2024 HONDA CR-V SUV REVIEW: WHICH MODEL AND TRIM SHOULD YOU BUY?

In years gone by, I was perhaps a little more adventurous in my choices on long road trips. I will never forget the time that I drove the ND Mazda MX-5 to Ottawa — I pictured myself carving up the backroads of Eastern Ontario with the sun shining and wind ruffling my hair. Alas, I was on a tighter schedule than planned and ended up spending hours on the 401 and then 416, the sun baking my scalp and the wind and tire noise forcing me to crank the volume up to maximum, and barely a curve to enjoy until the return trip. Granted, the return trip was much more rewarding, but when a recent trip to Pembroke in the Ottawa Valley came up, I was determined not to repeat the same mistakes and to drive a car that would be efficient, comfortable and practical for all the family duties it would need to serve during the remainder of the week. Enter the 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid .

To top it off, I spotted the gasoline-only CR-V Sport in Honda’s lineup, and knew that I needed to see how the Hybrid compared to the tried and tested CR-V millions of Canadians have come to know and love. It was easy to understand why the CR-V has become so popular over the generations, with a spacious interior, an easy user experience, and a stellar brand reputation. Before we get into the nitty gritty of the trims we tested, let’s take a look at a couple of burning questions about the Honda CR-V lineup.

Is the Honda CR-V reliable?

However, Honda may have been resting on its laurels of late because while they were once regularly bulletproof for reliability, they have declined over the past few years and now rank 19th out of 30 brands in J.D. Power’s 2024 Vehicle Dependability Study (based on model-year-2021 vehicles) , and the CR-V doesn’t crack the top three in the compact SUV rankings.

Consumer Reports (CR) surveys result in Honda ranked fifth out of 30 car brands for reliability, but Honda vehicles perform very well in CR’s road tests, so every single model in Honda’s lineup is recommended by that publication. However, the conventional gas-powered CR-V has a very respectable Predicted Reliability score of 78, while the CR-V Hybrid struggles with a 54, stemming from some powertrain issues in the first two years of its launch.

2024 Honda CR-V engine options

As mentioned, the 2024 Honda CR-V can be purchased with two engine options: 1.5L turbo four-cylinder gas engine or hybrid 2.0L four-cylinder gas engine paired with 135-kW electric motor and 1.40-kWh lithium-ion battery.

The 1.5 turbo-four generates 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque, and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) routes power to the front or all four wheels, except in the base LX-B, which is exclusively front-wheel drive. The base model weighs in at 1,583 kg (3,490 lbs) and the top EX-L AWD gas model is 1,656 kg (3,651 lbs), while the Sport AWD trim we tested was 1,615 kg (3,560 lbs). The CR-V Sport AWD had modest acceleration when driven casually, but if you really need some jump, the CVT works to keep the engine in its peak power range, and delivers decent acceleration from a stop, but struggles to build up passing power on the highway, so plan accordingly. Aggressive throttle results in a considerable amount of CVT whine and engine drone, none of which you will be eager to listen to.

The Hybrid’s powertrain is a naturally aspirated 2.0L Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder that is paired with two electric motors mounted side-by-side generating a combined 135 kW, with a CVT transmission and AWD on both Hybrid trims. Net system power is 204 hp, and combined torque is 247 lb-ft, so it’s a hefty torque advantage over the conventional gas engine on its own. The advantage is not just the sheer amount of torque but how and when it is delivered. With the electric motors’ torque coming online as soon as the accelerator dips, the CR-V Hybrid quietly but strongly pulls away from stops on electric power, and the gas engine kicks in almost imperceptibly, and this power combo manages the 1,785 kg (3,935 lbs) mass with far less patience required. That being said, if you do push for maximum acceleration, the CR-V Hybrid is also noisy, but most of the time it is smooth and quiet with acceptable engine, wind and tire noise levels to make long drives peaceful and a chance to enjoy some quality tunes.

2024 Honda CR-V efficiency

The biggest advantage for hybrids should be efficiency, and that is indeed the case here. Although the gas-powered CR-V is very respectable in its fuel consumption, with Natural Resources Canada estimating AWD models at 9.1 litres per hundred kilometres in the city, 7.6 L/100 km in the city, and 8.4 L/100 km combined. In our week with the 2024 CR-V Sport , we ended up at 8.8 L/100 km with a mix of suburban routine and one extended highway drive. If you’re feeling particularly frugal and don’t need AWD, the base LX-B trim is estimated at 8.4 / 7.1 / 7.8 L/100 km in city/highway/combined cycles.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid is rated at 6.0 / 6.9 / 6.4 L/100 km in city/highway/combined, and we almost matched that combined rating, finishing with the trip computer showing 6.8 L/100 km with a long highway drive and a week of running around the suburbs in the summer.

