Name: Honda CR-V (2023 - present) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Honda CR-V
Rating: 70.0

Summary

The Honda CR-V is a medium-sized five-seat SUV/crossover, available as either a petrol-electric hybrid or as a plug-in hybrid. This is the sixth-generation model, which arrived in the UK in the second half of 2023.

The SUV has been given a rather mixed bag of reviews so far, and was unveiled as The Sunday Times James Fossdyke says “the outgoing CR-V was beginning to feel a bit dated” – this new model arrivng to address the old CR-V’s infotainment and interior quality criticisms and “build on the existing car’s impressive space and hybrid system.”

“It’s a very recommendable car”, concludes the What Car? team, who comment that the latest iteration of the mid-size CR-V is “really economical, incredibly roomy, comfortable and decent to drive.”

Parker‘s Tom Wiltshire also points to Honda’s “stellar” reliability record, but highlights the SUV’s key disadvantage when compared to rivals like the Toyota RAV4 – “Its price is more what you’d expect from premium competitors like the BMW X3 or Lexus NX.”

Some reviewers have also called the car’s exterior styling bland, while others have voiced their disappointment that this new model isn’t available in a seven-seat configuration like its predecessor. But as Autocar‘s Illya Verpraet sums up, “it could do with a little more sparkle, but it ticks a lot of the family SUV boxes.”

As of April 2024, the Honda CR-V holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 70%. It scores top marks for its recent five-star Euro NCAP safety rating as well as its low CO2 emissions (helped by the plug-in hybrid model). However, media review scores have been average and overall running costs are not particularly good, either.

CR-V highlights

Efficient and smooth engine options
Spacious and well-built interior
Comfortable driving experience

CR-V lowlights

More expensive than key rivals
Loud road noise
Engines are not very powerful

Key specifications

Body style: Five-door SUV/crossover
Engines: hybrid, plug-in hybrid
Price: From £45,895 on-road

Launched: Autumn 2023
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Auto Express+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The CR-V is a spacious, well-equipped SUV that’s also packed with safety technology to keep you and your loved ones safe. Mind you, it should come stacked with equipment, considering its premium pricing.”
Author: Max Adams, Alex Ingram
Read review

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol/electric hybrid Advance
Score: 7 / 10
“The new Honda CR-V’s price reflects not only an increase in size, but also a move upmarket. However, at almost £50,000, customers can rightfully put rivals like the BMW X3 and Volvo XC60 into the mix, at which point, Honda’s flagship becomes harder to justify. It’s spacious and comfortable, but otherwise struggles to stand out in any one area. Still interested? You certainly won’t be left wanting for standard kit – the CR-V is exceptionally well appointed inside and out.”
Author: Richard Ingram
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid Advance Tech
Score: 6 / 10
“The sixth-generation Honda CR-V is bigger and much more clever than its predecessor, but in practice the new plug-in hybrid variant is going to be tricky to recommend. Its closest rival, the Toyota RAV4 PHEV, offers much more power and better road manners for significantly less money. Unless you’re a company car user benefiting from the excellent Benefit in Kind costs, the cheaper regular hybrid models will make much more sense.”
Author: Alex Ingram
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Autocar+

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid Advance Tech
Score: 8 / 10
“Although the Honda CR-V e:PHEV could do with seven seats and a little more sparkle, it ticks a lot of the family SUV boxes, being comfortable, economical, practical and undemanding to drive, and with a strong EV range.” (Illya Verpraet)
Read review

Car+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“If you’re after a dependable family SUV with loads of space, excellent efficiency and an interior that’s unlikely to ever annoy you, the Honda CR-V makes a sound choice – it’s just one without much sparkle.”
Author: Tom Wiltshire
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Carbuyer+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.4 / 10
“The Honda CR-V is smooth to drive, with low running costs and a practical cabin. But it’s more expensive to buy and insure than most rivals.”
Author: Andy Goodwin, Alex Ingram
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Carwow+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Honda CR-V is a handsome, comfortable family SUV, but it’s quite expensive and alternatives have bigger boots.”
Read review

Daily Mail+

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid
“My initial reaction on seeing the new and larger sixth-generation Honda CR-V was: ‘My, how you’ve grown.’ But after driving it I’m more tempted to say: ‘My, how you’ve grown up.'”(Ray Massey)
Read review

Heycar+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The sixth-generation Honda CR-V delivers a well-rounded family SUV experience, with the choice of two efficient hybrid powertrains. It looks expensive against its closest rivals, though.”
Author: Richard Aucock
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Honest John+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Honda CR-V is a very good family SUV, with bags of space, a stylish interior and plenty of features as standard. The two hybrid engines should also prove to be very efficient.”
Read review

Parkers+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.6 / 10
“Honda’s reliability record is stellar, and the CR-V is nothing if not easy to live with – from the straightforward interior to the smooth and efficient powertrains. What it’s not is cheap.” (Tom Wiltshire)
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The Sunday Times+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“With the new CR-V, Honda has managed to eliminate almost all the old car’s weaknesses while still carrying over its strengths. The result is one of the best big, five-seat family SUVs on the market, offering comfort, efficiency and a bit of newfound style — particularly on the inside.”
Author: James Fossdyke
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The Telegraph+

Model reviewed: Range overview
“It’s business as usual here for the CR-V, with an offering that’s dull, but solid and well engineered. Be warned, however – it’s expensive, and the latest Toyota RAV4 is just as good with a PHEV version that’s bewilderingly fast.”
Author: Andrew English
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Top Gear+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The latest version of the CR-V doesn’t mess with the car’s winning formula, adding a dash of practicality and a plug-in hybrid powertrain that will appeal to those on company car schemes. It doesn’t hurt that the car is reasonably fun to drive, too, so everyone will find something to like about it.” (Sam Burnett)
Read review

What Car?+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Honda CR-V has sharp driving dynamics and an extensive standard equipment list, but it falls short of claiming the top spot in the family SUV class due to high noise levels on a motorway, a somewhat basic interior for the price and limited rear headroom.”
Author: Dan Jones
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Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: April 2024
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 85%
Child protection: 86%
Vulnerable road users: 80%
Safety assist: 79%

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of April 2024, the Honda CR-V has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of April 2024, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Honda CR-V to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the CR-V, we’ll publish the score here.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Hybrid models	43 mpg	C	43 – 43 mpg	C – C

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Hybrid models	151 g/km	B	150 – 151 g/km	B – B
Plug-in hybrid models	18 g/km	A	18 – 18 g/km	A – A

Battery range	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Plug-in hybrid models	51 miles	C	51 – 51 miles	C – C

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	35	C	34 – 37	C – C

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£184	A
Year 2	£459	A
Year 3	£776	A
Year 4	£976	A
Year 5	£1,364	A
Overall	£3,759	A

The Honda CR-V has mixed results for running costs, according to whole-life cost calculations provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our technical partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

Fuel consumption for the standard hybrid model is only average, with many rivals scoring better. Battery range is also quite good for the plug-in hybrid model, although you need to drive gently to avoid waking the petrol engine.

The best news for prospective CR-V buyers is that servicing costs are excellent for the first five years of ownership, which is particularly good for a mid-sized SUV.