Model research hub
Honda CR-V
MotorTrend says for 2026 Honda applies appealing changes to the CR-V Hybrid, and that now that the automaker has upgraded the CR-V Hybrid's tech for 2026, it's addressed MotorTrend's main complaint, noting that for its first TrailSport models Honda went big, but for 2026 it's going small, and hybrid. Consumer Reports says Honda completely redesigned the CR-V Hybrid for 2023, adding new standard safety features and more comfort, and that ride comfort has improved, the controls are easier to use, and the hybrid gets the same excellent 35 mpg overall as the previous model even while gaining size and weight, boasting a 9-mpg advantage over the conventional model with a more pleasant and predictable powertrain. Car and Driver reviews the 2026 CR-V Hybrid alongside compact rivals like the Civic, which caters to just about everyone in sedan or hatchback form, with or without a hybrid powertrain.
2026 tech upgrades and a smaller TrailSport
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says for 2026 Honda applies appealing changes to the CR-V Hybrid, and that now that the automaker has upgraded the CR-V Hybrid's tech for 2026, it's addressed MotorTrend's main complaint, noting that for its first TrailSport models Honda went big, but for 2026 it's going small, and hybrid.
A 9-mpg hybrid advantage
Consumer Reports (opens in a new tab) says Honda completely redesigned the CR-V Hybrid for 2023, adding new standard safety features and more comfort, and that ride comfort has improved, controls are easier to use, and the hybrid gets the same excellent 35 mpg overall as the previous model even while gaining size and weight, boasting a 9-mpg advantage over the conventional CR-V with a more pleasant and predictable powertrain.
Compared to Honda's other compacts
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) reviews the 2026 CR-V Hybrid alongside compact rivals like the Civic, which caters to just about everyone in sedan or hatchback form, with or without a hybrid powertrain.
Questions buyers ask
What is the fuel economy of the Honda CR-V Hybrid?
Consumer Reports (opens in a new tab) says 35 mpg overall, a 9-mpg advantage over the conventional CR-V.
What's new on the 2026 Honda CR-V Hybrid?
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says upgraded tech and a new, smaller hybrid TrailSport model.
Research map
Every major decision path.
Gas trims produce 190 horsepower. Hybrid trims have 204 total system horsepower.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2026 U.S. lineup has 7 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityHonda lists 1,500 pounds for gas trims and 1,000 pounds for hybrid trims.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA recalls, complaints and crash ratings for the 2026 CR-V.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2026 Honda CR-V
The 2026 Honda CR-V uses two distinct powertrain families. LX, EX and EX-L use a 190-horsepower 1.5-liter turbo engine, while Sport Hybrid, TrailSport Hybrid, Sport-L Hybrid and Sport Touring Hybrid use a 204-horsepower hybrid system. Real Time AWD is available broadly and standard on TrailSport Hybrid and Sport Touring Hybrid.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
4 indexed Honda CR-V model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Honda CR-V | 2027 record → | |
| 2026 Honda CR-V | 2 | 2026 record → |
| 2025 Honda CR-V | 2025 record → | |
| 2017 Honda CR-V | 2017 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Honda CR-V.
The Honda CR-V (also sold as the Honda Breeze in China since 2019) is a compact crossover SUV manufactured by Japanese automaker Honda since 1995. Initial models of the CR-V were built using the same platform as the Civic. Honda began producing the CR-V in Japan and United Kingdom, for worldwide markets, adding North American manufacturing sites in the United States and Mexico in 2007, and Canada in 2012.
- Sales
- Honda CR-V overtook Ford F-series pickup and Toyota RAV4 to be the best selling vehicle in the US in the first half of 2026.
- Safety
- The 1997–2001 model tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIFHS) was the LX model with standard driver and passenger airbags. The car's structure received an acceptable rating, and the overall car received a marginal rating — as the dummy's left leg would have been broken.
- Engines
- The second generation CR-V, which went on sale on 13 November 2001, was a full redesign, based on the seventh generation Civic, and powered by the K24A1 engine, or the K20A4 engine in Southeast Asia.
- Engine
- The fourth generation CR-V concept debuted at the Orange County International Auto Show in September 2011, the production 2012 CR-V debuted at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show. The CR-V went on sale in the U.S. on 15 December 2011.