2024 Honda CR-V Canadian pricing

  • 2024 Honda CR-V LX-B – $35,125
  • 2024 Honda CR-V LX-B AWD – $37,925
  • 2024 Honda CR-V Sport AWD – $42,075
  • 2024 Honda CR-V EX-L AWD – $44,275
  • 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid EX-L AWD – $46,775
  • 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid Touring AWD – $49,775
  • 2024 Honda CR-V Freight & PDI $2,000

Although the CR-V Hybrid has that distinct advantage thanks to its electrified powertrain, the pricing unsurprisingly favours the gas models. Gas-only models range from $35,125 for the front-wheel drive LX-B to $44,275 for the EX-L AWD. Our tested 2024 Honda CR-V Sport had an MSRP of $42,075, and all 2024 CR-V models have an additional $2,000 freight & PDI fee, plus regional taxes and dealer fees.

The Honda CR-V Hybrid is available in two trims, the $46,775 EX-L and $49,775 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid Touring as tested here. 2025 Honda CR-V models are also hitting dealerships with modest price increases.

Key features of the Sport trim include a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel, power moonroof, Black Sport badging and 18-inch black alloy wheels, r ear cross traffic alerts and the full Honda Sensing safety suite: forward collision warning (FCW), lane keeping assist, traffic sign recognition, blind spot information (BSI) — the last two are excluded from base LX-B models. The step up to the EX-L includes some nice perks like leather seats, wireless charging & wireless Apple Carplay/Android Auto, nine-inch display with eight speakers, memory driver’s seat, plus front and rear parking sensors. To make the leap into the EX-L Hybrid requires a $2,500 premium for all the same gear, and the top CR-V Hybrid Touring trim is $49,775, adding BOSE 12-speaker audio, built-in navigation, hands-free power liftgate, and 19-inch black-alloy wheels.

2024 Honda CR-V Canadian cargo and passenger space

The Honda CR-V has always been a segment leader in terms of cargo space and practicality, and both the Hybrid and gas-only trims deliver over 1,000 litres of cargo space with all seats in place, and over 2,000L with the rear seats folded, and 60/40 split folding seats for maximum cargo practicality. That being said, the Hybrids do give up a bit of an edge with 1,028/2,030L of cargo space compared to the gas models’ 1,113/2,166L, and they lose the adjustable cargo floor feature. On the flip side, the Hybrids get a little extra towing capacity with 680 kilograms (1,500  pounds) to 453 kg (1,000 lbs).

When it comes to interior space for passengers, there is no difference and the CR-V has a very roomy second row with plenty of headroom, legroom, shoulder and hip room in the front and back seat. The seats in the CR-V Hybrid Touring were markedly superior for comfort thanks to the increased adjustability and I particularly appreciate the memory seats, but cooled seats are not available in any trim on the CR-V, which is a bit disappointing when the pricing is creeping into the $50k zone.

Honda CR-V Canadian competitors

Aside from pickup trucks, compact SUVs are the favoured vehicles of Canadians from coast to coast, and there are several great options in the segment. The reigning champ in terms of sales and reliability is the Toyota RAV4, which matches the CR-V lineup with the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and ups the ante with RAV4 Prime (but good luck finding one of those to buy). For some of the best value and feature content, consider the  Hyundai Tucson , and  Kia Sportage , both of which also offer hybrids and the Kia a plug-in hybrid as well. If you’re looking for something a little more fun and sporty, Mazda stays true to its brand identity with a 227-hp CX-5 Turbo .

Popular Compact SUVs Specs Comparison

So which 2024 Honda CR-V Model and trim should you buy?

After poring over the option sheets, pricing, and driving over 2,000 km split between the CR-V Hybrid Touring and CR-V Sport 1.5L Turbo, my vote for the best Honda CR-V goes to the 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid EX-L. Yes, the Hybrid only starts at $48,775 when you lump in the freight charge, but realistically you are not walking out the door with any AWD CR-V for less than $40k, and the mid-grade sport felt decidedly spartan with its smaller screen and lack of certain amenities.

And thinking in terms that most shoppers use when purchasing, the difference in payments over a 60-month financing term is $25 bi-weekly, and as the price of fuel continues to climb, the approximately 2.0 L/100 km efficiency savings will fee. The Honda CR-V has grown from its compact roots and it is a sizeable vehicle well equipped to handle all the practical needs of a family of four, with exceptional ease of use and comfort.

2025 Honda CR-V info and Canadian pricing

We drove 2024 Honda CR-V models, but Honda has already announced some changes to the CR-V lineup for the 2025 model year, eliminating the non-hybrid EX-L trim and nudging prices up slightly. Aside from that, the 2025 Honda CR-V is largely carryover, but Honda has added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert as standard equipment for all trims.

2024 Honda CR-V Pros and Cons

Pros

✔  Excellent practicality

✔  Easy to drive and comfortable

✔  Efficient in hybrid or gas trims

Cons

✘ Gas model feels underpowered

✘  Noise levels and mediocre sound system

✘  Feature content not as good as competitors

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