The Saga of the Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V may not be the largest or most powerful vehicle in the lineup of Honda SUVs, but it is by far the most popular. Currently, in its fifth generation, the Honda CR-V has long since eclipsed the Honda Civic to become Honda’s best selling vehicle. Indeed, it has even held the position of being the best selling non-truck in America. However, this was not always the case. The first year for the Honda CR-V was 1997. And, in fact, unlike many of its competitors, when the Honda CR-V was introduced, the SUV market, as we know it today, did not even exist.

Although the modern SUV craze was certainly beginning, it was geared towards large truck-based vehicles rather than the more efficient crossovers of today. And while the Honda CR-V was not the very first crossover SUV, it was one of the leaders that helped turn this class of vehicle into the incredible success that it is today. The history of this fan-favorite is fun and interesting, so we at Honda of Newnan are going to tell you a bit more about it today.

The Start of a Revolution

The Honda CR-V is technically not the first of the Honda SUVs. That distinction goes to the 1994 Honda Passport. However, the first generation Honda Passport was not a Honda at all, but a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo. This was because, in those days, an SUV meant a vehicle with body-on-frame construction, and Honda did not have a truck platform to build such an SUV off of. However, this limitation was soon turned into an advantage. Rather than attempt to design a new SUV only platform, Honda instead took the then unconventional route of modifying one of its existing highly successful car platforms into an SUV. The platform in question was that of the best-selling Honda Civic, and the result was the Honda CR-V.

But turning the Honda Civic into Honda’s first SUV was actually less strange than might be imagined. While the Honda Civic is primarily known as a sporty compact sedan, at the time, there also existed the Honda Civic Shuttle. This was a five-door wagon version of the car that even sported a real-time all-wheel drive system. With this surprisingly capable car as a starting point, creating a true SUV was a fairly straightforward endeavor. While Honda, of course, made many changes during the process, including a larger engine and an improved all-wheel drive system, the end result still closely resembled the Honda Civic Shuttle.

But while the American SUV craze may have helped inspire the Honda CR-V, it took a couple of years to reach our shores. The very first version of the Honda CR-V was released in Japan for the 1995 model year, but the first American version was not until the 1997 model year. Interestingly, this meant that in both markets, Honda’s new SUV launched exactly one year behind its chief rival, the Toyota RAV4, which was available in Japan for 1994 and came to America for the 1996 model year.

Rivals and Improvements

When the brand new Honda CR-V hit the market, there was almost nothing else like it. While the market was filled with traditional truck-based SUVs from numerous manufacturers, the only major direct competitors to Honda CR-V were the similarly new Toyota RAV4 and the older and more off-road focused Jeep Cherokee. And while the new car-based crossover SUVs may not have had quite the same level of performance as the popular body on frame SUVs like the Ford Bronco and Chevy Blazer, designs like the Honda CR-V were noticeably more comfortable and efficient.

In this environment, the new crossovers flourished, quickly taking market share from the older SUV designs. By the end of the decade, Honda’s revolutionary approach to compact SUV design had proven itself far superior to the older methods. And the other major manufacturers had begun replacing their rugged but clumsy body on frame SUVs with car-based crossovers of their own. However, even when faced by a large, and growing field of competitors, the Honda CR-V managed to maintain its lead.

The second generation Honda CR-V arrived soon after the beginning of the new millennia, debuting as a 2002 model year vehicle. With substantial improvements across the board, the second generation boosted the Honda CR-V far above its new competitors, such as the Ford Escape. The most significant change introduced by the 2002 Honda CR-V was a much larger 2.4L engine that included Honda’s revolutionary i-VTEC variable valve timing system for 160 hp.

Although many of its competitors have offered six-cylinder engine options for added power, the Honda CR-V has always stuck with its trusty four-cylinder engines. And while this has meant that the Honda CR-V was never the most powerful crossover SUV available, Honda’s advanced engine technologies have been good enough that its compact SUV was never entirely outmatched by the competition. In addition to its new engine, the 2002 Honda CR-V also has its suspension rearranged to give it considerably more interior room than before.

Standing out in a Crowded Market

By the late 2000s, the SUV market was not only increasingly crowded, but the emphasis had begun shifting from active sports vehicles to more general-purpose designs for the average driver. Honda recognized this trend early, and when the third-generation Honda CR-V was released for 2007, it was designed to appeal to a larger demographic. While the new vehicle was mechanically quite similar to the previous generation and even shared the same engine, it featured more elegant styling and additional features.

Gone was the boxy plastic-clad outdoors look and in its place was flowing lines and chrome. A more urban rear liftgate replaced the side-opening rear door, and a full-size rear-mounted spare tire typical of off-road vehicles was eliminated in favor of a compact spare stored under the cargo floor. The inside of the new SUV was also geared more towards luxury than adventure, with more comfortable seats and updated technology. With these changes, the third generation Honda CR-V shot to the top of the sales charts and became the single most popular SUV in America.

The fourth-generation Honda CR-V again brought few mechanical changes, and this time even the styling remained similar to the previous model. However, Honda continued to focus on improving comfort, and the updated interior of the 2012 Honda CR-V even sported dual infotainment screens. Again, Honda understood what the customers wanted, and this formula again paid off with the fourth generation Honda CR-V selling in larger numbers than ever before.

Today, the explosive growth of the SUV market has led to a declining market share for the Honda CR-V. Still, Honda has continued with its tried and true methods, and its compact SUV remains one of the most popular options available. Additionally, the fifth generation of the Honda CR-V has introduced a variety of new features to remain relevant. Not only did the 2017 model add a thoroughly modern infotainment system and a suite of driver assistant technologies, but it also began the move away from the trusty 2.4L engine in favor of a more efficient and more powerful 1.5L turbo.

A Bright Future

While Honda continually updated the Honda CR-V over the years to remain ahead of its competition, it did not pursue battery and hybrid technologies. However, times have now changed, and for the 2020 model year, the first-ever Honda CR-V Hybrid is now available. And while it may seem like this decision is more reactionary than visionary, Honda has made the correct choice.

While older hybrids were expensive and had underwhelming performance, the Honda CR-V Hybrid belongs to a new class of affordable high-performance hybrids. Indeed, with 212 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque, the new SUV is the most powerful Honda CR-V to date. And with 25 years of success behind it, we can only look forward to a bright future for the most popular of the Honda SUVs, the Honda CR-V.