2020 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Honda CR-V

The 2020 Honda CR-V, part of the fifth generation of Honda’s compact crossover, had a design that was both familiar and enjoyable. Its exterior styling was characterized by soft, curvy lines that resembled Honda’s sedan lineup, giving it a station wagon-like appearance rather than a traditional SUV look. This design approach made the CR-V a modern family transportation staple. However, the interior was a mix of textures and materials, with upscale touches like wood-look trim and leather upholstery clashing with lower-quality plastics, reminding drivers that even the pricier versions were upgrades of a commodity car rather than premium products.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda CR-V's exterior styling was similar to many other compact crossovers, with few distinguishing features. The grille and some chromed plastic elements set it apart slightly, but overall, it blended in with the competition. The CR-V was available in seven colours, though most were shades of gray, black, or white, with limited availability of more vibrant options like Radiant Red Metallic. Inside, the CR-V offered a more modern look with angular seat designs and upscale materials in higher trims, but it still faced stiff competition from rivals like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson, which offered more distinctive styling.

The 2020 Honda CR-V was equipped with a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine standard across all trims, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), this powertrain provided a smooth driving experience, especially in Sport mode. The CR-V's car-like handling and nimble road manners were complemented by its low curb weight, ranging from 1,521 kg for the FWD LX model to 1,641 kg for the AWD Touring and Black Edition models. This lightweight design contributed to its excellent fuel efficiency, with FWD models rated at 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres combined and AWD models at 8.1, making it one of the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid models in its class.

The 2021 Honda CR-V shared the same powertrain as its predecessor, with a 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder engine delivering 190 horsepower. It achieved a 0-100 km/h time of about 8 seconds, comparable to its competitors. The CVT maintained the engine's revs at a constant level, providing smooth acceleration but lacking the engagement of conventional automatic transmissions found in rivals like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson. The CR-V offered FWD as standard, with AWD available on the LX and standard on higher trims. Its suspension setup, featuring a MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear, ensured decent handling and ride quality, consistent with other vehicles in its class.

The 2020 Honda CR-V was praised for its masterful packaging, offering a spacious cabin comparable to the Volkswagen Tiguan without feeling oversized. It provided ample head- and legroom for both front and rear passengers, thanks to its excellent seating position and low cowl. The cargo area was also generous, with a two-position load floor allowing for 1,065 litres of cargo space in the Touring and Black Edition trims and 1,110 litres in other grades. Clever storage solutions, such as a deep centre console and large door pockets, made the CR-V easy to live with.

The 2021 Honda CR-V continued to prioritize functionality, offering more than 100 litres of interior volume compared to the Toyota RAV4. It provided slightly more cargo space behind the second row and 1,065 litres of total cargo volume with the rear seats folded. Access to the cargo area varied by trim, with the LX featuring a manual tailgate, the Sport offering a power tailgate, and the Touring including a hands-free power tailgate. Roof rails were standard on most trims, enhancing the CR-V's practicality for carrying additional gear.

The 2020 Honda CR-V's infotainment system showed its age, featuring a standard 7-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. However, it lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate, and its navigation system was only available on the Touring and Black Editions. Despite these shortcomings, the CR-V offered plenty of USB ports, including a wireless phone charger on higher trims.

In 2021, the CR-V's infotainment system remained largely unchanged, with a 7-inch touchscreen standard across all trims. Lower trims had varying audio setups, while the Touring trim featured a 300-watt system with a subwoofer. The EX-L trim and above included Sirius XM and HD radio, with satellite navigation available on the Touring and Black Edition. Charging ports were abundant, with a wireless phone charger introduced on the Touring trim.

The 2020 Honda CR-V came equipped with the Honda Sensing suite of safety features as standard, including forward-collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. It earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, although lower trims received lower headlight ratings. A recall for a rear subframe failure affected a small number of vehicles.

The 2021 Honda CR-V continued to excel in safety, earning both NHTSA and IIHS awards. It featured the Honda Sensing system as standard across all trims, providing advanced safety features like a multi-angle rearview camera, lane keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The only feature not available on the base LX trim was blind spot monitoring, which became standard on the Sport trim and above.