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23Honda CR-V

Honda CR-V (2017-2026)

 VerifiedAlso referred to as: Honda CR-V 2025 and Honda CR-V 2027.
23Honda CR-V
4.0

156 reviews

Positive vs Negative
75%9%16%
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Build Quality
4.3
Value for Money
4.1
Noise Level
3.9

Reviews with attachments

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Ramiro Pinaud
Ramiro PinaudNSW4 posts
  CR-V 2WD Vi

Would not recommend - Honda CRV 2021 – I bought this car brand new from the dealership in 2021. After just a few months there was a concerning noise with the steering wheel (clicking) and when turning, it did not feel smooth. I got Honda City Sydney to investigate the issue under the warranty and they advised that they could not find the root cause, and to just deal with it. I… Read more

questioned them that a brand new car should not be degrading after a few months and would it cause more problems later if not resolved now. I was pretty much fobbed off at this point and told that they would 'look into it' but have heard nothing and have had zero contact.

The issue is still there and concerns me, especially as I have a young family travelling in the car with me most days. We trusted the Honda brand to be a reliable choice and were hoping to drive the car for many years. At this point, I wouldn't choose Honda again.

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HylandRoad
HylandRoadQLD3 posts
  CR-V AWD VTi-LX

Lots of rattles and lots of features removed compared to overseas models – 25/6/2023- discovered that the exterior door trims are actually the bottom part of the door. The door metal does not go to the bottom of the plastic trims. Found out due to the trim tabs breaking and the trim flapping in the wind. Watched a youtube video of the overseas model where it shows what the problem is. Just had to buy a packet of tabs… Read more

and wait for them. The trim tabs break due to doors being opened and hitting either gutters, ground or something if on an angle. Really looking at getting rid of the Honda and going to Toyota. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKdB4rful6w

I have a now 10 month old VTi-LX AWD model. Noticed a couple of months ago a really bad rattle coming from the centre console area. Luckily the service manager at local Honda is from Canada and knew what is was. One of the drivers seat bolts had come undone and was loose in the body. They found it and replaced it with a new bolt and nut. Apparently the seats do not bolt direct into the frame but have a nut and bolt arrangement. Like other people, there are lots of dashboard/door/engine bay/sunroof noises that can't be traced. When I took my car in with the seat bolt noise, there first comment was 'Another Honda with a noise'. Seems to be poor factory assembly. I found 1 noise in the engine bay which came through to the cabin. It was the air conditioning pipes hitting the brake pipes and rattling. Luckily they could be bent apart. As for the comparison of the overseas models, there are quite a few things removed for the Australian market. We miss out on foot activated rear door, door lock and unlock at certain speeds or when put into P, cross traffic monitor, Can't install apps on the infotainment system, and Homelink transceiver. For all the features the car does have, Honda did not put auto side mirror folding in the car. So many other vehicles have that. The tyre pressure monitoring system is hopeless. Usually comes on when I do a highway run if I haven't done one for a while. To reset it, you have to stop the car and find the setting through the entertainment system and tell it to calibrate. The TPMS does not work by sensors fitted to the tyres, but works out the difference in tyre rotation and then gives a warning. We bought the Honda over a Subaru only due to the interior size. Subaru has better safety features and has had them for a while. The fuel consumption around town is over 10l/100km which is the same I used to get from a Isuzu MUX 4WD diesel. I use the 'Eco' switch to try and get it down. Luckily I got a 7 year warranty with my Honda so I will get rid of it at about 5 years just in case the CVT fails.

Forgot to mention the infotainment system. Hopeless. It is really slow, cannot handle the Australian heat which makes it malfunction. If I am trying to voice dial through Android auto and then press the left blinker, the left turn camera system stops the voice dialing. This means you have to do it again. The system quite often loses connection to both Android and Apple phones for no reason. Restarting the car fixes it. Annoying. I think the system needs a much quicker CPU, more memory and a bit of an update.

The most annoying feature, everytime you start the car, you have to press 'OK' on the screen to acknowledge some warning about watching the road. If you don't, the screen goes to a clock.

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John B.
John B.WA
  Verified CR-V 2WD e:HEV RS

Stay away from the New CRV – Good car but terrible experience so far for brand new car. Two weeks on having the vehicle it has develop a knocking noise when braking which has been confirmed by the dealership and they has advised us that they have experience the same issues on a different vehicle on same model. Between the dealership and Honda Australia they don't know how to… Read more

fix it. Both Honda Australia and the Prestige Honda can't even give us a replacement vehicle and we are now stuck with a car they can't confirm if it's safe to drive and worst part is No one seems to be helping us on 6 weeks us old Honda..! I would not recommend buying this Car and stay away..!

