The family friendly Honda CR-V crossover announced its 2014 prices and updates today, with only a modest increase and a handful of new features like an easier fold-down back seat. Still hot off the car’s redesign last year, the CR-V is America’s best-selling crossover with an easy driving demeanor and quite a large cargo area, even with the back seat up.
Seating five people and bringing some of the most robust and reliable mechanicals ever made, the Honda->ke34 CR-V’s celebrated position in the firm’s range speaks to the car’s exceptional balance of size, performance and efficiency.
The style of the previous CR-V was also ripe for updates, as seeing its grinning open grille intake at every stoplight became quite tiresome over the years. The new design brings a broader and flush-mounted upper grille with flowing wings that meet the headlights. These lights are still goofy and oversized, but overall the nose of the CR-V is more friendly and sleek.
The roof of this generation of Honda CR-Vs has some interesting shaping as it leaves tons of second-row headroom before rumbling downward to meet the rear glass. There is more structure and definition to the Honda->ke34’s trademark chrome-trimmed glasshouse, but the CR-V will still not be winning any design competitions any time soon.
The cabin took a big leap forward with the latest refresh, and offers a new navigation and infotainment setup, as well as a streamlined audio button interface – quelling critics of Honda->ke34’s overwrought interior layouts in recent years.
The CR-V still majors on reliability, affordability and family versatility. How does it compare with the Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5? Is its large seats-up trunk volume and handy urban maneuverability enough to outweigh its lackluster MPG and performance stats?
Click past the jump for the full review of the 2014 Honda CR-V, with all the official pricing and features explained in detail.
2014 Honda CR-V
- Make: Array
- Model: 2014 Honda CR-V
- Engine/Motor: inline-4
- Horsepower: 185 @ 7000
- Torque: 163 @ 4400
- Transmission: 5-speed Auto
- [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Exterior
The CR-V’s styling is a bit of a head-scratcher. Who is this design meant to inspire? From the cartoon-ish nose and headlights, it seems the people who will like the CR-V’s nose most are small children and their caregivers.
The new grille design is a huge improvement, and classes up the Honda->ke34’s nose with three chrome horizontal grille bars and a jump “H” emblem in the center. The CR-V still wears far too much grey plastic bumper cladding, with the sculpted lower air intake hurting the car’s appearance and making it look a bit like a deep-sea creature. The way the painted nose juts out ahead of this lower air dam area is also unappealing and a very weak off-road styling cue.
Alloy skid plates are available for the nose and tail of the CR-V, but fail to create the same premium feel as those on the Audi allroad.
In profile, things improve dramatically. The Honda->ke34 has conservative and premium surfacing treatments with few styling embellishments. A soft-pressed swage line passes through the new door handles before meeting the taillight bases in the rear.
The new taillights are still high-mounted on the top of the D-pillars, but show more curve and flow into the roof than previous efforts. The design lacks the Volvo XC70’s crisp LED signature and instead makes do with traditional bulbs for the brake lights.
Even so, the rear and sides of the CR-V look clean and tasteful, offering lines that will age gracefully and a goofy nose that does match the latest Accord and upcoming Honda Fit wagon replacement.
Maybe goofy styling is not such a bad thing when looking at the also-bizarre RAV4’s sales data. Combined, these two little trucks move nearly 600,000 units every year - in the U.S. alone.
Even so, the Mazda CX-5 shows how a cohesive and interesting design philosophy can add value to affordable cars – even without LED lights or big wheels.