Source: Honda CR-V (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Honda CR-V at a glance
- Production
- 1995–present
- Class
- Compact crossover SUV (C)
- Body style
- 5-door SUV
- Layout
- Front-engine, front-wheel-drive, Front-engine, four-wheel-drive
- Chassis
- Unibody
- Predecessor
- Honda Crossroad, Honda Civic Shuttle Beagle 4WD
- Also called
- Honda Breeze (China, 2019–present)
NHTSA rated the 2025 Honda CR-V overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 4 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.
Recent recalls (2 campaigns across the latest model years)
- October 2024, Steering. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Acura Integra, Civic Type R, CR-V Hybrid, CR-V, HR-V, 2022-2025 Civic, Civic Hatchback, 2024-2025 Acura Integra Type S, 2025 CR-V Fuel Cell EV, Civic Hybrid, and Civic Hatchback Hybrid vehicles. The steering gearbox… Consequence: Difficulty steering can increase the risk of a crash.
- July 2024, Tires:Markings. Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2024 CR-V vehicles. The tire identification number (TIN) is missing the four-digit date code. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 139, "New Pneumatic… Consequence: An owner whose TIN information is missing may not recognize that their vehicle is involved in a safety recall and continue to drive on recalled tires, increasing the risk of…
Owners filed 248 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Honda CR-V, most often about steering (51), unknown or other (50), forward collision avoidance (40).
Year by year
The Honda CR-V across 13 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Honda CR-V | 29–40 | $1,600–$2,250 | 5 | |||
| 2026 Honda CR-V | 29–40 | $1,550–$2,150 | 6 | 0 | 5 stars | |
| 2025 Honda CR-V | 28–40 | $1,550–$2,250 | 5 | 1 | 243 | 5 stars |
| 2024 Honda CR-V | 29–40 | $1,550–$2,150 | 4 | 2 | 383 | 5 stars |
| 2023 Honda CR-V | 29–40 | $1,550–$2,150 | 4 | 3 | 516 | 5 stars |
| 2022 Honda CR-V | 29–38 | $1,650–$2,150 | 3 | 3 | 253 | 5 stars |
| 2021 Honda CR-V | 29–38 | $1,650–$2,150 | 3 | 4 | 326 | 5 stars |
| 2020 Honda CR-V | 29–38 | $1,650–$2,150 | 3 | 7 | 351 | 5 stars |
| 2019 Honda CR-V | 27–30 | $2,100–$2,300 | 4 | 8 | 1,088 | 5 stars |
| 2018 Honda CR-V | 27–30 | $2,100–$2,300 | 4 | 5 | 2,128 | 5 stars |
| 2017 Honda CR-V | 27–30 | $2,100–$2,300 | 4 | 7 | 1,759 | 5 stars |
| 2016 Honda CR-V | 27–29 | $2,150–$2,300 | 2 | 3 | 391 | 5 stars |
| 2015 Honda CR-V | 28–29 | $2,150–$2,250 | 2 | 3 | 669 | 4 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Honda CR-V, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Electric range, miles | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 to 2027 | 6 to 5 | Labels: CR-V e-FCEV; Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI; Hybrid;, Electric motor / not listed; Transmissions: Automatic (A1); Fuels: Electricity and Hydrogen | |||
| 2025 to 2026 | 5 to 6 | 34.0 to 34.5 | Labels: CR-V AWD TrailSport; Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI; Hybrid;; Size classes: Midsize Station Wagons | Size classes: Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | |
| 2024 to 2025 | 4 to 5 | 34.5 to 34.0 | first listed: 29 | Labels: CR-V e-FCEV; Engines: Electric motor / not listed; Transmissions: Automatic (A1); Fuels: Electricity and Hydrogen | |
| 2023 to 2024 | Labels: CR-V Hybrid AWD, CR-V Hybrid FWD | ||||
| 2022 to 2023 | 3 to 4 | 33.5 to 34.5 | Labels: CR-V Hybrid FWD; Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI; Hybrid | Engines: 2L 4-cyl Hybrid | |
| 2019 to 2020 | 4 to 3 | 28.5 to 33.5 | Labels: CR-V Hybrid AWD; Engines: 2L 4-cyl Hybrid | Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl SIDI | |
| 2016 to 2017 | 2 to 4 | 28.0 to 28.5 | Labels: CR-V AWD, CR-V FWD; Engines: 1.5L 4-cyl SIDI | Labels: CR-V 2WD, CR-V 4WD | |
| 2015 to 2016 | 28.5 to 28.0 |
Buying used
What the Honda CR-V recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | steering | None |
| 2024 | 2 | tires (markings); steering | None |