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alan biss
alan bissSA
  CR-V 2WD VTi

seat material splitting from seam on driver's seat – bought brand new CR-V from Dave potter Honda, now defunct, 3.5 yrs ago meticulously maintained and looked after. driven a careful 65000klm by 70 yr old grandmother. drivers seat material pulling away from seam, small hole either side of seam. took it to nordic honda and they came back within half hour with, "exterior influence". called Honda, got… Read more

a case number and explained issue, called them back 4 days later got told same outside influence and fair wear and tear!!!!! got a 16yr old falcon that has no issues and neither have any of previous cars owned. really poor attitude to compliment poor quality seat material was offered new seat cover for $360 plus fitting. declined offer if it is going to happen again soon. supposed to have 7 yr warranty but Honda not even interested in removing cover to check for faulty stitching.

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Jeffrey L.
Jeffrey L.2 posts
  CR-V AWD VTi-S

I love it but it could have been even better still – I purchased a new 2020MY Honda CRV VTI-S AWD in October 2019 from Eastern Honda in Doncaster. I traded my previous 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer CJ on the Honda. I had to opt for the AWD version to get the Honda Sensing safety features at that time, although these became available on all models in the next model year. I have not done a great number of… Read more

kilometres in this car due to the many lockdowns we had, at just about the time I retired, so no more commuting to and from work after the first year of ownership.

The adaptive cruise control and road departure/AEB can be a little over-sensitive, as the brakes have been automatically applied a few times on descending large humps in the road or approaching white painted traffic islands.

I was already used to a CVT transmission in the Lancer, although that had a ‘sports’ mode where one could manually select artificially programmed ‘gears’ as a six speed box, whereas there is no such option in the Honda. In my opinion, the CVT in the Lancer was very good, and the best of its type. The Honda’s is very nearly as good. The 1.5 litre turbo engine is very slightly laggy on the initial take-off from a standstill, but delivers heaps of power once on the move, with the All Wheel Drive adding extra stability and drive when required. There is plenty of overtaking power when needed on the highway.

The seats are very comfortable for my large 186cm frame, as is the driving position. As I am getting a bit arthritic, the ability to just slide into or out of my seat is great, where I was beginning to have problems getting into or out of the Lancer. The ride quality is also supremely comfortable and well cushioned from jarring bumps and pot holes in the road, something that really helped sell the car to me. Interior road noise could be better, though, in spite of the noise-cancelling feature Honda claim is fitted. It is still not a noisy car, just could be better. There are lots of storage spaces in the car, and the controls are mostly well-thought out and easy to find. There is heaps of room in the back seats, with a nice almost flat floor right the way across.

Handling is good, reassuring and well-balanced, with not too much lean in corners – an SUV will never be a sports car, but this is good. Bumps in mid-corner don't upset it in any way. The steering is light with some feel and a very good turning lock for this size of vehicle. The brakes are excellent and very, very reassuring.

Economy has been good, currently showing an average of 7.6 l/100km, which is not far off the manufacturer’s claims for 7.4 l/100km. This includes much running around suburban Melbourne, but also some highway running between Melbourne and Adelaide and Melbourne and Echuca.

An annoyance is that the way the folding mirrors can only be operated while the ignition is on (something my wife’s much cheaper Kia Picanto will do regardless of ignition state). It would have been nice to have proper blind spot warnings and a rear cross traffic alert, but the extra camera under the mirror on the left-hand side is useful and a nice feature, except at night when following headlights can dazzle the camera.

I am not entirely sure about the dealership service quality: all of the annual services have been carried out as per the book, but the capped price is a bit of a misnomer with the extra charges (there is a rider in the contract). I did complain about the driver’s side sun visor dropping back to a vertical position when pushed against the windscreen, thus blocking my vision. Eastern Honda did replace it completely, but the new one did the same thing so I have currently wedged a small piece of plastic into the socket and that has worked for me.

Insurance costs have been reasonable for me too.

Overall, I love the CR-V, but it could have been even better with the extra safety features some of your rivals have, Honda. I would still recommend it to others.

