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Price Range: Less Than
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$154,765
mpg/MPGe Range: More Than
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Introduction:

To help members understand the latest automotive technology so they can purchase vehicles that best suit their needs, the Automobile Club of Southern California's Automotive Research Center (ARC) began testing and reviewing vehicles over a decade ago

For the 2024 edition, we include testing and ranking cars and light trucks with the latest technology, including having at least one advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) feature. In addition to vehicle evaluation, the guide covers a number of pertinent automotive topics in detail—for example, the latest advanced safety features, how to properly maintain your vehicle, and new vehicles coming to market in the next few years.

2023 Honda CR-V 1.5T EX-L

Vehicle Type: Small suv Gasoline
81
 overall score
Category Ranking: 10

Vehicle Price

Base Price: $35,260
Price as Tested: $36,900

Fuel Information

Fuel Type: Regular
Fuel Capacity (gal): 14
EPA City mpg27
EPA Highway mpg32
EPA Combined mpg29

Advanced Safety Features

  • Adaptive Cruise Control [S]
  • Advanced Headlights [S]
  • Automatic Emergency Braking [S]
  • Blind-Spot Warning [O]
  • Driver Monitoring [S]
  • Forward-Collision Warning [S]
  • Lane-Departure Warning [S]
  • Lane-Keeping Assistance [S]
  • Rear Cross-Traffic Warning [O]
  • Reverse Automatic Emergency Braking [O]
  • [S] Standard, [O] Optional

Overall Observations

Redesigned inside and out for 2023, the compact CR-V crossover is Honda's best-selling vehicle in the U.S. and a veteran member of the Top-20 list of most vehicles sold here. The CR-V's updated exterior design gives off a bold, sporty vibe, with noticeably more creases and angles in its sheet metal. The cabin is spacious, with plenty of room for passengers and cargo. The interior décor is attractive as well, with thoughtfully chosen, tasteful materials and good fit and finish. And although the infotainment's graphics are dated, the system itself is easy to use. The CR-V rides well and is easy to control over most surfaces, though our testers noticed some harshness on rough roads. Unfortunately, the drivetrain is anemic and noisy, the CVT is whiny and doesn’t shift smoothly, and too much road and tire noise get into the cabin. Nonetheless, the CR-V stands out as a good value. Fuel economy, at 29 mpg in combined driving, is decent, and a full suite of advanced safety features (with adjustable alerts) is standard. Our top-trim nonhybrid model had lots of standard amenities—including a neat safety feature, headlights that turn on when the windshield wipers are activated, and a spare tire, a rarity these days—for just under $37,000, considerably below the cost of the average new car.

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Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Good value; plenty of desirable standard features
  • Excellent utility; lots of passenger and cargo space
  • Complete set of standard advanced safety features
  • Sporty exterior design

Cons

  • Noisy, underpowered drivetrain
  • Too much tire and road noise get into the cabin
  • Whiny CVT; clumsy transmission shifting
  • Outdated infotainment graphics

Vehicle Specifications

Model year tested: 2023
Number of passengers (F/R): 2/3
Curb weight (lbs): 3635.0
Exterior L / W / H (in): 184.8 / 73.5 / 66.5
Wheelbase (in): 106.3
Number of air bags: 10
Warranty (months/miles): 36/36,000
Tire manufacturer and model: Hankook Kinergy GT
Front and rear tire size: 235/60 R18
Max towing capacity (lbs): 1,500
Headlight type: LED
Transmission type: CVT
Drivetrain type: All wheel
Engine/motor: 1.5L I4 turbo
Engine horsepower @ RPM: 190 @ 6,000

Test Data

Test Vehicle Scores

Advanced Safety Features:

9.10

Fuel Efficiency:

6.23

EPA Emissions Score:

6.00

Acceleration:

2.15

Braking:

7.31
Handling: 6.28
Quality and Drivability: 7.67

Ride Quality:

7.14

Interior Size:

4.11

Easy of Entry and Exit:

7.83

Visibility:

6.86

Interior Noise:

5.58

Cargo Capacity:

4.74
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