The 2019 model year CR-V is upon us, and Honda’s best-selling car looks pretty solid. Is it a worthy competitor to the Toyota RAV 4, though, or does Honda’s biggest rival take the small crossover top spot this year? Today we’re taking a closer look at the 2019 CR-V to answer just that.
2019 Honda CR-V
What’s New?
There’s actually very little that’s new in the 2019 CR-V when compared to the 2018 model. This is the same fifth-generation CR-V we’ve been seeing for the last few model years. That being said, it sports a great suite of technology still and the styling is still modern and sleek. As for brand-new features, the only notable option is the new white paint scheme.
As for things you won’t find this year, a trim level has been deleted from the roster for 2019. The more simplified range is a good thing for this more budget-level small SUV: as one of Honda’s mainstays and a great practical car, it’s not exactly competing with BMW or Tesla. We appreciate the more concise model range with a simpler statement of purpose: this is a practical car for working families.
Design
Much like last year, the fifth-generation CR-V looks great. The styling is modern and slick, and we love the black-painted touches on the rims. Other neat flourishes include the rear taillight molding that gives a 3D effect, the chrome, black and grey plastic finishes all add together for a modern and clean look. Style lines across surfaces like the door panels, framing the grille and across the hood give the car a lot of visual coherency.
The interior is similarly modern and feels clean and stylish without looking gaudy. We love the soft-touch materials over most major surfaces, as well as the tasteful wood grain finish in some of the panels. From the driving position, the layout is smooth and draws the eye to the infotainment system, which we’ll get to in a moment. From the passengers’ positions, the car’s surroundings are comfortable and calming.
Interior Tech
About that infotainment system: the screen is large and bold, and the touch controls are responsive. Honda’s proprietary display-audio system is at work here, and it’s great. The image resolution looks solid, and, while not being the most impressive on the market, works well for what this car is trying to do. Oddly, there’s no wi-fi hotspot option for this vehicle. This is an odd touch for an otherwise modern car.
That being said, modern touches are also here: the Display Audio system has functionality for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which both allow you to sync your smartphone with your car’s infotainment system. The Display Audio system is also easy to learn and navigate if you’ve not encountered it before. All in all, this is a solid suit of tech for an SUV of this class.
Practicality
The interior storage space and drive train are as you’d expect from a CR-V. It can carry tons of stuff, making it a great grocery-getter, and it drives fine. It’s neither fast nor slow, sporting its 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque in all trim levels but the base LX. It’ll get you on to the highway and around town, but it won’t do so with any panache.
The ride is smooth and comfortable, much like the interior of the vehicle. Even on a rough road with many bumps and ruts, you’ll likely feel fine as the vehicle just trucks along. From its starting price of $24,450, it’s a great deal for anyone looking for a good daily driver. We’re happy to report that the 2019 CR-V is still on top when it comes to small SUVs.