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The 2019 Honda CR-V shows it’s difficult to improve on success. See what makes the Honda CR-V so good.
What’s New for the 2019 Honda CR-V?
The 2019 Honda CR-V has very few changes from 2018. To be sure, there’s very little that needed to change. Seeing the move to Waze and other phone Navi apps, Honda dumped the EX- L with Navigation trim. We’re not sure why you would want it, but Honda leaves navigation as an option on the Touring model trim. There’s a new exterior color called Platinum White Pearl and a price bump to cover destination and shipping.
Let’s take a tour with the 2019 Honda CR-V to see if this bestseller makes you part with your money.
2019 Honda CR-V – hondanews.com | Shop 2019 Honda CR-V on Carsforsale.com
The Breakdown
We like the interior quality
We like the roomy back seat
We like the ride and handling
We like the miles per gallon
We don’t like the slow acceleration
2019 CR-V Specs
- 184 horsepower from base engine
- 180 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 4 available trims
- 39.2 cu-ft. of cargo space
- 74.1 cu-ft. of cargo capacity with seats down
- Towing capacity of 1,500 lbs
- 0-60 mph in 9.4 seconds
2019 Honda CR-V Powertrain
Driving around in slower drive-time traffic, the CR-V does well poking around on the highway. The engine isn’t noisy, and it responds quickly to a push on the accelerator. However, when you need to move on the entry ramp, you wish for more gas pedal travel. We get the impression that the CR-V could use more torque and less CVT. There’s too much droning CVT noise going on for the speed. You’re not going to get run over, by any means – it’s not a 3-cylinder Mitsubishi Mirage. It’s just that the CR-V is a little chunky when it comes to acceleration. Get that weight moving, and it’s great.
But you don’t feel any overstuffed weight when it comes to handling. The steering is as quick as you would find on the Honda Civic. Honda has made this car feel much lighter than it is. The same thing can be said for the way it carves in and holds the line in corners. Although we can tell that the chassis and suspension are stiffer than any CR-V before this, that’s never transmitted through the suspension. Dips and holes get absorbed, and any harshness and vibrations don’t reach the occupants. Good job, Honda.
2019 Honda CR-V Fuel Economy and MPG
All but the CR-V LX gets a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder to give that extra passing power on the highway. If you drive it like the EPA, you’ll get 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on steady speed freeway driving. If you get Honda’s Real Time AWD with Intelligent Control System, that mileage drops to 27 in the city and 33 on the highway. Not bad at all. The less efficient LX 2.4-liter gets 25 mpg in the city and 31 on the highway.
Towing & Payload
A 2019 Honda CR-V isn’t going to be your go-tochoice for towing large items. Its 1500-lb towing capacity will allow you to pull your ATV, dirt bikes, or a small boat. But, if you have something heavier, rent a Dodge pickup.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
With Hyundai and Kia pushing to design interiors with a more attractive and useable design, Honda is most likely feeling some heat. The CR-V interior isn’t horrible, but it does have a dated and conservative Honda type of interior. Sort of like the car version of your mom and dad’s 1990’s house – attractive and with a quality build but needs updating.
Honda ensures that things are soft in the right places and the plastics are of high quality. Everything fits perfectly and works even better. For passengers, the second row is most definitely not second class. There’s more than enough room for anyone who’s 6-foot, and everyone will find cups and cubbies everywhere, should you need them.
The driver and passenger seats have that firm but comfortable feel that Honda has on all its models. And we’re grateful that Honda hasn’t yet given the CR-V those flatter cushions we find in other makes. These seats will still hold us in place, helped by the fabric choice too. Although the leather looks beautiful in the L, Honda’s fabric seats are grippy and nice.
For those weekly COSTCO trips, the CR-Vs 75.8 cubic feet of space will allow you to put grocery boxes everywhere. And the rear seats are a breeze to fold down. The 39.2 cubic feet behind the second row will hold a collapsible stroller or four grocery bags when you need less space.
