New Honda CR-V: A Narrative Comparison in the Compact-SUV Arena

The result is a stance that feels midsize even though it still fits city parking spaces. Inside, the dash borrows the same honeycomb air-vent treatment used in the latest Civic, and the driver sits higher than before, securing a panoramic view of the road ahead. Buyers looking for the family-hauler edge will notice that the CR-V offers 39.3 cu-ft behind the rear seats, versus the Toyota RAV4’s 37.6 and Mazda CX-5’s 29.1. Honda also gives every trim standard walk-away auto-lock, dual-zone climate control and a digital instrument cluster, illustrating the brand’s habit of loading mainstream trims with near-luxury features.

Powertrain & Performance

Honda keeps the menu simple: a 1.5-liter turbocharged four making 190 hp and, on Sport and Sport Touring trims, a 2.0-liter hybrid system that bumps combined output to 204 hp. The non-hybrid CR-V feels adequate, but the hybrid’s instant electric torque makes merging and passing effortless, trimming the 0-60 mph dash to around 7.8 seconds—roughly a second quicker than a hybrid RAV4. Mazda’s CX-5 with the available 2.5-liter turbo does undercut that time at 6.6 seconds, but the trade-off is fuel economy.

Honda also retuned the suspension to be both softer in initial travel and firmer on big bumps, an approach that keeps body roll modest while absorbing rough pavement with grace. That duality is the reason many testers have praised the CR-V for feeling more supple than a RAV4 yet more composed than a Forester.

Efficiency & Emissions

Mileage is the big headline. Front-drive hybrids score an EPA-estimated 43 mpg city and 36 mpg highway, while AWD hybrids land at 40/34 mpg. Even the non-hybrid returns a respectable 30 mpg combined. Those numbers place the CR-V Hybrid at the top of the segment; only the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid slightly edges it on the highway. The official government calculator lists the AWD hybrid CR-V at 40 mpg city, 34 highway and 37 combined, besting every non-plug-in rival. The turbo CX-5 slumps to 25 combined, while the Rogue’s variable-compression three-cylinder posts a decent 33 combined.

Technology & Safety

Every CR-V now carries Honda Sensing 2.0, bundling lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise with low-speed follow, traffic-jam assist and traffic-sign recognition. It achieves a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, which awarded the model top scores in crash testing and an “Advanced” pedestrian-detection rating—facts cemented by the Institute’s official rating summary. A 7-inch touchscreen is standard; the 9-inch unit with wireless CarPlay/Android Auto is optional. By contrast, Mazda makes wireless CarPlay standard on most CX-5 trims, and Toyota hides its larger 10.5-inch screen behind a pricey tech-package wall.

For parents, the CR-V offers LATCH anchors with easy-access covers and ample door swing. Subaru Forester remains the go-to for maximum rear-door aperture, but Honda’s broad-opening portals make child-seat juggling less of a circus act.

Price & Value

Edmunds lists a starting MSRP of $30,850 for the LX, rising to $34,050 for the hybrid Sport and peaking at $39,500 for the Sport Touring with AWD—an out-the-door spread that under-cuts the average transaction price in this segment while bundling more equipment up front. Toyota RAV4 Hybrid starts at roughly the same money but jumps quickly with option packages. Mazda’s range-topping CX-5 Turbo Signature nudges $40K and still lacks a hybrid. Factor in Honda’s historically strong resale value and lower maintenance costs, and the CR-V shows its pragmatic side.

Tabular Snapshot: Honda CR-V vs. Key Rivals (2024 MY)

Metric	Honda CR-V Hybrid (AWD)	Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (AWD)	Mazda CX-5 Turbo (AWD)	Subaru Forester (AWD)	Nissan Rogue VC-Turbo (AWD)
Power (hp)	204	219	256	182	201
0-60 mph (sec)	7.8	7.9	6.6	8.5	8.0
EPA Combined MPG	37	40	25	29	33
Cargo Behind 2nd Row (cu-ft)	39.3	37.6	29.1	29.6	36.5
Max Towing (lbs)	1,000	1,750	2,000	1,500	1,500
Base MSRP (Hybrid or Equiv.)	$34,050	$32,825	n/a (Hybrid not offered)	n/a (Hybrid not offered)	$30,540

Verdict

The new CR-V doesn’t swing for spec-sheet domination in every category; instead, it composes a well-rounded symphony of space, refinement, thrift and safety. Drivers who prioritize raw acceleration may gravitate toward Mazda, and those chasing the last drop of fuel economy might prefer a RAV4 Hybrid. Yet for shoppers wanting a family crossover that balances all virtues without glaring weakness, the Honda stays impossible to overlook. After spending time in each contender, one comes away sensing that the CR-V’s greatest talent is making nothing feel like a compromise—a trick that keeps it perched near the top of bestseller charts year after year.