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Honda CR-V

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Honda CR-V Review, For Sale, Colours, Interior, Models & Specs

The Honda CR-V was the Japanese company's first ever SUV, and it launched worldwide in 1996.

It's an important car for Honda sales wise, and it has served the company well over its first three generations. Locally, the fortunes of the brand have been on a downward trend, with the parent company still playing catch-up with model ranges after it reined in spending in the wake of the global financial crisis of the late-2000s. However, it has big plans for the fourth-generation CR-V, which ranges from range from $44,500 for the CR-V VTI X (2WD) 5 Seats to $60,400 for the CR-V E:hev RS (2WD) 5 Seats. Its main rivals include the Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson.

The line-up currently starts at $44,500 for the CR-V VTI X (2WD) 5 Seats and ranges through to $60,400 for the range-topping CR-V E:hev RS (2WD) 5 Seats.

Honda CR-V News

Popular family cars hit with four star safety rating: 2025 Honda CR-V and Honda ZR-V called out by ANCAP in a blow for the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and Corolla Cross Hybrid rivals

Popular family cars hit with four star safety rating: 2025 Honda CR-V and Honda ZR-V called out by ANCAP in a blow for the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and Corolla Cross Hybrid rivals

By S.amuel Irvine - 27 Aug 2024
Radical hydrogen-powered plug-in electric car coming in right-hand drive: 2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV Japan market launch makes Aussie arrival more likely for Hyundai Nexo and Toyota Mirai alternative

Radical hydrogen-powered plug-in electric car coming in right-hand drive: 2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV Japan market launch makes Aussie arrival more likely for Hyundai Nexo and Toyota Mirai alternative

By J.ames Cleary - 19 Jul 2024
Longer warranty for popular Japanese brand: Honda extends warranty to eight years on CR-V, Civic and more but, like Mitsubishi, there's a catch...

Longer warranty for popular Japanese brand: Honda extends warranty to eight years on CR-V, Civic and more but, like Mitsubishi, there's a catch...

By J.ohn Law - 17 Jul 2024
Top 5 things car makers fixed that weren't broken: from Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV9's  cameras and mirrors to Tesla Model Y's speedo and no spare wheels | Opinion

Top 5 things car makers fixed that weren't broken: from Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV9's cameras and mirrors to Tesla Model Y's speedo and no spare wheels | Opinion

By L.aura Berry - 14 Jul 2024
The world's most popular car revealed: Tesla Model Y electric car smashes the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V as the highest selling new car in 2023

The world's most popular car revealed: Tesla Model Y electric car smashes the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V as the highest selling new car in 2023

By J.ohn Law - 18 Jun 2024
Family SUVs now available with key safety features: 2024 Honda CR-V and ZR-V get new variants to battle Mitsubishi Outlander and Toyota RAV4

Family SUVs now available with key safety features: 2024 Honda CR-V and ZR-V get new variants to battle Mitsubishi Outlander and Toyota RAV4

By J.ohn Law - 6 Jun 2024
Cheaper Honda hybrids coming soon! More grades on the cards for Honda HR-V, ZR-V and CR-V SUVs to rival Hyundai Kona and Toyota RAV4 hybrid cars

Cheaper Honda hybrids coming soon! More grades on the cards for Honda HR-V, ZR-V and CR-V SUVs to rival Hyundai Kona and Toyota RAV4 hybrid cars

By T.im Nicholson - 7 May 2024
2025 Honda CR-V hydrogen plug-in hybrid revealed: Is this fuel-cell electric car the best Toyota RAV4 Hybrid alternative?

2025 Honda CR-V hydrogen plug-in hybrid revealed: Is this fuel-cell electric car the best Toyota RAV4 Hybrid alternative?

By L.aura Berry - 28 Feb 2024
Tim Nicholson's Top 5 cars for 2023: From the Honda CR-V to the Peugeot 308 and - wait, is that a Citroen?

Tim Nicholson's Top 5 cars for 2023: From the Honda CR-V to the Peugeot 308 and - wait, is that a Citroen?

By T.im Nicholson - 24 Dec 2023
See All Honda CR-V News

Honda CR-V Seats

The Honda CR-V is available in both five- and seven-seat layouts. The seats are wrapped in either cloth or leather accented fabric depending on specification. Top end variants have heated front seats, too.