2014 Honda CR-V – Exterior Dimensions:
Wheelbase (in.) |
103.1 |
Length (in.) |
178.3 |
Width (in.) |
71.6 |
Height (in.) |
65.1 |
Track - Front (in.) |
61.5 |
Track - Rear (in.) |
61.5 |
Weight (Pounds) |
3305 FWD, 3426 AWD |
Drag Coefficient |
.34, Est |
2014 Honda CR-V – Exterior Features By Trim Level:
2014 Honda CR-V |
LX |
EX |
EX-L |
One-Touch Power Moonroof with Tilt Feature |
NA |
Standard |
Standard |
Remote Entry System |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Security System |
NA |
Standard |
Standard |
Roof Rails |
NA |
NA |
Standard |
Fog Lights |
NA |
Standard |
Standard |
Folding Power Side Mirrors including Expanded View Driver's Mirror |
Standard |
Body-Colored |
Body-Colored / Heated |
Multi-Reflector Halogen Headlights with Auto-Off |
Standard |
with Auto-On/Off |
with Auto-On/Off |
2-Speed/Intermittent Windshield Wipers |
Standard |
NA |
NA |
Variable Intermittent Windshield Wipers |
NA |
Standard |
Standard |
Intermittent Rear Window Wiper/Washer |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Heat-Rejecting Green-Tinted Glass |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Body-Colored Door Handles |
Black |
Standard |
Standard |
Rear Privacy Glass |
NA |
Standard |
Standard |
2014 Honda CR-V – Optional Exterior Features:
- Tailgate Spoiler ($296)
- 17-inch 10 Spoke Alloy Wheel ($1,196)
- Ski Attachment ($140)
- Trailer Hitch Ball 1 7/8 Inch ($15)
- Trailer Hitch Ball 2 Inch ($15)
- Trailer Hitch ($541)
- Body Side Molding ($225)
- Door Edge Guards ($84)
- Moonroof Visor ($152)
- Door Visors ($184)
- Chrome Exhaust Finisher ($51)
- Running Boards ($478)
- Splash Guard Set ($104)
Interior
The CR-V’s interior is still roomy and extremely practical, with a totally flat passenger floor whose low height makes entry easy as well as offers a comfortable, elevated driving position.
The seats are still very accommodating and look great both in cloth and especially the optional leather. Individual front armrests help to keep drivers comfortable over long hauls, and the latest CR-V plastics and interior materials are top notch.
The steering wheel is a tasteful shape with handy secondary controls for the iMID data center and cruise control, plus audio and phone buttons on the wheel spokes.
The new infotainment unit looks good but is not quite large enough, and its position on the dash means it may be tricky to see in direct sunlight. In terms of the nav graphics, the whole interface still seems quite cluttered, with an overload of data on the screen to select from.
The CR-V's built-in Pandora integration is nice, and brings the Holy Grail of being able to thumbs-up a song right from the Honda->ke34’s audio controls.
The CR-V’s claim to fame is its flexible and large cargo hold, which offers a segment-leading capacity of 37 cubic-feet with the seats up, and 71 cubic-feet with them down. The CR-V’s back seat can be folded via a trunk-mounted handle, or drivers can flip the seat base forward first for a truly flat and wide load area.