Entertainment & Technology
Honda’s 5 and 7-inch touchscreen isn’t exactly HD but looks good in most situations. Honestly, you’re not going to watch HDR movies on them. However, the CR-V has something we’ve noticed on other Honda’s – a laggy user interface. Of course, we get spoiled by the speed of our mobile devices, but the infotainment system is still slow. Regardless of the speed issue, it has a Honda simplicity and friendliness to it. All the trims have Bluetooth plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. If you jump up to the Touring trim, the nine-speaker sound system lays out some serious sound, and you can add Satellite Navigation.
On the LX and up, multiple USB ports and a pair of 12-volt outlets are for driver and passenger use, and the rear seat gets two USB ports on the back of the center console.
Driver assistance technology is all the rage these days but generally standard on the most expensive trim level. Honda is different, of course. Although not on the base trim, the Honda Sensing safety suite is standard on the EX, EX-L, and Touring. It includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot monitoring and automatic high beams are reserved for the Touring trim only. We hear that Honda will soon be offering the standard safety suite on all of their models and trims.
Safety Features
Although Honda Sensing is standard on all but the LX, other safety features are standard on all trims. All 2019 CR-Vs have a multi-angle rearview camera, front and side airbags, LED DRLs, brake assist, and Honda’s Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA®) with traction control, brake assist.
The Honda CR-V also earned a Top Safety Pick award for 2019 from the IIHS, which grades vehicles for crashworthiness and crash Avoidance Mitigation.
2019 Honda CR-V Trims & Pricing
LX -$25,345
The budget-friendly 2019 Honda CR-V LX comes equipped with a 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine that rolls out around 184 horsepower and is tied to a non-offensive CVT transmission. Although this is the base trim CR-V, its fit, finish, and material quality is still Honda-level stuff. You get black door handles and mirrors instead of the body-colored side mirrors and handles on EX and up. Other than the smaller touchscreen and fewer watts for the sound system, Honda provides you with the same power and convenience amenities available on the pricier trim, such as a rearview camera, automatic climate controls, and remote entry. The only needed items are the passive safety driver assists standard on the higher-priced EX and up.
EX -$28,225
The CR-V EX gets you a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder that makes 190 hp with 179 lb-ft of torque that dramatically improves acceleration on the highway. Inside, you’ll see the larger 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. For your extra $3k, you get remote engine starting, Honda’s Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto-Lock, and Honda Sensing driver assists. The EX upgrades to dual-zone climate control with heated seats, and the driver seat in the EX has a 12-way power adjustment. For the CR-V, the EX is your best choice.
EX-L-$30,725
With Honda, “L” always means leather and adds a two-position memory for the driver seat. The CR-V EX-L upgrades the infotainment and sound system to eight speakers and 180 watts of power. For connectivity, the EX and EX-L add additional USB ports in the center console and second row. Side mirrors are upgraded to heated models and include integrated distance indicators. The EX-L tailgate is now power-operated for easy loading and unloading.
Touring-$35,755
The Touring gives you more convenience and luxury items like the hands-free operated tailgate, rain-sensing wipers, and headlights with auto-shutoff, plus the option to ad Navigation if that’s your thing. For those after-school dance party carpools, you get a 330-watt nine-speaker sound system that fills up the massive interior with sweet beats.
Warranties
The 2019 Honda CR-V is covered by an industry-standard 3-Year/36,000-Mile limited warranty. Like other automakers, Honda also includes a 5-Year/60,000-Mile powertrain limited plus a 30-year/36,000-mile warranty on the manufacturer of dealer-installed accessories.
What we think
2019 Honda CR-V – hondanews.com | Shop 2019 Honda CR-V on Carsforsale.com
The compact SUV market is full of competition. Everyone from Toyota to Mitsubishi has multiple models for you to put into your garage. However, Honda may be the only one consistently putting out the most indestructible and quality-filled rides other than Toyota. Yes, the RAV4 is cool, and Hyundai is knocking on Honda’s quality door. But nothing in 2019 will beat this little ball of quality and reliability dressed up as a fun-to-drive CUV. The 2019 Honda CR-V is still the leader.
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