2026 Honda CR-V Road Test and Review

2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Practical, economical, affordable, carefully crafted, and easy to use. Once, this was the domain of the Honda Accord mid-size sedan. These days, it’s what brings people to the Honda CR-V compact crossover – which justifies its best-seller status over the Accord via extra cargo capacity, a higher seating position, and increasing off-road capability. It comes with a choice of two economical engines, including a gas-electric hybrid. 

This year, the 2026 Honda CR-V gets a collection of small updates to make it more appealing than ever. But it also faces increasingly tough competitors. For this review, we just spent a week testing the updated 2026 Honda CR-V to learn about its pros and cons. Keep reading to find what we learned and see if it’s the right compact crossover SUV for you. 

This Year's Enhancements

The CR-V was last redesigned in 2023. High, slim headlights give the front a bit of an aggressive touch. And the high taillights, which partly run up the sides of the rear windshield, help you pick your CR-V out of a line of parked SUVs (except for all the other CR-Vs). But the body is plain and simple – an upright profile, big windows, and no swoopy or sharply creased bodywork. To some people, it’s dull; to others, it’s a welcome show of restraint. 

Visually, not much changed this year. Most trim levels have redesigned alloy wheels. Hybrid models lose their chrome trim around the windows, for what Honda calls a sportier touch. And a new off-road-themed TrailSport model like our test vehicle has its own exclusive wheels, all-terrain tires, TrailSport badges, and a few other subtle details. 

Inside, every CR-V now has a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen (base models used to have 7-inch screens). A bigger 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster is now available on upper trim levels. And tweaks to its hill-descent control help the all-wheel-drive CR-V inch more carefully down steep grades. 

2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Quality and Ease-of-Use Inside

Bigger screens don’t change the CR-V’s interior focus – quality and ease of use. This isn’t a technologically dazzling interior. But it has simple buttons and knobs that take the stress out of turning on the radio or adjusting the climate control, and which feel expensive when you twist or push them. 

The 9-inch screen is extra plain on all but the top Sport Touring Hybrid model, with muted colors and no flashy graphics. (The Touring has a slightly more advanced Google-based system, but it’s still not engineered to dazzle you.) However, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard, so you can hand the screen over to your phone apps. A wireless smartphone charger is newly standard, too, so your phone can get juice while it wirelessly powers Google Maps or Spotify on the 9-inch screen. 

2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Comfortable, Supportive Seats

The CR-V has well-shaped, supportive seats that hold you comfortably in place without making you feel confined. The cabin also has an open, airy feel with a good view out. The rear seat is spacious and comfortable too, even for adults. Don’t let the term “compact crossover” fool you – this is a proper-sized family car for a family of four, and it can squeeze in five if the kids are understanding. 

All 2026 CR-V trim levels but the base LX include heated front seats and a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. But otherwise, the CR-V is a little skimpy on premium amenities. You can’t get ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, or a height-adjustable passenger seat on any trim level. And only the off-road-themed TrailSport and the top-of-the-line Sport Touring Hybrid include a heated steering wheel. Some folks will also miss the extra sunlight from a full-size panoramic sunroof; the CR-V only offers a standard-sized opening above the front seats. 

2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Ample Cargo Room

The CR-V also has ample cargo space. With 76.5 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down, it holds more stuff than many SUVs that are a whole size larger. Credit goes to its low cargo floor and high roof. Behind the rear seat, you get 34.7 to 39.2 cubic feet, depending on the trim level (higher-end models have a little less room). Gas-powered models have a compact spare under the cargo floor, while hybrids use that space for their batteries and provide a tire-repair kit instead. 

The CR-V’s rear seat doesn’t fold flush to the cargo floor. So if you’re loading something heavy, you’ll need to slide it up over a bump formed by the folded seatbacks. And the center-rear seatbelt is attached to the ceiling rather than the seat, so you have to disconnect it to get maximum cargo room. 

But overall, the CR-V packs a lot of room into a modestly sized vehicle. Unless you need three rows of seats, you’ll likely find that the CR-V is roomy enough for you – even if you thought you needed to pay up for a mid-size SUV. 

2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Honda’s Classic Ride and Handling

As we mentioned earlier, Americans have loved Honda’s sporty yet comfortable cars for generations. The 2026 CR-V brings this same feel to a light-duty crossover SUV. Its steering is firm and responsive, not loose and vague like some rivals. It’s not a performance machine, or even as lively as a Honda Accord sedan, but it can change direction with confidence-inspiring poise. It rides comfortably, too. Some people would prefer lower-effort steering, but we enjoy driving the CR-V. 

The one compromise is off-road capability. The CR-V can hold its own in messy conditions like snow and mud. The TrailSport’s all-terrain tires give it some extra traction. And as we mentioned, all all-wheel-drive CR-Vs have an upgraded hill-descent-control system that keeps the speed down as you navigate a steep downhill. But the CR-V’s ground clearance is an unexceptional 7.8 inches with front-wheel drive and 8.2 inches with AWD; there’s no option for an off-road-tuned suspension; and the underbody lacks protective skid plates for heavy-duty conditions. The CR-V should be able to get around without getting stuck, but it’s not an off-road tool or toy. 