Honda CR-V Seats

Honda CR-V Q&As

Check out real-world situations relating to the Honda CR-V here, particularly what our experts have to say about them.

  • Thinking about a Honda CR-V and its engine service life. Does the engine have a timing belt or chain?

    Is the engine in your Honda CR-V timing belt or chain? It depends on when the car was made, but it’s crucial information. That’s particularly so for owners of the first-gen CRVs we saw in Australia. That vehicle had the B Series Honda engine which used a rubber timing belt. The good news is that this has proved a very reliable set-up, and Honda recommends the belt be changed only every 150,000km which is a huge replacement interval by industry standards. A full kit to replace the timing belt on this engine, including a new water pump, will cost around $300 for the parts

    After that (from 2001 onwards) Honda fitted the K Series engine to CRVs, and this engine used a timing chain which should be good for the life of the engine. The R20A four-cylinder engine used from late 2012 also uses a timing chain, as does the turbo-diesel 2.2-litre engine from the same era. The current-model CR-V with its 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine (the L15B7) also uses a timing chain.

    The task of the timing chain or timing belt is exactly the same: They take drive from the engine’s crankshaft to the camshaft and, in the process, keep all the moving parts in harmony. Many car makers moved away from a timing chain to the rubber, toothed drive belt as a way of simplifying engine design and driving down the cost of each engine. The rubber timing belt is also quieter in its operation and is also less prone to stretching (as a timing chain can) so the camshaft (commonly referred to as the cam) stays in perfect synch with the rest of the engine’s rotating parts. The rubber timing belt is a simpler design because it doesn’t need to be tensioned via oil pressure from the engine as many timing chain systems are.

    The timing chain, meanwhile, is preferred by some manufacturers because it should last the lifetime of the engine and never need replacement. This isn’t always the case, however, and some engines designs from a variety of manufacturers suffer problems in this regard. But, in a properly maintained engine of sound design, the timing chain should never need attention, while the rubber timing belt generally requires periodic replacement.

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  • What's wrong with my 2006 Honda CR-V engine?

    The engines in these Hondas are considered pretty solid and reliable performers. But as with any car now celebrating its 15th birthday, things can go wrong that can affect performance. With that in mind it could be time to give the engine a comprehensive once-over and a full service. Having the car electronically interrogated would be a good idea, too, as any faults noted by the on-board computer will have been logged and could tell you a lot about that’s going on under the bonnet. Just because the car hasn’t illuminated a dashboard warning light, doesn’t mean that the computer hasn’t noticed something strange going on.

    The problem is obviously an intermittent one (or the car would never run properly) and that really does point towards something electronic. That said, a good mechanic will also go back to first principles checking things like fuel delivery, ignition timing and even engine compression.

    Any information you can gather when the problem occurs will help enormously, too. For instance, does the engine blow smoke or make any odd noises when it loses power? Does the car shudder or suddenly start using more fuel when the problem occurs? The more observations you can pass on to a mechanic the better idea he or she will have of where to start searching. Fundamentally, you could be looking at anything from a collapsed catalytic converter or muffler, a faulty fuel pump or injector, a damaged spark-plug lead or literally any one of about a thousand other things.

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  • What's the correct oil type for my Honda CR-V, and is it tricky to change it yourself?

    The best Honda CR-V engine oil will depend on which engine your car is fitted with. From 2007, Honda used a 2.4-litre four-cylinder and, even though the model was facelifted in 2012, the engine stayed the same. In that case, the oil you need is a quality (from a recognised brand) 5W40 either synthetic or semi-synthetic. From 2012 to 2017, the CR-V was also available with a two-litre petrol engine option, and that unit requires a 0W20 as the first choice but a 5W30 is also allowable for engines that size.

    If your car is the later model, things get a bit more complicated as there were new engine options including a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel which needs a diesel-specific 0W30 synthetic oil. If you have the later 1.6-litre turbo-diesel replacement which arrived here from late 2015, the same 0W30 oil is appropriate, as is a 5W30 synthetic. These `light’ (low viscosity) oils are typical for high-tech engines such as the Honda’s with its variable valve timing.

