Honda CR-V 2012-2016 used car review
The Honda CR-V is one of the best family car options available.
The Honda CR-V is one of the best family car options available. It’s spacious, reliable and good to drive as well.
The Honda CR-V is based on the small Honda Civic model, although it has grown into a proper, family-sized SUV. Initially available in only two versions, the choice was expanded to five after a 2014 update and the arrival of versions built in Thailand. The update also made autonomous emergency braking and lane-keeping assist standard on the top model.
Inside and out
The CR-V might be an SUV but it’s not much further off the ground than a normal car. The design appears to be taller than it is because of the clever use of black plastic around the bottom edge of the car. Another design feature is side windows which curve down at the back like a hatchback while the actual roofline continues straight on. The front features a huge chrome-edged grille and fog lights set low in the bumper. Huge angled tail lights are set high on the rear of the car for better visibility. Alloy wheels are standard.
The low floor and high roof in the front of the CR-V makes it feel very spacious. That’s not so much the case for rear seat passengers where headroom appears slightly less than in a Toyota RAV4. The leather-covered steering wheel features stereo, phone and cruise control buttons. The instrument cluster is focused on a large centre-mounted speedometer, which has a trip computer in the middle. At the top of the dash’s centre is a screen for vehicle information and the reversing camera. Below this is the touchscreen infotainment system. There are separate climate control settings for the driver and passenger.
The front seats are covered in a high-quality fabric and are extremely comfortable. A soft armrest on top of the centre console is very well placed. The rear seat is wide enough for three adults who will have plenty of legroom. The centre headrest tilts forward and out of the way when not in use and the centre seatbelt can be retracted into the ceiling.
Luggage capacity in the boot is excellent at 556 litres. We think four large and two small cases can be carried easily. Loading is also simple because the boot floor is relatively low for an SUV. The second row seats can be folded forward for additional load space.
On the road
Two petrol engines are available in the CR-V: 2-litre and 2.4-litre four-cylinder. Base models could be ordered with a six-speed manual transmission, although these are incredibly rare. The most common transmission was a five-speed automatic which could be shifted manually in some versions.
The S model was also available with a CVT automatic. The 2.4-litre engine fitted to our review vehicle produces 140kW and 222Nm. That’s a lot of power but not a huge amount of torque, so the engine needs to be revved for the best performance. It is still quiet and smooth even when doing this.
Honda has tuned the CR-V to offer a great compromise between ride and handling. It is sporty like the Mazda CX-5 and offers good responsive steering and brakes, with a soft comfortable ride that makes it great around town and on the open road. Road noise is low. The CR-V is not suited to going off-road – this generation has just 170mm of ground clearance, a little more than most cars.
The CR-V’s chunky rear pillar restricts viewing when you're parking and the shape of the nose makes it difficult to see exactly where that is as well. All versions have a reversing camera as standard and the Sport models also have parking sensors. The SN and N models of the facelift version have an additional camera to show how close you are to the kerb.
The CR-V’s tow rating is on the low side considering its size. It can pull a trailer with brakes of up to 1,500kg, a small to medium size trailer boat.
Safety
RightCar lists the CR-V as having a full five-star ANCAP safety rating (2012-2017) and a five-star Used Car Safety Rating (2012-2015). All models have a high level of safety features, including front, side and curtain airbags, electronic stability control, electronic brake-force distribution and emergency brake assist. The Sport NT also offers autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control.
All three rear seat positions feature a full shoulder-style belt, which offers more protection than the lap-only kind. ISOFIX child seat mounts are fitted in the window positions. Our review vehicle was accessorised with a cargo barrier behind the rear seat, a great addition for protecting occupants if you regularly carry bulky items.
Reliability
This generation CR-V is considered very reliable by owners and traders. The engines use a timing chain, which will not require regular replacement.
In what is not a fault but more of a design issue, more than a few owners have pointed out the air-conditioning seems weaker than in the previous model, at least in terms of volume and speed of cold air produced.
Although no issues have become prevalent with this generation CRV, the five-speed automatic was a troubling point in earlier vehicles. This might occur as the vehicle ages, so if you are looking at a high-mileage vehicle – above 150,000km – make sure the transmission shifts smoothly on your test drive.
Cost of ownership
Honda recommends servicing the CR-V every 12 months or 10,000km, whichever comes first. A Honda dealer quoted us $340 for that service.
RightCar estimates that over 14,000km of driving a year, a CR-V Sport will cost $2,440 to fuel. The 58-litre fuel tank will cost $136 to fill at $2 per litre and should take you 610km before the fuel light comes on.
A vehicle licence for the Honda costs $76.92 a year, with the car in the cheapest ACC levy group.
Trade Me Insurance estimates insurance for a CR-V valued at $25,500 will cost $57.42* per month. That’s more than $5 above that of a Toyota RAV4.
Buyers’ guide
The CR-V is available on Trade Me priced from $19,000 to $45,000 for nearly new examples. The Sport models, particularly the Sport NT version, are worth the most. Very few Japanese import versions are available yet – almost all cars on the market are New Zealand-new.
2012-2014
- S - Powered by a 2-litre engine with a five-speed automatic and front-wheel drive. Features fabric interior, cruise control, separate climate control settings for driver and passenger, alloy wheels, CD player stereo, Bluetooth phone connectivity, reversing camera and remote locking.
- Sport - Powered by a 2.4-litre engine with a five-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. Adds rain-sensing wipers, manual shifting for the automatic transmission, body-coloured bumpers, fog lights, sunroof, auto-dimming mirrors and electric adjustment for the driver's seat. Optional leather interior.
From 2014
- S - Powered by a 2-litre engine with a CVT automatic or six-speed manual and front-wheel drive. Features fabric interior, air-conditioning, alloy wheels, cruise control, CD player stereo, Bluetooth phone connectivity, reversing camera and remote locking.
- SN - Powered by a 2-litre engine with a five-speed automatic and front-wheel drive. Adds touchscreen infotainment system with satellite navigation, leather steering wheel, separate climate control settings for driver and passenger, proximity key entry and start, and automatic high-intensity headlights.
- N - Powered by a 2.4-litre engine with a five-speed automatic and all-wheel drive.
- Sport N - Powered by a 2.4-litre engine with a five-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. Adds 18-inch alloy wheels, heated leather front seats, electrically adjustable driver’s seats, electric sunroof, roof rails, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers and headlight washers.
- Sport NT - Powered by a 2.4-litre engine with a five-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. Adds power tailgate, autonomous emergency braking, a lane-keeping system and adaptive cruise control.
Japanese import
- 20G - Similar to NZ 2012-2014 S
- 24G - Similar to NZ 2012-2014 Sport
Timeline
- 2011 Launched in Japan
- 2012 Launched in New Zealand
- 2014 Given facelift, with new safety features added to the top model
- 2014 Production of some models for NZ shifts from Japan to Thailand
- 2017 Replaced by new model
Details
2013 Honda CR-V Sport
$21,000 to $30,000 for models which have travelled 70,000 to 120,000km
2.4-litre four-cylinder, 140kW and 222NM
Five-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Five-star ANCAP rating
10,000km or twelve months
Full size
8.7-litres per 100km (claimed)
Regular
4529mm
1819mm
1654mm
1500kg (braked)
11m
This review covers the Honda CR-V for model years 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Review vehicle supplied by Turners Cars.
*Our insurance estimates are based on a 35-year-old male with no accidents in the last two years, garaging the car in Mission Bay, Auckland. The car is not used for business and will cover 10,000km to 20,000km a year. We estimate with no option add-ons and $500 excess. Customise your estimate at Trade Me Insurance.
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