2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Choice of Turbo and Hybrid Power

As we mentioned, the CR-V is available with a choice of gasoline and gas-electric hybrid engines. That’s a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder with 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque or a non-turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder paired with two electric motors to make 204 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque. The numbers don’t lie – the hybrid is the better CR-V to drive. It’s more powerful, quieter, and more economical. (It also costs more, as we’ll discuss shortly.) No CR-V has the downright sporty speed of a 250-hp Mazda CX-50 turbo, though. 

At the pump, no CR-V is a gas guzzler. The gas-only model gets an EPA-estimated 28 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 30 mpg combined. AWD cuts those estimates to 27 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined. 

The hybrid does much better, though, especially in low-speed and stop-and-go driving. With front-wheel drive, it gets 43 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 40 mpg combined. Most AWD hybrids get 40 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 37 mpg combined. The TrailSport AWD, like our test vehicle, has tires optimized for traction rather than fuel efficiency. It drops to 38 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, and 35 mpg combined. We matched that estimate during a week of mixed driving, despite spending much of that time in cold weather (when hybrids lose some efficiency) and with three adults and two children on board.

2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid Sport Touring ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Priced From $30,920

The 2026 Honda CR-V starts at $30,920 for the base LX front-wheel-drive model with the 1.5-liter engine. The LX now includes the 9-inch screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus the wireless smartphone charger. And its other premium amenities include adaptive cruise control, automatic climate control, and keyless entry with push-button starting. But the EX, $33,150, has some desirable extras – a power driver’s seat, heated front seats, a six-speaker stereo instead of just four speakers, alloy wheels, and a sunroof. The EX-L, $35,400, is the top gas-only CR-V; it adds leather upholstery, a power liftgate, parking sensors, and an eight-speaker stereo. 

The hybrid comes in four trim levels. The base Sport, $35,630, is equipped similarly to the EX at a roughly $2,500 premium. The Sport-L, $38,725, matches the EX-L for about $3,300 more. There’s also the TrailSport, $38,800, which is similarly priced and similarly equipped to the AWD Sport. And the top Hybrid Sport Touring, $42,250, comes with exclusive gear like a more advanced infotainment system, a 12-speaker Bose premium stereo, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. AWD costs $1,500 extra on most CR-Vs, but it’s standard on the TrailSport and Sport Touring.  

2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport ・ Photo by Brady Holt

CR-V vs. the Competition

The CR-V competes in the hottest section of the market, where it faces many strong competitors. 

The best-selling Toyota RAV4 is freshly redesigned with bigger touchscreens and more rugged looks, plus an available plug-in hybrid. The new hybrid-only RAV4 also has a lower starting price than the CR-V Hybrid. The CR-V has sharper steering and handling, a more upscale interior feel, a roomier backseat, and more cargo space.

Another top rival is the Kia Sportage and its Hyundai Tucson corporate cousin. Sold in gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid versions, the Sportage and Tucson pack lots of high-end luxury amenities for the money – including goodies you won’t find on any CR-V. They also have lots of room and extroverted styling. Once again, the CR-V takes the lead on meticulous attention to detail – both in how it drives and how its interior is constructed. The Honda’s simple dashboard also has easier-to-use controls than the flashier Korean cousins. And the gas-only Sportage and Tucson are slower, noisier, and less economical than equivalent CR-Vs. 

If you value a sportier handling feel, the Ford Escape and Mazda CX-50 are two fun-to-drive crossovers with a choice of gas and hybrid powertrains. But they’re not as roomy as the Honda. Nor is the aggressively priced gas-only Chevrolet Equinox.

On the other end of the driving spectrum, the Subaru Forester is one of the more off-road-ready compact crossovers. It’s quite comfortable on pavement, too, albeit with lazier acceleration and handling. The CR-V’s controls work better, too.

We’re also fans of the gas-only Nissan Rogue, which is spacious, economical, and luxuriously equipped at reasonable prices. You can’t get a Rogue Hybrid yet – and the first one to hit the market will be an expensive plug-in model – but its three-cylinder engine can match a hybrid’s efficiency in highway driving. 

2026 Kia Sportage and 2026 Honda CR-V ・ Photo by Brady Holt

One of Our Favorite Five-Seat SUVs

The 2026 Honda CR-V has an uncommon breadth of qualities. It’s one of the best-driving small SUVs, yet also one of the roomiest. In hybrid form, it’s both quick and economical. And its interior is carefully built even while its controls are easy to use. 

Some rivals cost less and have a longer list of premium amenities. And it’s not a standout if you’re interested in pizzazz, inside or out. On the other hand, the CR-V has the spaciousness and the high-end feel to tempt someone out of a bigger, more expensive crossover. Overall, for quality, simplicity, functionality, and an enjoyable driving experience, the CR-V is one of our favorite five-seat SUVs. 

2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport ・ Photo by Brady Holt