In-depth reviews

Tonys
TonysNSW16 posts
  Verified CR-V AWD VTi L AWD
Build Quality
Value for Money
Noise Level

Disc Brake Rotor Warped- have been told that it is because I drove the vehicle through water when the brakes were hot, causing the disc to warp. If this is the case then Honda cars are not fit for purpose and as such should not be sold in Australia. This vehicle has been serviced by the dealer at Maitland regularly since New, it has never been… Read more

involved in an accident of any sort, it does not have a tow bar fitted , so I haven't been hooking up a trailer and pulling heavy loads - putting extra pressure on the brakes, it has been just normal driving, with 2 people in the car, it has never been driven on a beach or dirt roads. Symptoms are- when you put your foot on the brake, the pedal remains firm, but you can feel the disc grabbing and then letting go, the pedal does not "Pulse". So if you are considering buying a new Honda- you might like to reconsider- they don't support their product or customer when they have a problem- Honda's reply is that this is normal wear & tear - I have bought over 15 new cars over the years and never had a problem. Honda's reply is the usual corporate nonsense reply. P.S. Have taken the car to a brake Specialist- he was amazed that the rotors had warped for the k's the vehicle had travelled ( 42,000) - cost of repair $160.00 . So for $160.00 Honda have lost a customer for good and the sale of a new car ( we Bought a Toyota Kluger Hybrid). Upon digging deeper when we bought a new car, it turns out that quite a few the dealerships in Australia are owned by a company called EAGERS who have multiple sites and multiple vehicle franchises.So if you take your car into one of their yards for a trade in, the details of your car go on their system. So you might take the car to another dealership for a trade in , only to find you get offered the same or a very similar price,(usually low ball) because unknown to you it is another Eagers dealership operating under a different trading name. You can Google their name and check out their extensive network of dealerships.- So Beware

David
David4 posts
  CR-V AWD VTi-LX

Great car with a few disappointments – Purchased a new 2022 Honda CRV VTI-LX back in September 2022. Wasn't sure about the 1.5lt Turbo after having an XR6 however out performs Subaru Forester, which has a 2.5lt (totally gutless). Does get up & go with the turbo on highway driving. Find cruise control adaptive assist a bit too sensitive, as it braked on uneven road when nothing was in… Read more

front, luckily only in a 60k zone. Had to replace the windscreen, turns out not set up correctly, as now all good. I'm not sure about the CVT as yet. The one thing I'm really annoyed about is that the only way the mirrors fold & unfold is by pushing a button. Surely, this could be automatic when the engine stops. The Owners manual stated you can engage auto fold by double locking, but apparently, this is not an option on my vehicle. Even though it is top of the range. All in all, a great car. Update 2024, no issues except tyre pressure warning have appeared twice, both on ling distance journeys, annoying. Simple reset when serviced.

Grant
Grant
  CR-V 2WD VTi-X

Great all rounder – Bought to replace Mazda 3 2013 mod. This crv is quite and frugal on fuel 6.8 lit per h/k. One of the smoothest rides .It was a surprise that the CVT trans works so efficiently, to the point of being better than a torque converter trans. I expected to have a lot of right foot for this car to get up to speed but no such thing.Speaking or rpm’s or… Read more

lack of , on a drive from Seven Hills to near Port Macquarie doing legal speeds . This car cruised from 1800rpm to 2500rpm and only reaching mid 3500s on several occasions up fairly steep incline’s. That’s effortless cruising for a 1.5 lt turbo. All done very well quietly and competently. My wife chose the CRV over Mazda CX-5 for visibility as she is 5.2 ft high. The Mazda is a great car but you get the sense of being cocooned in with the swept up sides. The only question mark about the Crv is long term reliability with CVT trans and small 1.5 lt turbo engine compared to Cx5 2.5 lt engine and torque converter trans as the latter is a proven combination.Servicing done per 10,000 kms with Honda and traveled 34,000 kms in 18 months since new. No problems.

Positive reviews

Januar
JanuarWA
  CR-V 2WD e:HEV RS

Lack of auto folding mirror – Too bad the CRV RS Hybrid is not equipped with auto folding mirrors and auto lock. While the HR-V, which is priced lower than CR-V, is already equipped with auto lock and auto folding mirrors. Show details

CDAussie
CDAussieVIC49 posts
  CR-V 2WD VTi

Very happy purchaser – Purchased as a demonstrator from Baker Motors in Albury last year. Really happy with this car. The fuel efficiency is very good. The space/storage is excellent and the car is quiet and rides well. 2nd service at 30k amazingly cheap under fixed price servicing and Bakers are very professional. Easy to drive, rear vision good and high seating… Read more

position suits our now aging frames. I am happy with this car and full recommend it so far, having travelled approximately 10k km.