| 2023 | 3 | seats (front assembly); fuel system, gasoline (delivery); steering | None |
| 2022 | 3 | equipment (other); fuel system, gasoline (delivery); air bags (sensor) | None |
| 2021 | 4 | seat belts (rear/other); fuel system, gasoline (delivery); air bags (sensor) | None |
| 2020 | 7 | structure (frame and members); fuel system, gasoline (storage); seat belts (front); 3 more | None |
| 2019 | 8 | air bags (frontal); fuel system, gasoline (storage); equipment (other); 4 more | None |
| 2018 | 5 | steering (electric power assist system); fuel system, gasoline (delivery); seat belts (front); 1 more | None |
| 2017 | 7 | equipment (other); fuel system, gasoline (delivery); steering (electric power assist system); 2 more | None |
| 2016 | 3 | air bags (frontal); engine; fuel system, gasoline (delivery) | None |
| 2015 | 3 | engine and engine cooling; engine; fuel system, gasoline (delivery) | None |
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | 1,652 | 20% | 2017 (529) |
| steering | 1,407 | 17% | 2023 (324) |
| forward collision avoidance | 1,300 | 16% | 2018 (392) |
| electrical system | 1,157 | 14% | 2017 (398) |
| unknown or other | 1,040 | 13% | 2017 (265) |
| fuel/propulsion system | 1,033 | 13% | 2018 (369) |
Trim by trim
Every 2026 Honda CR-V trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LX | AWD | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 190 | 179 | 3,591 | 1,500 | 28 | $32,370 |
| EX | AWD | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 190 | 179 | 3,616 | 1,500 | 28 | $34,600 |
| EX-L | AWD | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 190 | 179 | 3,635 | 1,500 | 28 | $36,850 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2026 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Honda CR-V model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 190 | 3,591–3,635 | 1,500 | 14 |
| 2025 | 3 | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 190 | 3,591–3,635 | 1,500 | 14 |
| 2024 | 3 | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 190 | 3,591–3,635 | 1,500 | 14 |
| 2023 | 3 | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 190 | 3,591–3,635 | 1,500 | 14 |
| 2022 | 5 | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 190 | 3,455–3,569 | 1,500 | 14 |
| 2021 | 5 | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 190 | 3,455–3,569 | 1,500 | 14 |
| 2020 | 4 | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 190 | 3,455–3,569 | 1,500 | 14 |
| 2019 | 4 | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (i-VTEC) / 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 184–190 | 3,421–3,512 | 1,500 | 14 |
| 2018 | 5 | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (i-VTEC) / 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 184–190 | 3,421–3,512 | 1,500 | 14 |
| 2017 | 5 | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (i-VTEC) | 184–190 | 3,421–3,512 | 1,500 | 14 |
| 2016 | 5 | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (i-VTEC) | 185 | 3,479–3,624 | 1,500 | 15.3 |
| 2015 | 4 | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (i-VTEC) | 185 | 3,479–3,624 | 1,500 | 15.3 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Owning it
Oil, fluid and wheel-nut figures for the Honda CR-V.
| Model year | Engine oil | Brake fluid | Wheel-nut torque | A/C refrigerant | Key-fob battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0W-20 (3.7 qt) CR-V; 0W-20 (4.2 qt) CR-V Hybrid | – | 80 lb-ft | R-1234yf | CR2032 |
| 2025 | 3.7 qt | – | 80 lb-ft | R-1234yf | CR2032 |
| 2024 | 3.7 qt | – | 80 lb-ft | R-1234yf | CR2032 |
| 2023 | 3.7 qt | – | 80 lb-ft | R-1234yf | CR2032 |
| 2022 | – | – | 80 lb-ft | – | – |
| 2021 | – | – | 80 lb-ft | – | – |
| 2020 | – | – | 80 lb-ft | – | – |
| 2019 | – | – | 80 lb-ft | – | – |
| 2018 | – | – | 80 lb-ft | – | – |
| 2017 | – | – | 80 lb-ft | – | – |
| 2016 | – | – | 80 lb-ft | – | – |
| 2015 | – | – | – | – | – |
Source: the manufacturer's owner's manual for each model year. A dash means that year's manual gave no single value for it, for instance one that lists two oil grades or two key types.