2014 Honda CR-V – Interior Dimensions:
Front Seating Capacity |
2 |
Rear Seating Capacity |
3 |
Headroom - Front (in.) |
39.9 |
Headroom - Rear (in.) |
38.6 |
Legroom - Front (in.) |
41.3 |
Legroom - Rear (in.) |
38.3 |
Shoulder Room - Front (in.) |
58.6 |
Shoulder Room - Rear (in.) |
56.4 |
Hip Room - Front (in.) |
54.5 |
Hip Room - Rear (in.) |
53.1 |
EPA Cargo Volume (cubic-feet) |
37.2 |
EPA Cargo Volume - Seats Folded (cubic-feet) |
70.9 |
2014 Honda CR-V – Interior Features By Trim Level:
2014 Honda CR-V |
LX |
EX |
EX-L |
Air Conditioning with Air-Filtration System |
Standard |
Standard |
NA |
Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control System |
NA |
NA |
Standard |
Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System with Voice Recognition and FM Traffic |
NA |
NA |
Available |
Honda DVD Rear Entertainment System |
NA |
NA |
Available |
i-MID with 5-Inch LCD Screen and Customizable Feature Settings |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Multi-Angle Rearview Camera with Guidelines |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Bluetooth HandsFreeLink |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Power Windows with Auto-Up/Down Driver's Window |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Power Door and Tailgate Locks |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Cruise Control |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Column |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel |
NA |
NA |
Standard |
Illuminated Steering Wheel-Mounted Controls |
Cruise / Audio / Phone / i-MID |
Cruise / Audio / Phone / i-MID |
Cruise / Audio / Phone / i-MID / Navi (available) |
Center Console |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Driver's and Front Passenger's Vanity Mirrors |
Standard |
Illuminated |
Illuminated |
Conversation Mirror with Sunglasses Holder |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Instrument Panel-Mounted Shifter |
Standard |
Standard |
Leather-Wrapped |
Beverage Holders, Front and Rear (8 total) |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
12-Volt Power Outlets |
Front and Center Console |
Front and Center Console |
Front and Center Console |
Glove Compartment |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Door-Pocket Storage Bins |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Driver's and Front Passenger's Seatback Pockets |
NA |
Standard |
Standard |
Map Lights |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Rear-Seat Center Armrest |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Driver-Side Garment Hook |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Remote Fuel Filler Door Release |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Rear Window Defroster |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Rear-Seat Heater Ducts |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Floor Mats |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Retractable Cargo Area Cover |
NA |
Standard |
Standard |
Cargo Area Tie-Down Anchors (4 total) |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Cargo Area Light |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Driver's Seat with 10-Way Power Adjustment, including Power Lumbar Support |
NA |
NA |
Standard |
Driver's Seat with Manual Height Adjustment |
Standard |
Standard |
NA |
Leather-Trimmed Seats |
NA |
NA |
Standard |
Heated Front Seats |
NA |
NA |
Standard |
Adjustable Front Seat-Belt Anchors |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Easy Fold-Down 60/40 Split Rear Seat |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Head Restraints at all Seating Positions |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
160-Watt AM/FM/CD Audio System with 4 Speakers |
Standard |
NA |
NA |
160-Watt AM/FM/CD Audio System with 6 Speakers |
NA |
Standard |
NA |
328-Watt AM/FM/CD Audio System with 7 Speakers, including Subwoofer |
NA |
NA |
Standard |
XM Radio |
NA |
NA |
Standard |
Pandora Compatibility |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Bluetooth Streaming Audio |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
USB Audio Interface |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
MP3/Auxiliary Input Jack |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
MP3/Windows Media Audio (WMA) Playback Capability |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Radio Data System (RDS) |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Speed-Sensitive Volume Control (SVC) |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
2014 Honda CR-V – Optional Interior Features:
- Back-Up Sensors ($530)
- Remote Engine Start System ($510)
- All Season Floor Mats ($143)
- Cargo Net ($51)
- Cargo Organizer ($70)
- Cargo Tray ($114)
- Rear Seat Covers ($239)
- Auto Day/Night Mirror ($323)
Drivetrain, Suspension and Brakes
All CR-V’s share the same engine and transmission, with front-drive as standard and AWD available on all trim levels. The engine is a 2.4-liter four-banger that makes a respectable 185 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 163 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. This is actually a lower-rev torque peak than previous Honda engines, but the CR-V still needs a heavy foot and lots of engine thrash to get moving quickly.
The five-speed automatic is also a weak link, offering fewer mpg than the leading crossovers by quite a bit. Versus the base Mazda CX-5’s 35 mpg, for example, the FWD CR-V’s 31 mpg is not so good. Performance also requires a bit of patience, with 60 mph coming in 8.8 seconds before an estimated 112 mph top speed. The CR-V is rated to tow 1,500 pounds.