Stu and Kim
Stu and KimQLD2 posts
  CR-V AWD VTi-L

What a great decision it was to get one of these! – A brilliant daily drive. Very responsive, fuel efficient, comfortable, beautifully finished and great value vehicle. We've had it for 15 months now and apart from a misaligned chrome strip on the driver's door (being fixed this week under warranty), it hasn't missed a beat! Show details

Negative reviews

Edo
Edo11 posts
  CR-V AWD VTi-S

One year after 5-year-warranty expired the CRV (2018) auto tale gate stopped working: both from the inside or by the remote; so I can't use the boot! took it the Honda dealer twice and they couldn't fix it, first they said the actuator need changing at ($480+) when that didn't solve the problem they said to come back as they needed more time for… Read more

investigating, yet charged me for the 'labor'. I thought I paid for a good quality car, and wonder what next!

Honda
Honda    

Hello Edo, apologies for the late response. If you provide… Read more

Raj S.
Raj S.23 posts
  5th Generation

Some advantages and some disadvantages for Honda crv – Honda CRV 2006 is somewhat reliable but goes into lump mode every now and again after 120k KMs. It has plenty of room but doesn't do well on petrol

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Skiibunny
SkiibunnyNSW23 posts
  CR-V AWD VTi-LX

Sad Purchase – 2018 CRV VTI-LX purchased new with 7 year warranty. Top of the range. Beautiful to drive. Love the features. However, have had problems with a couple of things which Honda Australia will not come to the party with. One is the auto daylight saving time change which I had on my old CRV and which s fitted to this 2018 model and also as per… Read more

owners manual is operable on Australian models but has never functioned. Honda insist that its not available in Australian vehicles and would not discuss it further.

Second problem is the Audio screen. Started to go through crazy blacking out then on again then off etc. this meant the cameras were inoperable everytime this happened as was the GPS and any screen usage. Dealer reported problem to Honda Aust and told me it would be changed but there was a delay in getting screen. Screen arrived after 6 weeks and changed under warranty. However, found on there the GPS had a history of Qland addresses which rang alarm bells. Referred to dealer who advised the screen was a refurbished unit. Not at all happy, this replacement unit now in my car obviously had problems in a previous vehicle. Honda is merely recycling and not telling consumers this. When checked the serial number on replacement unit it is a much older number than my original one. The work order invoice also clearly states “remove old audio screen and instal new audio screen”. At no time ever was there any mention of a “refurbished” unit being used. Honda slipped up by not having cleared out the old data on the replacement before recycling it. They refuse to supply a “New” unit. Vehicle still under warranty till end of June 2025. This is the 4th Honda in the family and will be the last one. Very poor after sales customer service.

Honda
Honda    

Hi there - thank you for your feedback about the daylight… Read more

Recent reviews

KUNWAR
KUNWARVIC6 posts
  CR-V AWD VTi-S

Reliable mid size SUV, have bought it second hand and sold after 150K KM, didn't face any major issues, despite I missed few services, there was oil seepage but not sure if it was common issue with others, overall its a safer SUV to ride with family Show details

David
DavidVIC8 posts
  CR-V AWD VTi LX AWD

We love our Honda! Its our daily driver and used on sealed and unsealed roads. Pros: Excellent quality and build. Very quiet and smooth. Dash layout is visually pleasing, easy to use, and functional. Spacious cabin (5 seater). Leather seats are comfortable. Big Cargo area. Just a delightful car to drive. It does everything right. Cons. Fuel… Read more

economy could be better. We average around 8lt per 100km on combined driving. Could do with a bit more power.

I recommend a CRV to anyone.

Fingers
Fingers13 posts
  CR-V 2WD VTi L

Purchased car in Jan 2024 and have driven a conservative 16000kl with no major issues. This is the 4th Honda CRV I've owned. Instrumentation is functional and well appointed. Major attraction for me is cabin space and driving comfort which I consider best in class ( I'm a big guy). I wouldn't say the 1.5l engine cvt transmission combo is… Read more

particularly powerful but aided by a turbo is adequate for everyday driving. Consumption is reasonably frugal generally around 7/100. Doors open at 45 dgrees making it easy to get stuff in and out. Only issue is battery will quickly go flat if not driven within two weeks. Once re started it will annoyingly carry on flashing and binging for a day or two. But apart from that it's all good.

