The Honda CR-V continues to dominate the compact SUV segment with its winning combination of intelligent design, advanced safety features, and exceptional value. Starting at approximately $30,100, the 2025 Honda CR-V maintains its position as a benchmark in the competitive compact SUV market, offering families a practical yet sophisticated vehicle that doesn’t compromise on safety or technology.
Revolutionary Design Philosophy
Exterior Aesthetics Meet Functionality
The 2025 CR-V boasts a rugged design with a long wheelbase and wide stance, featuring a large, gloss-black grille that lends a forceful character to the front fascia. This isn’t just about looks – the design philosophy centers around creating a vehicle that’s both visually appealing and supremely functional for everyday use.
The vertical taillights have remained a hallmark of CR-V design since its inception, now featuring a modern edge with an instantly recognizable LED pattern. The dual low-beam LED headlights provide bright, distinctive illumination with convenient auto-on/off functionality, ensuring optimal visibility in all conditions.
Interior Space and Comfort
The redesigned CR-V gained size and weight but retained its proven formula of practicality and functionality, with a relatively simple and boxy shape that gives the CR-V ample cargo room. The interior transformation focuses on creating a more upscale environment without sacrificing the practical elements that CR-V owners have come to expect.
The CR-V has excellent cargo space for a small SUV, measuring 39.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats, with plenty of width and vertical height to help fit bulky objects. This generous space allocation makes the CR-V ideal for families who need versatility for everything from grocery runs to weekend adventures.
Advanced Safety Technologies
Honda Sensing Suite
Honda Sensing is a suite of safety and assistance features designed to make driving easier and help protect passengers, using sensor inputs to automatically provide alerts and steering and braking assistance as needed. This comprehensive system represents Honda’s commitment to making advanced safety accessible to all drivers.
Key safety features include standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking, standard lane-keeping assist and lane-departure warning. The system goes beyond basic protection by actively helping drivers avoid potential hazards before they become dangerous situations.
Collision Prevention Systems
The Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) can alert and assist when there’s a risk of collision with a detected vehicle or pedestrian, automatically applying brake pressure when it determines that a collision is unavoidable. This technology serves as a crucial safety net, particularly in urban driving environments where unexpected obstacles can appear suddenly.
The Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM) is designed to help drivers stay on the road, providing necessary steering assistance to help return to the lane or prevent leaving the road if lane lines are crossed without signaling. This feature proves invaluable during long highway drives or when driver attention might momentarily waver.
Safety Ratings and Recognition
The Honda CR-V is rated as a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and received a maximum 5-star overall score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These prestigious awards validate the CR-V’s commitment to occupant protection and collision avoidance.
Performance and Efficiency
Powertrain Options
Behind the CR-V’s upright grille is a standard 190-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder that pairs with a CVT and either front- or all-wheel drive. This powertrain configuration provides a balance of performance and efficiency that suits the needs of most families.
The CR-V Hybrid elevates the formula to a higher level, earning a spot on Car and Driver’s 10Best Trucks list for 2025, providing both more power and better fuel efficiency than the nonhybrid CR-V. The hybrid option represents Honda’s commitment to environmental responsibility without sacrificing performance.
Fuel Economy Excellence
The hybrid model delivers 40 mpg combined by the EPA with front-wheel drive, an impressive figure for a vehicle with this much cargo-and-passenger space, while the all-wheel-drive configuration achieves a 37-mpg combined rating. These efficiency numbers make the CR-V an economical choice for daily commuting and long-distance travel.
Technology and Connectivity
Infotainment Evolution
All 2026 Honda CR-V models now come standard with a 9-inch touchscreen display, which was previously reserved for higher trims, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto as standard features. This technological upgrade ensures that the CR-V remains competitive in an increasingly connected world.
The CR-V’s infotainment system operates through a 7.0-inch touchscreen on the LX and EX trim levels, featuring physical volume and tuning knobs as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The inclusion of physical controls demonstrates Honda’s understanding that drivers appreciate tactile feedback for frequently used functions.
Convenience Features
Available features like roof rails and a hands-free access power tailgate give you the versatility to tackle all kinds of adventures, from crosstown to cross-country. The hands-free tailgate activation, where drivers can simply kick their foot under the bumper, exemplifies Honda’s attention to real-world convenience.
Value Proposition and Market Position
Competitive Pricing Strategy
The least-expensive 2025 Honda CR-V is the LX 4dr SUV with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $30,100, including destination charge. This pricing strategy positions the CR-V as an accessible entry point into Honda’s SUV lineup while maintaining the quality and features that buyers expect.
The 2026 Honda CR-V has a starting sticker price of $32,315, with the range-topping CR-V EX-L beginning at $36,795. Despite the slight price increase for the newer model year, the CR-V continues to offer exceptional value in the compact SUV segment.
Long-term Reliability
The 2026 Honda CR-V is part of the 6th-generation CR-V, which owners give an above-average reliability rating of 4.9 out of 5. This stellar reliability record contributes significantly to the CR-V’s total cost of ownership advantage.
The Honda CR-V’s enduring success stems from its ability to evolve while maintaining the core values that made it a family favorite. There’s a reason many consider the Honda CR-V the benchmark small SUV for families, with its latest version achieving this feat through a smooth ride, helpful tech features, and excellent storage space.
Starting at $30,000, the CR-V offers a compelling combination of smart design, advanced safety features, and practical functionality that continues to set the standard in the compact SUV segment. Whether you’re a first-time SUV buyer or looking to upgrade from a previous generation, the CR-V delivers the reliability, safety, and value that make it a smart choice for modern families.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the starting price of the 2025 Honda CR-V? A: The 2025 Honda CR-V starts at approximately $30,100 for the base LX trim, including destination charges.
Q: Does the CR-V come with advanced safety features as standard? A: Yes, all CR-V models come standard with Honda Sensing, which includes collision mitigation braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.
Q: What’s the fuel economy difference between regular and hybrid CR-V models? A: The hybrid CR-V achieves 40 mpg combined (FWD) compared to about 26 mpg overall for the regular turbocharged engine.