl

Honda claims 7.0l/100km combined cycle for the 1.5T. Over the course of 2 years of ownership we have averaged 6.6l/100km. (~36MPG for those that dont understand proper units) And this is with some occasional spirited driving because having the same engine as the Si (albeit a bit less power) means you still get a grin on your face when you floor it, and sometimes you can't help yourself. :)

Kathleen Gregoirey (not verified)    September 16, 2019 - 2:46PM

In reply to by Denis Flierl

I own a 2016 CRV SE. I have 155,000 miles on this vehicle. It has never broken down and I have traveled most of that 155000 miles on the interstate traveling to other states. I maintain my CRV by doing all required maintenance. At 150000 the mechanic changing the oil said the only thing I see you could do is flush the brakes and radiator. He said , you got a good one there!
The one minus having this car was it is loud. I have tried several differant styles of tires to help the road noise. As for my A/C it will blow you out with cold air and I live in south Central Louisiana.

DeanMcManis (not verified)    September 14, 2019 - 10:07PM

I have been a fan of Hondas for years (having owned 11 so far) and I would still be driving my CR-V today if it hadn't been rear ended, despite having over 250K miles on it. I do have to say that I think that Honda is late in introducing a hybrid model here because it has been available in China, and is overdue here. Plus they should offer a hybrid and plug in hybrid CR-V, as they have no BEV model for any of their SUV/CUVs. With the craze for CUVs I am surprised that Honda didn't build a Clarity brand PHEV CUV. For all of the things that Honda does right in the design and build of their vehicles I still like the CR-V, even in it's regular gasoline powered version. But I do think that Honda has been playing it safe for too long and should they add some more innovation to their bigger vehicle line-up.

Tim (not verified)    September 15, 2019 - 6:39AM

I like my CRV but Honda really needs to solve the problem of low quality floor mats. 6 months and mine has a hole in it already.

Adam Gilmore (not verified)    September 15, 2019 - 7:44AM

Is it responsible to promote or celebrate this model considering the gravity of the oil dilution issue?

dave johnson (not verified)    September 15, 2019 - 8:41AM

Oil dilution is still a problem in my 2019 honda CRV . Honda did not fix this problem despite the claim otherwise.

Luke (not verified)    September 15, 2019 - 10:37AM

Have a 2018 crv ex 1.5L. Love almost everything about it except the air conditioning. It just really cant keep up in 90 degree plus temps and the sun in the south. It gets decent on the highways and worse with slower driving. Dont know if it's the new 1234 refrigerant and or design flaws. Have never had a problem with oil dilution in the south.

Laura Fiore (not verified)    September 15, 2019 - 2:48PM

I am looking forward to purchasing a CRV. I went to a dealership to purchase a bright red CRV. Upon arriving, the color red in all your advertised photos is NOT red, it’s an orange/copper color. It’s awful and I have only seen 1 or 2 on the road in the last couple of years. Please consider a true red for your CRV.

Ron (not verified)    September 15, 2019 - 3:36PM

Don't forget about the amazing oil dilllution. Might want to do a little research before praising this vehicle. I have one and lived it until I was also impacted by the gasoline getting into the oil

Digitaldoc (not verified)    September 15, 2019 - 5:29PM

Can give as many reasons as you want to buy it, but I would not touch it until we know for sure that the oil gas dilution issue is completely addressed. This has too much potential for early premature engine failure, including catastrophic failure due to engine fires as there are reported fuel in the oil levels of 15 to 20% from this vehicle, and above 2% this becomes a problem.

Bill Mac (not verified)    September 15, 2019 - 7:24PM

What about the gas mixing with oil problem in the CRV as reported by Consumer Reports? I have the same engine 1.5T in a 2017 Civic for my daughter and will have to trade it because of potential safety issue because of the same problem. Honda will not fix it until it is broke, though they recalled the Chinese version. Shame on Honda, I bought a brand new 2017 touring with all the safety gadgets to keep my daughter safe, and now that it could stall out at any time, they are not supporting a recall and my faith in Honda is shattered.

Fanie (not verified)    September 16, 2019 - 4:41AM

My CRV is the 18th Honda to own. 2013 2.4 auto never had any repairs ro be done. The same accounts for all the others.
We bought the 19th one Nov 2018 a 2014 Civic.
We are prowed of our 2 lovely Hondas.

David Sparling (not verified)    October 2, 2019 - 2:09PM

"...hopefully, Honda has resolved the oil dilution issue with the 1.5-liter turbo engine."
This is a HUGE issue! Hopefully...really? I'd never even consider this vehicle until a REAL solution is found.