Our Opinion - 2026 Honda CR-V Review If the small SUV market were a vending machine, the Honda CR-V would be the cold Coke can in spot A1. Even though the recipe isn’t kept hidden, the product is very popular and has a well-known name. All three trim levels of the CR-V have a four-cylinder engine with 190 horsepower, front- or all-wheel drive, and comfortable seats for five people. The hybrid versions will be looked at individually. Even though the Ford Bronco Sport is better off-road and the Mazda CX-50 is nicer, the CR-V is a better all-arounder because it is easier to drive, has more storage room, and is built to last. What's New? In 2026, the Honda CR-V will mostly get new software. Every trim level gets a new center touchscreen that is 9.0 inches, which is 2.0 inches bigger than the one in the 2025 CR-V. The EX-L model gets a new digital instrument display that is 10.2 inches. Cordless charging pads for Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and other wireless tech are gaining popularity. Better traction management programming in all-wheel-drive cars also makes them better off-road at low speeds. All trim levels now come with brand-new 18-inch wheels. Pros and Cons Pros Interior style that is easy to use. In the year 2026, technology made progress. Enjoyable Driving Experience. Cons Why Consider the CR-V Hybrid? Conservative design. AWD not included as standard. Engine, Transmission, and Performance Under the CR-V’s vertical grille is a basic 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine that makes 190 horsepower. Both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive can be used, as well as CVT. These settings are already set up for the LX, EX, and EX-L models. A new traction management code should improve off-road performance at low speeds. Every CR-V is equipped with hill-descent control, which helps maintain a steady speed when going down steep or slippery slopes. Most of the models come with 18-inch wheels. The new CR-V is comfortable to drive and has enough personality to keep things interesting, but it doesn’t have the thrilling handling of the Volkswagen Tiguan and Mazda CX-50. Safety There are a lot of standard driver-assistance features in every Honda CR-V. The small SUV has automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, a warning for the backseat, and a monitor for the driver’s attention. The following are important safety features: Automatic emergency braking and standard forward collision warnings. Normal lane exit warning helps keep your lane. It comes with adaptive speed control. Internal and External Cargo Capacity The air vents are hidden behind a honeycomb-patterned panel that runs the length of the dashboard. This makes the CR-V’s beautiful internal design stand out. Most of the gauges in the LX and EX trims are digital, and the EX-L has a digital 10.2-inch cluster. The steering wheel frames these gauges. Honda says that the front seats are made to keep drivers from getting tired on long drives. In the back, there is a lot of space behind the back seats that can be leaned back, and there is a big bin in the middle of the console between the front seats. There are 39 cubic feet of space available behind the second row of seats when the adjustable load floor is set to its lowest position. The Toyota RAV4 can only fit 12 carry-on bags behind the back seats, so this is too much. Fuel Economy and Actual MPG It’s not yet official, but the EPA said that the 2026 CR-V would get 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. That was derived from the previous year’s front-wheel-drive CR-V. All-wheel drive models got only 26 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway, which is worse gas mileage. An all-wheel-drive EX-L got 31 mpg on our real highway fuel economy route at 75 mph in 2023. Infotainment and Connectivity The CR-V’s infotainment system is run by a 9.0-inch tablet. Standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are both built into the system. Two USB-C ports in the back, wireless smartphone charging, and built-in navigation are also common features. Range, Charging, and Battery Life When we tried it again in 2023, the nonhybrid EX-L reached 60 mph in 8.1 seconds, a little longer than the hybrid type but still slower for its class. The engine drones loudly when speeding up because the automatic gear is always changing. Towing and Payload Capacity The Honda CR-V is capable of towing up to 1,500 pounds when properly equipped with the appropriate tow hooks. Price and How to Choose The 2026 Honda CR-V should cost between $32,000 and $37,000, depending on the type and any extras that come with it. The LX, the EX, and the EX-L are all gas-only CR-Vs. The only ones with a hybrid drivetrain are the Sport, Sport-L, and Sport Touring types, which are also our top picks. The EX-L has more features than the other nonhybrid types, so we would choose it over them. It has many features, such as a big digital instrument display, a motorized tailgate, and leather seats inside.
