The Best Year for the Honda CR-V

in Best Year/Make/Model
White Honda CR-V

Photo by Dieny Portinanni on Unsplash

We’ve evaluated the last twelve years (2000 – 2022) of CR-Vs to determine what we see as the best year for the model. This post will discuss what aspects of these models contributed to our decision. Price, safety ratings, features, and driveability all played a role. So did reliability, interior, and outward visibility.

Without further delay, let’s explore our findings.

2020 Honda CR-V

By choosing the 2020 Honda CR-V, you’ll get the safety, reliability, updated features, and feel of a brand-new CR-V without paying the never-been-driven sticker price.

After Honda redesigned the CR-V in 2017, the new features kept coming, including adding a hybrid version to the roster in 2020. The hybrid option sealed the deal for us in declaring 2020 the best year for the Honda CR-V.

But what sets the 2020 CR-V apart will take more than a few paragraphs to analyze. So let’s dive in and see what all this 2020 hype is about.

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Reliability and Resale

Imagine a vehicle that can run well over 300,000 miles with a proper care and maintenance schedule. Now imagine a car with that longevity, where breakdowns and repairs are uncommon. If this sounds like your kind of ride, you need to check out the Honda CR-V.

The 2020 model clocks up to 28 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway. Although the CR-V is a compact SUV, it delivers many of the benefits a larger SUV offers.

But one advantage not shared with the three-row SUVs is the money saved at the pump. So first, you saved on the ticket price by going compact; now, you’re saving even more at the pump? Incredible!

When buying a used car, one of the top things on a buyer’s mind is, “How much longer will this SUV last?” This is a major reason why used Hondas are sought after and have high resale value. But don’t just take it from us — J.D. Power rated the 2020 CR-V as “Great” in its resale category.

Hybrid Version

Speaking of mileage, the 2020 CR-V gas-electric model comes in hot, with up to 40 mpg in the city. Now that is how you stretch your gas budget! But that’s not all that sets this hybrid apart from its fully-gassed siblings.

Visual differences are immediately noticeable, such as hybrid emblems (for eco-friendly street cred), a blue Honda logo, and a hidden exhaust pipe.

There are other changes in body design too. Among them are tinted taillights, new color options, large wheel sizes (and even larger on upgraded versions), a more aggressive chrome grille, and fog lights within the bumper. 

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Price

Base models of the 2020 CR-V sell for as low as $23,524. Seeing how the Honda 2021 CR-V failed to bring any noteworthy changes to the table for a lower price and a year’s worth of mileage, you’re getting pretty much the same vehicle. When you consider the extreme longevity of a Honda with the proper service schedule, suddenly, that year of mileage doesn’t mean so much. 

Safety Ratings

True to Honda’s brand, CR-Vs from 2017 – 2021 received 5-star safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In addition to this rating, the NHTSA gave the 2020 CR-V 5 stars for an overall front rating in a head-on collision test and 5 stars for an overall side rating after performing well in a simulated crash into fixed objects.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) chose the 2020 CR-V as a top safety pick. They also rated the 2020 CR-V the highest rating of “Good” in these categories:

  • Roof strength
  • Head restraints and seats
  • Small overlap front: driver side
  • Small overlap front: passenger side
  • Moderate overlap front
  • Side

Finally, in crash avoidance & mitigation, the IIHS rated the 2020 CR-V “Superior” for “front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle” and “front crash prevention: vehicle-to-pedestrian.”

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Safety Features

By now, you can see that safety is essential in determining the best year for the Honda CR-V. We’ve covered safety ratings, but what safety features does the 2020 CR-V have to offer? Standard in every 2020 model:

  • A warning system for when you unintentionally drift from your lane
  • Daytime running lights
  • A system that warns you of a possible forward collision
  • A multi-angle rear-view camera that helps you see where you can’t while backing up
  • A system that applies brake pressure if an oncoming crash seems imminent
  • A warning system that alerts you if you are drifting off the road without activating a turn signal
  • Driver airbag, front airbag, passenger airbag, front side airbag, rear airbag
  • Traction control

Features

The 2020 CR-V base model comes standard with a turbocharged engine formerly only available in higher trims. Also standard is keyless entry, power mirrors, and front bucket seats.

Upgrade a level or two, and you get a 7-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone charging, Pandora internet radio, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to connect your smartphone to your display, and a six-, eight-, or nine-speaker sound system (depending on trim level).

For a compact SUV, the cargo space is generous. Fold the rear seats down, and that space nearly doubles to help friends and family move or take that cross-country road trip you’ve dreamed of since high school.

There is a ton of room for every passenger to be comfortable. Upgrades will give you leather upholstery, heated and power-adjustable front seats, and a steering wheel that heats.

The outward visibility of the 2020 CR-V is excellent. Combine the large greenhouse (the area of a car starting where the windows begin) with all the systems that monitor your blind spots and warn you of oncoming traffic, and you’re left with a compact SUV with substantial visibility. 

Drivability

When crowning our pick for the best year for the Honda CR-V, we would be remiss not to explore drivability. The 2020 CR-V is small enough to whip through a busy city or into a tight parking space. The steering is quite responsive, and the ride is smooth and quiet. With the 2020 CR-V, what happens on the road (often) stays on the road, as there is little to no body lean during turns or unexpected bumps.

Honorable Mentions

If you’re not quite happy with the 2020 Honda CR-V, here are several model years that are worth checking out:

  • 2010 Honda CR-V – The 2010s were good years for Honda’s best-selling compact SUV. The 2010 CR-V checks all the right boxes for a family hauler, including the cavernous cargo space, top-notch safety ratings, and a comfortable cabin. It’s worth checking out if you’re looking for an older CR-V model.
  • 2013 Honda CR-V – The 2013 year is another well-received CR-V model by critics and customers. This year brings the usual excellence provided by Honda, including tons of passenger and cargo capacity, intuitive controls, top safety scores, and excellent fuel economy.
  • 2016 Honda CR-V – At this point, the SUV market has become more competitive. However, the 2016 CR-V remains on top, thanks to its high fuel economy, many standard features, excellent safety suite, and outstanding cargo space.
  • 2022 Honda CR-V – If you prefer a shiny, new CR-V, the 2022 model is an ideal pick. While it’s not going to thrill you with its performance, it packs plenty of advantages as a compact SUV, including a spiffy interior, generous storage space, and hard-to-beat fuel economy.

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