Mark Hesford
Mark HesfordQLD6 posts
  CR-V

Never buy a Honda – Gearbox failed and von bibra would not warrant it or Honda because I I fitted a towbar? Show details

Honda
Honda    

Hello Mark, We regret to see that you feel this way about… Read more (+1 reply)

gogs
gogs11 posts
  CR-V 2WD VTi-L7

Worst car with worst Service – Stay away from HONDA Worst car with noise and wobbly seat and Honda wanting money to investigate the issue in 9 months old car Not good Show details

Simon
SimonNSW5 posts
  CR-V 2WD Vi

Honda dream – This has been the Best car I have ever owned 3 1/2 years of trouble free motoring it’s a beautiful thing to drive I drive about 800 km a week it has never let me down I would definitely recommend this car I love it I would buy another Honda CR-V again Show details

James N.
James N.WA5 posts
  CR-V 2WD VTi-L7

Great SUV, but more engine options would be nice – The Honda CR-V is a great SUV but could do with a little more power for its size and to allow a bigger towing capacity. Have owned for two years and driven 30K with no issues. Fuel consumption is 8.6lts avg. Would buy Honda again if Honda Australia hadn't shrunk its dealer network to virtually non-existent. Show details

John L.
John L.NSW
  CR-V AWD VTi-LX
Build Quality
Value for Money
Noise Level

Disappointed With My CRV VTI LX – Picked up the new car in February 2021 and had problems almost immediately. At present I have been wating on a crucial safety part for 9 month and been told the part might not arrive in the country untill 2023. I can't recommend the Honda CRV as my experience has been one of bitter dissapointment. If it was possible I would trade it in now for a more reliable car. Show details

Midsize / Medium SUVs

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Julie
Julie6 posts
  CR-V AWD

Honda CRV – I have purchased a Honda CRV . An outstanding car to drive. It feels safe, plenty of room for 4 adults. It drives like a car should do , it has great stability, you feel like you are in control when driving this car. Any excuse to get behind the wheel. The interior has everything that you need, coffee holders are essential which it has. Dashboard… Read more

is well designed easy to navigate all the controls, very economic, I would highly recommend this as a family car and it’s well priced, go get a test drive and you will see for yourself how good the Honda is.

dmh
dmhWA2 posts
  CR-V AWD VTi-L

Want one of these – I have driven different styles of Honda’s for over 25 years. I’m currently in a Honda Odyssey 7 seater that was by far the most practical car for 3 children, all their friends, dog, school bags. large pieces of sporting equipment including being able to fit surfboards in the back of the car with 3 kids ( no roof rack needed). Hardly anything has… Read more

gone wrong with this car and it’s 23 years old. However, the kids are grown up and I want to downsize to a CRV. I test drove a CRV AWD and it’s beautiful on the road, quick acceleration, well appointed and looks good. It still has the practicality and best interior design ever I need to put all my stuff in the back. Seats go down and lie flat, really spacious boot area and the hatch back makes for easy loading of large objects. Honda makes the best cars.

David
DavidVIC10 posts
  CR-V AWD VTi-LX
Build Quality
Value for Money
Noise Level

Nice care if you're prepared to keep filling it up with oil – At 80k on the odometer, I have just been told that burning up to 1 ltr of oil per 1,000 km is normal. So anyone considering buying a CRV should be prepared to top up with half a litre of oil every time they fill up with petrol. I'm going to ditch mine and would warn anyone thinking of buying one of these. The interior is nice and it handles… Read more

well, but it has been losing power along with burning oil. Full Honda service history from new and when it comes to getting the burning of a ridiculous amount of oil fixed under warranty, I'm told that it is normal. Second and last CRV for me.

Rajesh Khanna
Rajesh KhannaSA2 posts
  CR-V AWD VTi-L

Honda CRV VTi 7 Lacks basic features – The car is good as a 5 seater. The last two seats in a 7 seater are only for small kids. Lacks basic features even auto lights is a upgrade feature. Doesn’t come even spending more than 40 K. The boot in a 7 seater becomes uneven if u fold the last row of seats. Doesn’t have any sensors. Digital Analog radio is not there. All the features are… Read more

very basic and available in most same range cars. Bought the car in a rush but not a happy customer. Should have checked the competition.