    Honda made continual changes to the CR-V range over the years, including some model and specification revisions for the 2016 model year, but none of these affected the range of engines (or Honda CR-V oil type) we’ve just discussed. Late model CR-Vs with a petrol engine require five litres (or slightly less) of oil, while the turbo-diesel models need 4.7 litres.

    Just as there’s a correct Honda CRV oil, the correct Honda CR-V oil filter should also be fitted at the same time to avoid putting clean oil through an old, dirty filter. For the 2.4 petrol, the correct filter is a Ryco (or equivalent) Z411, as is the filter for the two-litre petrol. The 2.2-litre diesel requires an R2767P filter while the 1.6 diesel uses a Z690.

    There are no mysterious trade secrets about how to change oil on a Honda CR-V, but you do need to know the basics. Changing oil and oil filter at home is a great DIY project and a good way to save some money and gain some satisfaction. The best advice is to obtain a workshop manual specific to your car and take it step by step. The manual will also include all the information and specifications you need to tackle other DIY service and maintenance jobs including checking power steering and transmission fluid. The manual will also give you information on how often to change the oil as well as the check and service intervals for the car’s other systems. That way, you won’t be relying on a warning light on the dashboard to tell you that action is needed.

    If you have any doubts, there’s always the option of taking the vehicle to a service centre, but even talking to a family friend who is a mechanic might give you the confidence to give this task a go. Changing a car’s oil is not tricky, but there are things you must remember, including disposing of the used oil in an environmentally responsible way.

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  • Why is the plastic around the gear shift on my 2019 Honda CR-V deforming?

    Plastic interior components in Japanese and European cars were once very susceptible to early failures in terms of cracking, peeling, discolouring and warping. The problem was that the manufacturers from these markets had an utter lack of understanding of Australian levels of UV radiation and heat cycles and, as a result, their plastic interiors soon disintegrated. Things soon changed for the better, however, and modern cars have very resilient interior fittings.

    However, that makes it even stranger that your car should be exhibiting this problem. I’s not something that we’ve seen across a wide cross-section of CR-V vehicles, so maybe it’s a one-off manufacturing fault. Perhaps the plastic trim piece you refer to was damaged when it was fitted at the factory and has gradually become worse with age. Either way, it should be a simple warranty repair for your local dealership. Replacing the trim piece with a new one is the answer as the damaged part probably can’t be repaired economically.

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See All Honda CR-V Q&As
Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.

Honda CR-V Dimensions

The dimensions of the Honda CR-V SUV vary according to year of manufacture and spec level.

Year Body Type Height x Width x Length Ground Clearance
2024 SUV 1681x1866x4704 mm 198 mm
2023 SUV 1679x1855x4635 mm 198 mm
2022 SUV 1679x1855x4635 mm 198 mm
2021 SUV 1679x1855x4635 mm 198 mm
2020 SUV 1679x1855x4596 mm 198 mm
The dimensions shown above are for the base model. See All Honda CR-V Dimensions

Honda CR-V Colours

Metallic blue, red, silver, grey and pearlescent white and black.

  • Canyon River Blue Metallic
  • Crystal Black Pearl
  • Lunar Silver Metallic
  • Meteorite Gray Metallic
  • Platinum White Pearl
  • Radiant Red Metallic
  • Still Night Pearl
  • Urban Gray Pearl
To confirm current colour availability, please check the manufacturer's website.

Honda CR-V Accessories

The CR-V comes with either 17-, 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels. All grades have LED headlights with cornering lights reserved for the range-topping RS.

Five seat variants have dual zone air con and seven-seat versions have three zone climate control. All examples have a 9.0-inch multimedia screen and top-end grades pair this with a 10.2-inch fully digital display.

Every CR-V has a wireless device charger and only the lowest spec VTi X goes without front seat heaters. A panoramic sunroof is available on several grades. The VTi LX and RS gain a 12-speaker Bose stereo over the unbranded eight-speaker unit found in the rest of the range.

Honda CR-V Accessories

Honda CR-V Interior

The CR-V has a spacious and well thought out cabin. There are high-quality materials used throughout and there are some nice touches such as the lattice work bar along the dash that hides the aircon vents.

