2019 Honda CR-V Review
The 2019 Honda CR-V compact SUV carries over its top-selling performance across the United States and especially right here in Southern California.
I had our Professor, Clinton Quan, test drive one and he came back with the following Top-3 Favorites for the 2019 Honda CR-V:
2019 Honda CR-V | Top-3 Features
1) Engine – powerful.
2) Space – very roomy.
3) Ride – smooth & sporty.
For our complete report on Honda’s compact SUV click play below or continue reading and check out the pics. And you’ll understand why CR-V is such a big seller – and might just be right for you too!
You can listen to our complete podcast report by clicking play below or continue reading and check out the pictures from our review.
CR-V in Honda’s SUV Lineup
The Honda CR-V is currently one of the top 10 selling vehicles in the US. That makes it a sparkling gem in the crown of Honda’s recently added-to lineup of Crossover SUVs.
Honda’s lineup of Crossover SUVs includes:
- Full-size | Pilot
- Mid-sized | Passport (new in 2019)
- Compact | Honda CR-V
- Sub-compact | HR-V
The compact crossover segment has been hot in the automotive industry lately. And that helps support the large numbers of CR-Vs sold for Honda.
2019 Honda CR-V Review: Trim Levels
For the 2019 Honda CR-V, you have four primary trim levels. Here they are with the manufacturer’s suggested retail pricing:
- LX $24,250
- EX $27,050
- EX-L $29,550
- Touring $32,750
As we always point out. Don’t worry about MSRP because you need to get your Honda equipped to your specifications.
Sleek & sporty Honda CR-V driver’s profile.
Athletic Passenger-side ProfileA couple of extras we’d suggest adding would be the Honda CR-V branded rear seat covers and the cargo tray.
Whether you’re protecting your seats from sweaty gym bags, snacks being launched from child safety seats or wet dogs – we view these as a ‘must-have.’
The other ‘must-have’ add-on we suggest is the cargo tray. Whether its spilled groceries or messy trips to Home Depot – your cargo area needs protection.
2019 Compact SUV’s Engines, Transmission & Fuel Economy
The 2019 Honda CR-V LX comes with an inline 4-cylinder putting out 184-horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque.
The EX, EX-L, and Touring also come with an inline 4-cylinder but theirs is turbocharged and puts out 190-horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque.
All trim levels come with standard front-wheel drive. But also, across all trim levels, you have the option to add Honda’s Real Time All-Wheel Drive with Intelligent Control System.
Your fuel economy will depend on your trim, engine and transmission configuration. The 2019 Honda CR-V will deliver a range of 25-miles-per-gallon in the city and up to 34-mpg on the highway.
CR-V Exterior Review
The 2019 Honda CRV is a continuation and not a refresh.
It measures about 181 inches in length, so it’s pretty much right there in the compact segment- right where all the other compact vehicles are in this particular segment.
This car is no doubt a Honda CR-V, but it looks like it’s been hitting the gym.
It’s beefed up with a long, wide stance and some aggressive wheel designs. Ground clearance is 7.8 inches for front-wheel-drive (FWD) models and 8.2 inches for all-wheel drive (AWD).
Good to go ground clearance.
This is a great design if you’re an owner who contends with snow other rough weather.
It brings forth a really clean, modern contemporary look. But, it’s still mistakenly a Honda. A great-looking vehicle in terms of exterior design. The color we test drove was subtle but classy.
Inside Honda’s Compact SUV
The CR-V has a very spacious interior.
This was one of our favorite features of the CR-V. Undoubtedly space is another reason for its extreme popularity.
Ample backseat legroom.
The CR-V provides plenty of room inside for both people and all the stuff we carry around.
Even though it is a compact crossover, it’s got plenty of legroom upfront and in the back. And it can carry four adults very comfortably, even five for a short trip.
And even with five adults in the CR-V you still have 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space.
Break that down to carrying only two adults and, fold the back seats down, for a hefty 75.8 cu-ft of cargo space!
’19 CR-V cargo area
Whether your seats are up or down, the Honda CR-V offers plenty of smart and convenient storage areas to hide the little things thieves tend to look for.
Honda Sensing Technology & Safety
Remote engine start comes standard on the EX, EX-L, and Touring – all trims except the LX.
But even the LX, every CR-V, comes with LED daytime running lights. That’s a safety feature that also happens to look great too!
2019 Honda CR-V dash.
A minor detail that we truly appreciate in Honda vehicles is their Speed-Sensitive Volume Control.
It is, and functions, just as you’d imagine. And it’s been on Honda vehicles, seemingly forever. But we love its convenient simplicity.
2019 Honda CR-V center stack.
We drove a top-of-the-line Touring trimmed CR-V so it had all the whistles and bells.
Of course, there was Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. But also included was the Honda Sensing Driver Assist technology. That includes Collision Mitigation Braking, Road Departure Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, and Blind Spot Information System.
Navigation & touch screen.
And all of that plus a very solidly engineered vehicle helped to make the 2019 Honda CR-V a 2019 Top Safety Pick from The Insurance Institue for Highway Safety.
2019 Honda CR-V Review: Performance
Professor Quan’s test drive included the highways and rural roads with a bit of stop-and-go.
And the 2019 Honda CR-V was responsive and smooth throughout. The turbocharged inline 4-cylinder delivered plenty of power with strong acceleration and composed handling.
2019 Honda CR-V cockpit.
As the utility, in SUV (sport utility vehicle) suggests, the 2019 Honda CR-V is fit to serve many purposes.
If you’re driving needs are family-oriented then the CR-V has you covered. If you’re a single guy or gal who wants stylish space, then check-check again, this compact SUV is a great option.
The 2019 Honda CR-V is another one of those vehicles that begs the question of ‘who is it not for?’ rather than ‘who is it for?’
Top-3 Favorite Features | 2019 Honda CR-V Review
- Engine: The Touring CR-V we drove comes with that peppy, powerful 1.5-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine putting out 190-horsepower and 179-pound-feet of torque.
- Space: The CR-V has plenty of it! It probably has just as much space as most midsize sedans. It’ll carry four people very comfortably. Five if needed. And plenty of room for ‘stuff.’
- Ride: This car really is a triple threat. It brings forth a host of high-tech equipment, impressive fuel economy, yet still powerful with and is still fun to drive.