Krazy
KrazyWA6 posts
  CR-V AWD VTi-LX

Perfect family car. Poor after sale service – Perfect family car. Big space for passenger and in boot space. Safety features not that bad. Alright driving and not really fuel efficient as claim by Honda. Low quality of reverse camera especially during night time. Cabin noise when driving is not that bad. LKA rating 7/10. Acceleration needs to be hard for pick up to change lanes. Honda… Read more

dealer after sales car is very poor. Deal with assistant manager [Name Removed] from Honda myaree Perth. Always avoiding to reply and have many excuses. Don’t know much about what he’s selling as well.

Paint protection by Honda dealer ( permaguard)

Do not get it. It’s a total rubbish Unfortunately I was stupid enough to buy the interior and exterior protection. Didn’t research enough and just jump into it. First they will make your paint full of scratches and hologram.

2nd they will ask you bring it back and let their washing department redo for you. By redo , they just spray a can of chemicals over it to cover it away which reappear after a wash or heavy rain.

3rd the manager will give you a call after complaining it to the dealer that serve you who doesn’t want to give you an answer and keep dragging your time and not replying.

4th they will never let you do a refund and finally they will ask a professional to do it right. So by the time your fresh new paint will be thinner and not that fresh anymore.

5th Honda now has only 2 dealer in WA. Shouldn’t they be stepping up their game in service ?

Total sums up that Honda is a good family car. But after sales service and accessories like the paint protection is totally rubbish. Just avoid buying the accessories and Honda myaree [Name Removed] and everything is going to be okay.

Dianne
DianneWA6 posts
  CR-V 2WD VTi-L
Build Quality
Value for Money
Noise Level

Continually having a Flat battery – The car is only used for family tranporting. Never off road as it is only 2wd. We use the car almost daily. The car serviced regularly by Honda when I receive notification from them. My problem is I have replaced the battery after 3 years as it began to fail. Then within 12 months after replacing the battery again the car would not start so I… Read more

went back to where I purchased the battery and had them check if there was a problem. They suggested that there was nothing wrong with the battery but it was the alternator and that I should go back to Honda.. I reported the matter to Honda ( whilst the car was still under warranty)when it began and they informed there appeared to be nothing wrong. After this happened several times I Googled the problem and it appears to be a Parasitic Drain which Honda apparently know about. In the USA they have accepted the issue but in Australia they seem to be in denial. In the last 4 months I have had to jump start the car 10 times (I have begun to keep records). I have been considering upgrading to a new CRV but if this is a ongoing problem with CRV I am reluctant to do so.

Annie
AnnieVIC2 posts
  CR-V 2WD VTi

Awesome car. I live love love it – My car is perfect for me. It drives smoothly and can accelerate powerfully when needed. It's economical and really comfortable. Lots of room for family and plenty of bootspace. Awesome. Show details

Fat Elf
Fat ElfWA6 posts
  Fair Incentive CR-V 2WD VTi-X

Better value than HRV – Well I had an HRV and was going to buy another because it is a great car but the CRV is better value for money. I have a late 2020 model, first of the current upgraded CRVs although distinguishing the old and new is very difficult except I have Cosmic Blue, a colour not available in the last variant. The car is well optioned and while the L… Read more ·  1

model has more who really needs heated seats in Australia and sunroofs are really last century? AWD is even more perverse, drove one and couldn't tell the difference. Automatic tailgate is great although this precludes the fitting of a tow bar, someone stuffed up there didn't they? Sat Nav is OK but is rather antique and nowhere near as good as Tom Toms or Navmans. Sat Nat and all the display panels are totally counter intuative which is annoying because there are good features if you can find them. Cabin is large, finishes are nothing special but durable and easy to clean. Very large boot with a curiously sloping floor from the back seats to the tailgate, not good when oranges fall out out the shopping bag. Rear passenger doors open 90 degrees which is useful except in a car park.

Small 1.6L turbo does a good job in pushing this beast along but Economy mode is only useful in the country and even then should be turned off for overtaking unless you want to become another road statistic. Ridiculously frugal at the bowser which doesn't help with the salary packaging. Drives well and has good safety tech including forward collision braking which actually works and lane departure warning that can be annoying in the burbs. Turning circle is rather large which can make parking challenging but you get used to it and the reversing camera is great for those with neck issues. Lots of sensors so you shouldn't hit anything but it is like having a back seat driver.