Model-year recall record
Honda CR-V: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
Fewer recalls than this model’s own average
- 2026 Honda CR-V : 0 recalls on file (average across published years is 3.8).
- 2025 Honda CR-V : 1 recall on file (average across published years is 3.8).
More recalls than this model’s own average
- 2020 Honda CR-V : 7 recalls on file, most commonly affecting fuel system and airbags.
- 2019 Honda CR-V : 8 recalls on file, most commonly affecting fuel system and airbags.
- 2017 Honda CR-V : 7 recalls on file, most commonly affecting fuel system and equipment.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | not available | |
| 2025 | 1 | 243 | steering |
| 2024 | 2 | 383 | tires, steering |
| 2023 | 3 | 516 | seats, fuel system, steering |
| 2022 | 3 | 253 | equipment, fuel system, airbags |
| 2021 | 4 | 326 | airbags, seat belts, fuel system |
| 2020 | 7 | 351 | fuel system, airbags, structure, seat belts |
| 2019 | 8 | 1088 | fuel system, airbags, structure, equipment |
| 2018 | 5 | 2128 | fuel system, steering, seat belts, airbags |
| 2017 | 7 | 1759 | fuel system, equipment, steering, seat belts |
| 2016 | 3 | 391 | engine, airbags, fuel system |
| 2015 | 3 | 669 | engine, engine cooling, fuel system |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Honda CR-V model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Honda CR-V?
Recall count alone can't answer that: it says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record. What federal data can say: 2026, 2025 carried fewer recalls than this model's own average, while 2020, 2019, 2017 carried more. See the model-year table on this page for the exact counts and what they cover.
Q02Which Honda CR-V model years should I watch for recalls?
The 2020 Honda CR-V has 7 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting fuel system, airbags, structure; The 2019 Honda CR-V has 8 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting fuel system, airbags, structure; The 2017 Honda CR-V has 7 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting fuel system, equipment, steering. Always confirm the open/completed status of every campaign for the specific VIN: a recall on this list may already be repaired on the vehicle in front of you.
Q03Which Honda CR-V model years have the cleanest federal recall record?
The 2026 Honda CR-V has 0 recalls on file; The 2025 Honda CR-V has 1 recall on file: below this model's own average of 3.8. A shorter list on file as of this page's data pull is not a guarantee against a future recall.
Q04What are common recall-related problems on the Honda CR-V by model year?
2025: steering. 2024: tires, steering. 2023: seats, fuel system, steering. 2022: equipment, fuel system, airbags. 2021: airbags, seat belts, fuel system. 2020: fuel system, airbags, structure, seat belts.
Q05Why do some Honda CR-V model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Honda CR-V model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Engine and cooling, Buying, records and recalls, Brakes, tires and steering.
2020 Honda CR-V owners specifically: see Engine and cooling and Buying, records and recalls.
2019 Honda CR-V owners specifically: see Engine and cooling and Buying, records and recalls.
2017 Honda CR-V owners specifically: see Engine and cooling and Buying, records and recalls and Brakes, tires and steering.
Trim ladder
2 Honda CR-V trims, each with its own page.
Compared with
Models this Honda CR-V is most often compared with.
Nearest Honda models
Other Honda models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How much horsepower does the 2026 Honda CR-V have?
Gas trims produce 190 horsepower. Hybrid trims have 204 total system horsepower.
Q02Which 2026 CR-V trims are hybrids?
Sport Hybrid, TrailSport Hybrid, Sport-L Hybrid and Sport Touring Hybrid use the 204-horsepower hybrid system.
Q03Is AWD standard on the 2026 CR-V?
Not across the entire lineup. AWD is available on most trims and standard on TrailSport Hybrid and Sport Touring Hybrid.
Q04How much can the 2026 CR-V tow?
Honda lists 1,500 pounds for gas trims and 1,000 pounds for hybrid trims.
Q05Does every 2026 CR-V have wireless phone integration?
Honda lists wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility across the 2026 trim comparison.