What Car Shoppers Need to Know
- The Honda CR-V is a compact SUV with gas-only and hybrid four-cylinder powertrains.
- The CR-V’s backseat space and cargo room are among the best in its class.
- The CR-V’s controlled handling makes it satisfying to drive for a compact SUV.
Honda’s bestseller — and one of the bestselling vehicles on the market — the CR-V is a compact SUV with an exceptionally well-rounded character. It offers great interior space, handles well for its class and has a reputation for reliability and strong resale value. It’s one of our favorite compact SUVs.
What’s New for 2026?
For 2026, the CR-V lineup gains an off-road-oriented TrailSport trim that’s available only with the hybrid powertrain. A 9-inch infotainment touchscreen is newly standard on all CR-Vs, as is wireless device charging. Higher-end trims also get a standard 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster.
Pricing
Honda splits the CR-V lineup between gas-only and hybrid models, with each getting their own trim levels. The following prices include a mandatory $1,450 destination fee and are correct as of June 2026. (Manufacturers sometimes change a vehicle’s pricing over the course of a model year.) The front-wheel-drive gas LX trim starts at $32,370, while the base hybrid trim, the Sport, costs $4,710 more at $37,080. The lineup tops out at $44,000 for the top Sport Touring hybrid.
CR-V
- LX: $32,370
- EX: $34,600
- EX-L: $36,850
CR-V Hybrid
- Sport: $37,080
- TrailSport: $40,250
- Sport-L: $40,175
- Sport Touring: $44,000
Trims and Features
The Honda Sensing safety suite comes standard and includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure steering assist, road-sign recognition, traffic jam assist and automatic high-beam headlights. The EX and higher trims add blind spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert, while the EX-L, Sport-L and Sport Touring also get front and rear parking sensors.
LX
The entry-level LX comes standard with cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, a 9-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, push-button start, a four-speaker audio system, LED exterior lighting and 17-inch steel wheels.
EX and EX-L
Moving up to the EX brings a power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient interior lighting, two more speakers, keyless entry, remote start, a moonroof and 18-inch aluminum wheels. The EX-L adds leather upholstery, a power front passenger seat, 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, eight-speaker audio system and power liftgate.
Sport, Sport-L and TrailSport (Hybrid)
In addition to the hybrid powertrain, the Sport adds a Wi-Fi hot spot, black exterior trim and 18-inch wheels. Otherwise, the Sport and Sport-L carry the same equipment as the EX and EX-L, respectively. The TrailSport adds standard all-wheel drive, unique interior and exterior trim, a heated steering wheel, gray 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, but no off-road fortifications beyond that — the TrailSport is predominantly an appearance package.
Sport Touring (Hybrid)
At the top of the range, the Sport Touring comes with a heated steering wheel, Google Built-In for the infotainment system, 12-speaker Bose audio system, hands-free power liftgate, rain-sensing windshield wipers and black 19-inch wheels.
Powertrains and Fuel Economy
Gas-only CR-Vs are powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 190 horsepower and 179 pounds-feet of torque. It’s mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission and offered with FWD or AWD. Hybrid CR-Vs use a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a pair of electric motors, also with FWD or AWD. The system combines to produce 204 hp and 247 pounds-feet of torque, and it also uses a CVT. Where it’s available, AWD adds $1,500.
All CR-Vs are efficient, but the hybrids really stand out. With FWD, the gas-only CR-V earns an EPA-rated 28/33/30 mpg city/highway/combined, while AWD versions are rated 27/31/29 mpg. The hybrid is rated 43/36/40 mpg with FWD and 40/34/37 mpg with AWD. The TrailSport’s all-terrain tires hurt its fuel economy slightly, leaving it with a 38/33/35 mpg rating.
| Trim | Powertrain | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined MPG |
| FWD | 1.5-liter | 28 | 33 | 30 |
| AWD | 1.5-liter | 27 | 31 | 29 |
| FWD | 2.0-liter hybrid | 43 | 36 | 40 |
| AWD | 2.0-liter hybrid | 40 | 34 | 37 |
| AWD TrailSport | 2.0-liter hybrid | 38 | 33 | 35 |
Interior
The CR-V comes standard with cloth upholstery and manually adjustable front seats in its base LX trim, but all other trims get a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. A four-way power front passenger seat is added to EX-L, Sport-L and Sport Touring trims, and those trims also get leather upholstery. Heated front seats are standard in every model but the LX. The TrailSport and Sport Touring also get a heated steering wheel.
The CR-V’s backseat is roomy, with a generous 41 inches of legroom, according to Honda’s measurements. Three adults can fit in the backseat, though probably not very comfortably.
Cargo space is a CR-V strength. According to Honda’s measurements, gas models have 39.3 cubic feet of space behind the backseat and 76.5 cubic feet with the rear seatbacks folded flat. With the hybrid powertrain, those figures drop to 36.3 and 71.8 cubic feet, respectively, to make room for the battery beneath the floor.
Versus the Competition
The CR-V appeals with its roomy interior, controlled handling and available hybrid powertrain. The Toyota RAV4 is the CR-V’s main competitor; it was redesigned for 2026 and now comes exclusively with hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. The Hyundai Tucson offers gas-only, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains; it comes loaded with safety features and boasts a class-leading warranty. The Volkswagen Tiguan is available with a more powerful turbo engine than you can get in any CR-V, and it drives just as well. In its higher trims, the Tiguan’s cabin also looks and feels more upscale than the CR-V’s. Every class rival is available with a larger infotainment touchscreen than the CR-V’s 9-inch screen.
Do We Like the Honda CR-V?
The 2026 CR-V is an excellent compact SUV. It finished second out of eight contenders in our 2026 Compact SUV Challenge, finishing behind only the Tiguan. We like the CR-V’s well-rounded character, including its interior comfort, ride quality and, in the hybrid models, efficiency. The CR-V should be on any compact SUV buyer’s shopping list.
