The 2022 Honda CR-V won't accelerate anyone's heartrate, but its capacious interior and fuel-efficient powertrains make it a compelling compact crossover. In fact, it's one of our favorites. The Honda isn't necessarily fun to drive, and neither its standard turbocharged gas engine nor the hybrid model qualifies as quick, but it steers and stops without any fuss.
Its ride is also relaxing on long hauls, just go easy on the gas to avoid the base engine's noisy drone. Family road trips will also require fewer fill-ups than many other SUVs thanks to the CR-V's noteworthy fuel economy. A host of standard active safety features and popular tech options help it compete with newer rivals. While the 2022 CR-V isn't the flashiest or classiest in this hotly contested segment, it's still one of the most satisfying and talented entrants.
There are no changes to the CR-V lineup for the 2022 model year. However, we've captured some spy photos of the next generation, which is expected to debut as a 2023 model. Along with a cleaner design and the potential for a third row, the next CR-V will likely offer a gas-only and a hybrid powertrain. An all-electric model could also be in the works.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Honda did its homework planting its first turbocharged engine a 1.5-liter unit that makes 190 horsepower in a CR-V and pairing it with one of the best continuously variable automatic transmissions (CVTs) available praise we don’t give lightly.
While most compact crossovers have meager towing limits, the CR-V has one of the lowest at 1500 pounds. Any parent moonlighting as a street racer might be disappointed with the CR-V’s acceleration. On the other hand, they along with everyone else will appreciate its refined ride, enthusiastic steering, and strong brakes.
The composed and compliant ride of the CR-V makes for pleasant commutes, long or short. Its responsive brake pedal means you receive the stopping power you want when you ask for it. The CR-V hybrid is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and two electric motors that combine for 212 horsepower.
We found the hybrid system to be smooth and unobtrusive, and we appreciated that Honda mitigated engine drone at wide-open throttle by adding sound-deadening materials and giving the audio system an active noise-cancelling feature. This provided a much quieter experience than the base engine, which was one of the loudest in its class when matting the gas pedal.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The CR-V is available with two engine choices that are frugal when it comes to consuming fuel. The front-drive, gas-only model is rated at 28 mpg city and 34 highway; all-wheel-drive models are rated at 27 mpg city and 32 highway. We tested a CR-V with all-wheel drive on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, and it earned 28 mpg.
The hybrid CR-V is estimated to earn 40 mpg city and 35 highway. However, the Toyota RAV4 hybrid is rated at 41/38 mpg city/highway. In our real-world testing, the hybrid Honda earned 32 mpg on the highway, but the Toyota beat it by 5 mpg (37 total).
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The Honda also comes standard with a suite of driver-assistance technology to help prevent collisions from happening in. For more information about the CR-V's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.
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