Despite it that the current generation has been around for almost four years, the CR-V is still one of the best compact crossovers around. After the last-year update, when we see exterior tweaks and several more changes, there is no doubt that the current generation will remain in production for a couple of more years. This clearly leads us to the conclusion that the 2021 Honda CR-V is about to come without more important changes. Of course, there is always room for a couple of tweaks, though a vast majority of things are about to remain the same.
This means you may count on one of the most versatile crossovers around. It comes with a spacious and well-made cabin, a nice turbo-four engine and a decent amount of standard and available equipment. All in all, it’s hard to find any particular complaint about this small SUV, which is obviously the reason why it’s still one of the class leaders. We expect to see it sometime in the last quarter of the year.
2021 Honda CR-V Redesign
When it comes to base design characteristics, things definitely won’t change. The 2021 Honda CR-V is about to continue in the same way, which means the same overall layout we saw four years ago for the first time. Since then, the mechanics haven’t been changed too much, except for the naturally-aspirated engine, which has been discontinued last year.
The last-year update has brought a couple of subtle changes in terms of the styling. The front fascia has been revised, while we also saw a new bumper, new wheels and a couple of new color options. This mid-cycle update was typically modest for Honda and we have no doubt that the current look will remain until the end of the production cycle. The only possible novelty we could see are additions in terms of new color options.
Interior
Changes on the inside won’t happen either, and that’s not a bad thing at all. This company has always been known for well-made interiors and the CR-V is no exception. Some rivals may look fancier but they hardly feature better overall quality, as this model comes with excellent fit and finish, as well as with really fine materials.
Still, the biggest quality of this cabin has always been interior space. The 2021 Honda CR-V will continue to be one of the biggest models in the class, which in practice means plenty of passenger room. This refers to both legroom and headroom, which are more than sufficient. So, adult passengers can comfortably accommodate in both rows.
The cargo area is as impressive. You may count on about 39 cubic feet behind the second row, while the overall cargo space goes all-away up to 76 cubic feet. Those are some of the highest numbers in the class.
Features
We don’t expect any particular change in this aspect for the next year. Of course, there is always room for a couple of additions, but most of the things are about to remain the same. Base models will carry on with goodies like a 5-inch infotainment display, Bluetooth, a USB port, and a four-speaker stereo. This seems pretty basic for today’s standards. Fortunately, things are much better once you step up into higher trim levels. There you may count on goodies like a 7-inch touch screen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a navigation system, wireless device charging, satellite radio, HD Radio, additional USB ports, a moonroof, premium audio system etc.
When it comes to safety features, there is really nothing to complain about. The famous Honda Sensing is standard. This suite includes things like a collision mitigation braking system, road departure warning, traffic sign recognition, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. A rearview camera and automatic high beams are also part of the standard equipment.
2021 Honda CR-V Engine
Things under the hood will definitely remain the same. The good-old 2.4-liter four-cylinder unit has been discontinued last year and a newer-generation 1.5-liter turbo-four is now the only engine in the offer. It puts out around 190 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, which is enough for a comfortable and convenient ride, even on the highway.
The engine comes in pair with a CVT gearbox, which has a fantastic impact on fuel economy. So, you may count on about 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway, which are spectacular numbers for the class. You can also get an AWD version, which may be slightly thirstier but provides a much better driving experience.
2021 Honda CR-V Release Date and Price
Given the fact that no bigger changes are about to come for the next model year, we are pretty sure that the 2021 Honda CR-V won’t hit the market before the last quarter of 2020. When it comes to the price, base models should go around 26.000 dollars. Key competitors are models like Toyota RAV4, Ford Edge, Nissan Rogue etc.