2014 Honda CR-V – Mechanical Details:
Engine Size and Type |
2.4-liter 16-valve I-4 With DOHC And i-VTEC |
Peak power (Horsepower) |
185 @ 7000 |
Peak torque (Pound-feet) |
163 @ 4400 |
Transmission |
5-Speed Auto |
0-to-60 mph |
8.8 seconds |
Top Speed (mph) |
112, Est |
EPA Fuel Economy MPG (City/Combined/Highway) |
23/26/31 FWD, 22/25/30 AWD |
Safety
The CR-V is a five-star car from the NHTSA and a 2013 Top Safety Pick from IIHS.
2014 Honda CR-V – Standard Safety Features:
- Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with Traction Control
- Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
- Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
- Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) Body Structure
- Dual-Stage, Multiple-Threshold Front Airbags (SRS), Front Side Airbags with Passenger-Side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS), Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor
- 3-Point Seat Belts at all Seating Positions
- Front 3-Point Seat Belts with Automatic Tensioning System
- Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH): Lower Anchors (2nd-Row All), Tether Anchors (2nd-Row All)
- Child-Proof Rear Door Locks
Pricing
The CR-V is priced from $22,945 for 2014, and ranges up to just below $30,000 for the AWD EX-L trim with the rear-seat entertainment system.
2014 Honda CR-V – Prices:
Model |
Transmission |
2014 MSRP |
EPA MPG Ratings (City/Hwy/Combined) |
CR-V LX (2WD) |
5-Speed Automatic |
$22,945 |
23/31/26 |
CR-V LX (AWD) |
5-Speed Automatic |
$24,195 |
22/30/25 |
CR-V EX (2WD) |
5-Speed Automatic |
$25,045 |
23/31/26 |
CR-V EX (AWD) |
5-Speed Automatic |
$26,295 |
22/30/25 |
CR-V EX-L (2WD) |
5-Speed Automatic |
$27,695 |
23/31/26 |
CR-V EX-L (AWD) |
5-Speed Automatic |
$28,945 |
22/30/25 |
CR-V EX-L w/ Rear Ent. Sys. (2WD) |
5-Speed Automatic |
$28,395 |
23/31/26 |
CR-V EX-L w/ Rear Ent. Sys. (4WD) |
5-Speed Automatic |
$29,645 |
22/30/25 |
CR-V EX-L w/ Navi (2WD) |
5-Speed Automatic |
$29,195 |
23/31/26 |
CR-V EX-L w/ Navi (AWD) |
5-Speed Automatic |
$30,445 |
22/30/25 |
Competition
The Escape offers a more contemporary design inside and out, with a high-tech cabin that spans from utility in its base trims, up to near-premium status with the 240-horsepower EcoBoost engine and active safety tech that's missing in the Honda.
The CX-5's new optional engine allows it to be much quicker than the CR-V, despite similar horsepower counts. The CX-5 can hit 60 mph 1.5 seconds before the CR-V, but does have a slightly smaller interior volume for cargo and passengers. The CX-5 looks far better than the CR-V from the outside.
Conclusion
Familiarity can breed contempt at times, and the CR-V is so ubiquitous across the globe that consumer wear-out is only natural. A handful of tasteful new earth tone paint colors at least help the CR-V to look more contemporary than the parade of identical maroon press cars from the CR-V launch.
Among the millions who rely on the CR-V as their pride and joy, the car’s lovable traits emerge and burn bright for years of stress-free driving. For people with more gasoline in their veins, the base-trim BMW X1 and Mazda CX-5 will bring more smiles-per-gallon than the practical Honda CR-V
Category |
Rating |
Details |
Driving |
B |
Spacious And Flexible Interior Has Comfortable Seats And Better Refinement Than Before |
Performance |
C+ |
Slow And Noisy Under Power |
Look |
B- |
Improved Profile And Tail, But Headlights Are Embarrassing |
Value |
B+ |
Good Trim Levels Mean Easy Purchase Of Exact CR-V Features A Buyer Wants |
Overall |
B |
A Bland But Reliable Crossover With A Huge Trunk |