Good gas alternative, but there are better out there. The 2022 Honda CR-V gives buyers who need a spacey crossover a thriftier option. Compared to its gas-only siblings, the CR-V looks stellar. However, take it out of that box, and the CR-V falls short of its Toyota and Ford rivals.
Find out below if the 2022 Honda CR-V has enough other endearing features to overcome this shortcoming.
Roomy, safe interior. Inside, the 2022 Honda CR-V leaves no one needing more space. It boasts 40.4 inches of second-row legroom and 57.9 inches of shoulder room, making it a good space for kids and adults. This is right on par with most of its competitors, but it puts its head and shoulders above the RAV4 and 37.8 inches of rear legroom.
In the cargo area, the CR-V Hybrid features 33.2 cubic feet of cargo room with the rear seats up and a healthy 67.7 cubes with the rear seats folded. While this falls slightly below the RAV4 Hybrid, it’s about average for the class.
With its standard automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, active lane control, and automatic high beams, you and your passengers will also be safe in the CR-V Hybrid. It’s also an IIHS Top Safety Pick and has great visibility all around. The Ford Escape is also an IIHS Top Safety Pick, but it lacks standard adaptive cruise.
The RAV4 Hybrid is also a Top Safety Pick and has standard automatic emergency braking, active lane control, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams, but it falls a notch due to its massive blind spots.
Well-equipped but pricey. The 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid is well-equipped, as its base EX trim comes standard with a seven-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also includes a 180-watt eight-speaker audio system.
The Ford Escape Hybrid has a one-inch-larger screen and includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The RAV4 Hybrid is a better match to the CR-V Hybrid with its standard seven-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
All three models are very similar in their standard equipment, but pricing is a different situation. The CR-V Hybrid starts from $32,185 (destination fees included), which is $2,070 more than the base RAV4 and $2,910 more than the Escape SE Hybrid. Sure, there are other features the CR-V Hybrid has that the RAV4 and Escape lack in their base setups, but the gap in starting price is still alarming.
Good fuel economy – versus gasoline-only models. The Honda CR-V Hybrid is an excellent alternative to thirsty gasoline-only models. It delivers 40 miles per gallon city, 35 highway, and 38 combined; which is a 12 mpg city, 1 mpg highway, and 8 mpg improvement over its gas-only sibling.
Put it against its competitors, and it falls behind. The RAV4 Hybrid delivers 41 mpg city, 38 highway, and 40 combined. The Ford Escape widens the gap at 44 mpg city, 37 highway, and 41 combined with front-wheel drive.
Final thoughts. The 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid is a sharp-looking, thrifty crossover with plenty of room for passengers and cargo. It also includes loads of standard equipment. However, with its base trim being the EX, the CR-V Hybrid starts at a far higher price than its similarly equipped competitors.
Buyers seeking a better value should look to the Ford Escape Hybrid or Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. Both models also offer far more unique looks than the CR-V Hybrid.