The CR-V interior is spacious for its class with lots of head and leg room in both rows. It also has a big boot and top-end grades have a power tailgate.

Honda CR-V Interior

Honda CR-V Towing Capacity

The Honda CR-V has maximum towing capacity of 1500kg for the latest model available.

Year Body Type Braked Capacity from Braked Capacity to
2024 SUV 750kg 1500kg
2023 SUV 750kg 1500kg
2022 SUV 1000kg 1500kg
2021 SUV 1000kg 1500kg
2020 SUV 1000kg 1500kg
See All Towing Capacity for Honda CR-V

Honda CR-V Wheel Size

The Honda CR-V has a number of different wheel and tyre options. When it comes to tyres, these range from 235x65 R17 1 for SUV in 2024.

Year Body Type Front Tyre Size Front Rim Rear Tyre Size Rear Rim
2024 SUV 235x65 R17 1 235x65 R17 1
2023 SUV 235x65 R17 1 235x65 R17 1
2022 SUV 235x65 R17 1 235x65 R17 1
2021 SUV 235x65 R17 1 235x65 R17 1
2020 SUV 235x65 R17 17x7.5 inches 235x65 R17 17x7.5 inches
The dimensions shown above are for the base model. See All Honda CR-V Wheel Sizes

Honda CR-V Boot Space

The CR-V has a 589L boot for petrol five seat versions, 510L for petrol seven seat versions and 581L for the five seat hybrid grade.

This is above average for a mid-size SUV and the CR-V has a large boot opening and low lip to make loading cargo easier.

Honda CR-V Boot space Honda CR-V Boot space

Honda CR-V Fuel Consumption

The Honda CR-V is available in a number of variants and body types that are powered by — and ULP fuel type(s). It has an estimated fuel consumption starting from 7.1L/100km for SUV /— for the latest year the model was manufactured.

Year Body Type Fuel Consumption* Engine Fuel Type Transmission
2024 SUV 7.1L/100km 1.5L CVT AUTO
2023 SUV 7.6L/100km 2.0L CVT AUTO
2023 SUV 7.6L/100km 2.0L ULP CVT AUTO
2022 SUV 7.3L/100km 1.5L CVT AUTO
2022 SUV 7.6L/100km 2.0L ULP CVT AUTO
2021 SUV 7.6L/100km 2.0L ULP CVT AUTO
2020 SUV 7.3L/100km 1.5L CVT AUTO
2020 SUV 7.6L/100km 2.0L ULP CVT AUTO
* Combined fuel consumption See All Honda CR-V Pricing and Specs for 2024

Honda CR-V Engine

Petrol versions use a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine that makes 140kW and 240Nm matched to an automatic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). Four variants are front-wheel drive, two bring all-wheel drive grip.

The hybrid version uses a non-turbo 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor combining for a stout 135kW and 335Nm.

Honda CR-V Engine

Honda CR-V Models Price and Specs

The price range for the Honda CR-V varies based on the trim level you choose. Starting at $44,500 and going to $60,400 for the latest year the model was manufactured. The model range is available in the following body types starting from the engine/transmission specs shown below.

Year Body Type Specs Price from Price to
2024 SUV 1.5L, —, CVT AUTO $44,500 $60,400
2023 SUV 1.5L, —, CVT AUTO $65,120
2022 SUV 2.0L, ULP, CVT AUTO $31,570 $58,080
2021 SUV 1.5L, ULP, CVT AUTO $27,940 $56,100
2020 SUV 1.5L, —, CVT AUTO $24,420 $47,960
See All Honda CR-V Pricing and Specs

Honda CR-V Speed

Honda does not quote any 0-100km/h time but expect a figure of around 8.0sec. It is a family SUV not a performance car but feels zippy by comparison to its rivals. Top speed is around 190km/h.

Honda CR-V Range

All CR-V variants have a 57-litre fuel tank and all only require 91Ron petrol. Fuel use is between 7.1-7.7L/100km for the petrol versions depending on specification and 5.5L/100km for the hybrid e:HEV RS.

The CR-V petrol has a theoretical driving range of between 704-802km and the hybrid can drive up to 1036km on a single tank.