- 1. The Honda CR-V has a stiff ride
- 2. The problematic infotainment system on some of the CR-V trims
- What Consumer Reports considers the Honda CR-V’s best qualities
As one of Honda’s most popular offerings in the U.S., the Honda CR-V is loved by many, including critics. In fact, it made it onto Consumer Reports’ list of highly recommended compact SUVs, with only three alternatives eclipsing it in the website’s vehicle rankings. These include the Toyota RAV4 Prime, Hyundai Tucson, and the 2022 Subaru Forester. Nevertheless, the vehicle isn’t perfect, and Consumer Reports seems to think it would be better without these two major issues.
1. The Honda CR-V has a stiff ride
2022 Honda CR-V Touring | American Honda Motor Co., Inc
According to Consumer Reports, the Honda CR-V comes with generous, supportive padding on the front seats for the LX and EX trims. However, the fact that one of these two trims offers power-adjustable seats while the other doesn’t leads to a different comfort experience.
As for the rear seats, the cushions are flat, firm, and they offer good back support in addition to the generous space. However, in terms of ride comfort, that can only do so much to offset the somewhat stiff suspension.
This is not to say it’s terrible. It does have some positives, including keeping body motions out of the cabin. However, this may give buyers a false sense of security that’s inevitably shattered when they feel the jerks and impacts that follow going over small bumps, potholes, and cracks on the road.
Notably, this problem is exacerbated in the hybrid option. As such, while you may get slightly better fuel economy, there is a cost. Nevertheless, for most people, it’s not bad enough for them to dislike the car.
2. The problematic infotainment system on some of the CR-V trims
While the reviewer lists this as a fussy infotainment system, there are also other minor problems with the controls. For instance, in the Honda CR-V Hybrid version, the push-button gear selector isn’t intuitive, and buyers may need some time to familiarize themselves with it.
Furthermore, the touchscreen in the higher trims doesn’t seem well designed. Some menu layers are hidden, and finding them under the icons is unnecessarily complex. Even simple everyday functions require a few steps to find.
This is only made worse by lag on the touch screen and the fact that Honda has mostly done away with physical buttons on the higher trims of the CR-V. Nevertheless, the screen fonts are large enough to read without squinting. Also, the buttons and knobs on the lower trims are much easier to use.
What Consumer Reports considers the Honda CR-V’s best qualities
Among the three positives listed about the popular Honda SUV is that it has a roomy cabin. As mentioned above, the rear seat is spacious and allows passengers ample stretching room. There’s also lots of headroom in the vehicle despite the car being small enough to navigate tight spaces.
Another pro listed by Consumer Reports is the fuel economy, with the Honda CR-V achieving 28 mpg in testing for the EX trim. This puts the CR-V at the top of the compact SUV segment alongside the Subaru Forester. According to CR, only the Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid offers better fuel economy. Also worth noting is that the hybrid version of the CR-V offers 35 mpg. That said, buyers lose on performance heft as the hybrid is significantly slower.
Lastly, the CR-V is well-equipped, especially in the safety gear department. Features like automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and lane-keep assistance are all standard. That said, buyers may miss out on the blind spot warning system by picking lower trims.
Nevertheless, for a car at this price point, these features ensure enough value for money.