Honda has tried to save money and annoyingly down spec'd some features from the previous VTi-S including the auto window wipers which can be annoying anyway. The folding mirrors aren't automatic which really defeats the purpose, in overseas models they do. No blind spot warning system but does have passenger side camera which is really helpful except in the dark. Guess these features are in reserve for the run out model

Only a couple of gripes, the CVT gearbox clunks into place when reversing cold - Honda dealer claims this is normal for CRVs especially if parked on a slope. Really, I think we might be having more conversations about that but since I purchased a seven year warranty I am not overly fussed. Don't bother with Honda's national customer service, useless and unhelpful is a polite way to describe them. Having loud conversations at the dealership usually produces the desired outcome.

So the litmus test is do I regret buying the CRV and would I recommend it - No I don't and yes I do.

Milord
MilordACT384 posts
  Fair Incentive CR-V AWD VTi-LX

If we had known earlier, we wouldn't have bought one – Please note: for your convenience and overall reading experience, this review is structured using the following headings: INTRODUCTION VEHICLE PRODUCT THE PROS vs CONS VEHICLE COMPARISON FINAL THOUGHTS Hence from the above, you can use these headings to skip ahead and review what matters to you, by copying and pasting into the CTRL+F function… Read more

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INTRODUCTION My significant other through a Novated lease, obtained this vehicle with little to no research. And at the time, it was the best offering and was fully-optioned (equipped) with features that rivalled the competition from a price point of $50K. Unfortunately, under a false and unproven impression, my significant other also assumed that Honda was a reputable brand that was flawless. Regretfully, the experiences she has had with different CRV variants, both the current and previous generation; all of which have had numerous and continuous problems... mostly mechanically.

Her driving requirements were: - A commanding view of the road while driving long distances, hence a SUV-type vehicle was needed; - Modern day creature-comfort features that you didn't want to pay extra for; - Something easy-to-operate; - Had relatively good fuel consumption and practical; and - Had to be either 4WD or AWD capable.

VEHICLE PRODUCT Honda as a brand has been well known historically for being reliable and something that rivals other Japanese brands when compared to Toyota or even Lexus. In addition to the likes of some European brands with Mercedes-Benz and Audi of the time.

There was also a time when you stepped into a Honda, it made you feel special. Honda along with its current array of offerings; unfortunately has a characteristic flaw in relation to the way they make their vehicle interiors. No matter which one you step into other than their high-performance NSX, the interiors are all the same? There is nothing to suggest something distinctively different other than a few hidden changes from plain view. And this reminds me a bit about Renault and Peugeot’s NO-FRILLs’ approach that begs to question, why would you buy one in the first place?

Unfortunately, after the new millennium, manufacturing and cost-saving measures changed from Japan to Thailand for the bulk of vehicle production. So in this instance where most of these vehicle types for SUV / soft-roaders are made in Thailand. The result of this company’s direction has led to a dramatic drop in quality and reliability.

THE PROS vs CONS From the INTRODUCTION above, I raised a point that the issue we experienced has been heavily related to mechanical problems. And a further emphasis with VEHICLE PRODUCT, quality and reliability became interrelated problems.

So what are the PROS?

Being the top-of-the-line CRV variant, it has: - Full-time 4WD (though more like AWD) - Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) - Reasonable ground clearance - High-way cruise-control - GPS Navigation - Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) - Bluetooth - Panoramic Sunroof with Sunshade - Heated seats - Powered tail-gate - Power windows - Good driving visibility - Practical – all seats fold down, though not completely flat - ISO-FIX points for easy to install and remove child seats

The CONS - GPS Navigation – old and archaic, not the easiest to use. It has frozen regularly - When indicating left, it shows a camera that is mounted to the left mirror on the main GPS navigation screen – there is however no camera for the right mirror – why? - Instrument cluster is very complicated to use – have to go through several menus just to get to basic settings - Seat-belt for rear passenger is mounted to the ceiling the vehicle? Why? - Bluetooth (Apple Carplay only) - Complicated cruise control system that uses dot-matrix illustrations - Manual central locking - Poor stock standard disc brakes and brake pads – issues with squealing and braking – have raised this issue with Honda directly since the vehicle was new. They blame the customer. - The stop-start mechanism with your foot on the brake is poorly manufactured - Poor customer service with Honda and Honda representatives especially communication is bad. - Underpowered with poor low-range performance – meaning you have to rev it hard at times - Annoying One-speed CVT transmission - Flappy paddle gear shift – utterly useless behind the steering wheel column - Mirrors are manually operated to close – no automated process even for the top-of-the-line model - Parcel shelf with quick release cover – no space to put underneath the floor - Automatic headlights are useless, often blinding other motorists even with the setting turned to its lowest sensitivity - Front and rear parking sensors experiences ghosting moments often – meaning the sensors are triggered often when it detects invisible objects

VEHICLE COMPARISONS At a RRP of just over $50K for a 2018 model. The only other cars that were comparable based on features were: - Volkwagen Tiguan - Audi Q2 - Nissan X-Trail In the end the Honda was chosen because there was a lack of availability, colours and additional options. The VW and the Audi were priced marginally more with less features whereas the X-Trail was cheaper, though it did not have the level of equipment compared to the Honda? It was not recommended by family relations at the time.

