| Compact SUV; Built in |
|
|
| Good condition price range: $14,100 – $27,100* |
2014 Honda CR-V
2014 Honda CR-V
2014 Honda CR-V
2014 Honda CR-V
| Pros: |
|
| Cons: |
|
CR-V continues to excel for its “just-right” blend of comfort, refinement, passenger room, and cargo versatility. An edgier look for 2012 makes it stand out from the competition. Though it’s on the pricey side of the compact-SUV class, plenty of standard safety and convenience features and Honda’s reputation for reliability and resale value further bolster its appeal.
Overview
Since its introduction for the 1997 model year, Honda’s CR-V has been one of the most popular compact SUVs on the market. For just as long, it has been a perennial favorite of Consumer Guide Automotive.
In the intervening years, the compact SUV class exploded in popularity – and with new entries. Top rivals of the CR-V included the Hyundai Tucson, Volkswagen Tiguan, Kia Sportage, Ford Escape, Subaru Forester, and Toyota RAV4. Like the CR-V, all those listed were 5-passenger vehicles except for the RAV4, which also came in a 7-passenger version. The CR-V was built in Japan and the United States.
Trim levels included LX, EX, and EX-L and there were no factory options.
The CR-V was available with front- or all-wheel drive. All models were powered by a 185-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, which gained five horsepower over the 2011 model. The sole transmission was a 5-speed automatic.
All the expected safety features were standard. Also standard was a rearview camera — a rather unexpected safety feature. No other safety features were offered.
Yearly Updates
| 2012 CR-V Honda redesigned the CR-V for the 2012 model year and was, thus, unchanged for 2013. |
Engines
transverse front-engine/front- or all-wheel drive
The CR-V was available with front- or all-wheel drive. All models were powered by a 185-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, which gained five horsepower over the 2011 model. The sole transmission was a 5-speed automatic.
| dohc I4 | ||
| Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) | 2.4/144 | |
| Engine HP | 185 | |
| Engine Torque (lb-ft) | 163 | |
| Avail. Trans. | EPA MPG (city/hwy) | MPG avg. as tested |
| 5-speed automatic | 23/31 | 26 |
Road Test
CR-V is not quick from a stop, especially compared with other compact rivals that offer V6 engines, but it never feels underpowered. The transmission is smooth and prompt. The redesigned all-wheel drive system works well and limits wheel slip by directing power to the rear wheels before slip occurs. All models have an Econ mode that optimizes fuel economy by altering throttle response, automatic-transmission shift points, and climate settings. This setting makes CR-V feel very slow in around-town traffic.
In Consumer Guide testing, we averaged 25.8 mpg in mostly highway driving on a front-drive model. CR-V uses regular-grade gas.
CR-V feels very car-like at all times. Its ride is a bit on the firm side, but CR-V absorbs everything fairly well. Only harsh bumps register in the cabin.
CR-V is compact-car maneuverable and reasonably fun to drive. Body lean in fast turns is kept in check. The steering is nicely weighted, communicative, and accurate. The brakes provide very good stopping control.
CR-V’s engine is loud during acceleration, and the noise intrudes into the cabin. Tire noise is well-checked but wind rush is very noticeable, due in part to large exterior mirrors.
Cars with navigation have both a center-mounted, large touch navigation screen and a 5-inch color vehicle info display screen set higher up on the dashboard. The info screen is very recessed and difficult to see from some driver seat positions. The navigation system absorbs audio functions and has a variety of small buttons, but it isn’t too hard to master. The newly standard rearview camera is a nice convenience. It displays three views of the rear of the car for help with backing up or towing. Climate controls are large, clear, and easy to reach. An “ECO Assist” light-bar readout glows green when the vehicle is being driven efficiently, but it’s too soft of a color and difficult to see in most lights. Apple iPhone users who have the Pandora streaming Internet radio app can plug the phone into the USB port and control Pandora through the navigation or vehicle display screens. Android phone users can plug their phone in and have text messages read through the car’s speakers and respond to texts using pre-selected commands.
Assembly quality is top-notch but some materials look and feel cheap. The cabin is trimmed in hard plastic, though the door armrests are nicely padded. Metal accents and contrasting colors go a long way toward making this interior look interesting, however.
Front headroom and legroom are plentiful. A comfortable, take-charge driving stance is aided by a standard tilt and telescopic steering wheel and generous seat travel. The seats are well bolstered and furnish long-distance comfort. Entry and exit are very easy. Visibility to the rear corners is hindered by thick C pillars. Large side mirrors with an expanded view panel help, though.
The supportive rear seat looses its reclining backrest for 2012 but still slides fore and aft to benefit passenger or cargo room. Space for legs and knees is plentiful, but the very tall will find headroom lacking. A flat floor makes three-abreast seating possible, though only for short trips. The door openings are wide and step-in is low, making entry and exit easy.
Cargo space is generous and loading packages is easy thanks to low liftover. The rear seat backs fold and tumble forward in a 60/40 configuration. Two standard cargo-area-mounted handles make this an easy operation and the resulting load floor is almost flat. Interior storage is very good, highlighted by a huge, standard center console that was previously optional. Note that the previous CR-V’s convenient dual glovebox is no longer available and the base LX model is not equipped with a cargo cover.
Specifications
| 4-door wagon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wheelbase (in.) | Length (in.) | Width (in.) | Height (in.) | Weight (lbs) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 103.1 | 178.5 | 71.6 | 65.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Trouble Spots
| Engine noise Description: The camshaft Variable Timing Control (VTC) actuator can make loud noises when the engine is started while cold. |
Recall History
| 2012 CR-V LX Description: The safety certification label has incorrect numbers for Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, Gross Axle Weight Rating front and rear, tire size, and rim size. |
| 2012 CR-V Description: The doors may not latch correctly and may open while driving or during a crash. |
| 2012-13 CR-V Description: Sub-freezing temperatures could slow the brake-shift interlock blocking mechanism, allowing the car to be shifted out of park without applying the brakes. |
Equipment Lists
Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.
Pricing
Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.