FINAL THOUGHTS As I was not a part of the initial decision-making process; I would have made better options and undertaken the due diligence in the research. From the VEHICLE COMPARISON, I would have chosen the VW Tiguan instead of the other choices. Only because Audi has a reputation of charging its customers more for basic features that should be standard. And secondly, at the time, the Audi Q2 was a recent addition to the Audi line-up which shared some underpinnings with VW. Though under the guise of VW where the underpinnings have proven to be compliant and good, however for the Audi, it was an unknown.

While my partner has owned a Mercedes Benz prior to the Honda CRV, she has experienced worse across the board with that brand by comparison. As for myself who has owned and driven Ford and Lexus; I will most likely be leaning towards Lexus based on a number of positive reasons that outweigh negative ones. From an international perspective; there have been numerous and known issues about this 2017 to 2021 variant referring to engine, transmission and mechanical problems not listed in this review.

So unless Honda decides to change its manufacturing origins back to Japan or at the very least upscale their quality builds upon all of their product offerings; don’t waste your time as I won’t be coming back nor persuading my significant other to purchase this brand any time soon.

Overall, the Honda brand today and the Honda CRV is a mediocre offering. So to you as the prospectus buyer, do your research and especially look into research coming from abroad from a variety of Internet sources before you decide to have a test drive (after COVID and lockdowns) to make a further purchasing decision.

Good luck.

HAD
HAD5 posts
  CR-V 2WD
Build Quality
Value for Money
Noise Level

Think About It Before Buy It – I bought my CRV in 2018 and it is now driven only 37k. It is a family car and I never used it for work related purposes that is why it is driven only 37k in the last 3.5 years. I have the following issues with the car - lately, when I am driving at higher speed on downhill roads the car starts vibrating violently or becomes wobbly after pressing… Read more

on the break. Today I booked an appointment for service and I told the Honda Dealer about the issue. He said blalbla and it is not covered under warranty and etc. I told him the car is like new and only 37k is driven but they said no and I have to pay for the repair if I want to fix it. They were aware of the issue and said Honda is not fixing it. - The monitor in the middle is frequently turning black. Hopefully they fix it. - The wheels making loud noises when reversing the car.

I have another car from different company that never had any issues despite driven 70k.

HaleyJ1008
HaleyJ1008WA28 posts
  Verified CR-V 2WD VTi-X

Love it! – After spending a few months extensively researching cars, the Honda CR-V VTi-X is the one that ticked all my boxes and was within budget. This car would be ideal for families as it's so incredibly roomy! Plus the rear doors open up a full 90°, which makes loading things into the back seat a lot easier. I love how the gear shifter sits up high,… Read more

leaving oodles of room below it for storage. The entertainment system is easy to use, although lags very slightly now and then, but it has decent sound.

The car is surprisingly great on fuel considering I only ever drive it around town. It's easy to park (easier in reverse due to the large side mirrors and the reversing camera). Only things I don't like is that the mirrors don't automatically fold in when the car is turned off, I have to remember to push the button before I stop the engine and it has a ridiculously large turning circle!

Jey T
Jey TNSW4 posts
  CR-V AWD VTi-L

Maintains the Quality offering with a soften 'look' – Searched for SUV that is affordable, Quality built with reasonable resale value and the 2021 CR-V came on top of our list. Spacious inside with the standard inclusions. Acceptable power and comfort for a medium size SUV. Show details

cath
cath22 posts
  CR-V AWD VTi-L

A great choice – Purchased to replace an ageing captiva. The Honda was being compared with other 5 seater SUV s on the market. We use this as our family car and have 2 young adult children and ageing parents so back seat room was important. The wider opening rear doors are great.The ride is quiet and smooth. Excellent fuel economy and leather seat a luxury we… Read more

can't live without. Only downside is, like every new vehicle on the market, sooo many bells an whistles.Fortunately in the Honda they are easily disabled if you wish.

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