It’s hard to believe the Honda CR-V has been on sale for over two decades, going on sale in 1997. I can credit the CR-V and RAV4 with increasing the popularity of the crossover, it was these two vehicles that really kickstarted a trend that doesn’t seem to want to slow down. This trend is also responsible for killing the minivan, station wagon, and to some extend the sedan (which is not dead yet, but getting close unfortunately).

The 5^th generation Honda CR-V has grown in size and looks much more muscular than the previous generation. Comparing it to the original CR-V from 1997, it looks huge. Last week we reviewed the 2019 Honda CR-V Touring, below are my thoughts on this popular vehicle.

Prices

The 2019 Honda CR-V is offered in four trims, with the base being offered as a front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and the other three trims are offered with AWD only. Prices start at $27,690 for the base trim and $39,090 for the top of the line Touring trim.

Our review car for the week was the 2019 Honda CR-V Touring, with a total price tag of $41,010, which included $1,795 for Freight & PDI and $125 for AC and tire fees.

Engine

All trim of the 2019 Honda CR-V are equipped with turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engines with direct injection, this engine is also found on the Honda Civic. This small engine produces an impressive 190 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 179 pound-feet of torque between 2,000 – 5,000 rpm. Power is sent to either the front wheels or all wheels via a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

According to Honda, the AWD equipped 2019 Honda CR-V should consume 8.7/7.2/8.0 liters/100 kilometers in city/highway/combine driving.

Driving the CR-V around town and on the highway is a pretty standard process, the engine has enough grunt for city driving and even on the highway it performs well enough for what these vehicles are used for. A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to drive the CR-V in very snowy conditions, with snow tires and the AWD system, it performed very well and in some cases I had to drive through roads with over one foot of snow, the CR-V handled it without a problem.

Styling

I quite like the styling on the fifth generation Honda CR-V, the styling gives it a more masculine look and the CR-V looks much more substantial on the road. The front end looks more aggressive and the sides and the rest of the body features lots of curves and bulged fenders. The rear end is my favorite part on the new CR-V, featuring vertical LED taillights.

Overall, it’s a good-looking crossover with the right amount of aggression, making it look a lot bigger than it is.

Interior/Tech

The interior on the 2019 Honda CR-V is pretty straight forward and is very easy to understand and get used to. There’s a large touchscreen that’s home to various functions like navigation, backup camera, entertainment, phone connectivity. There’s also a TFT screen behind the steering wheel, in the middle of the gauge cluster that displays rpms and other vehicle information.

The interior is very roomy, with lots of space for the front and rear occupants, the interior is very comfortable and you can drive around with four adults in comfort, adding a fifth passenger does make the rear seat a little tight. There is lots of leg and head room for the rear passengers and a lot of space behind the second row of seats, with the second row folded, you can carry pretty much anything you can think of. With the rear seats up, there is 1,110 cubic liters of space and with the seats folded down, that number increases to 2,146 liters. The interior space is one of the reasons people are drawn to vehicles like these and the new CR-V has loads of room.

The interior is fairly quiet and it’s a comfortable place to be in. Our top of the line vehicle was loaded with all the latest tech, safety, and convenience gadgetry we’ve come to expect from the latest cars. Below is a list of some of the highlights from the available features:

• Proximity key entry system with pushbutton start
• Remote engine start
• Walk-away door lock
• Auto high beam
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Driver’s seat with 12-way power adjustment
• Front passenger’s seat with 4-way power adjustment
• Heated front and rear seats
• Bluetooth connectivity
• 7-inch Display Audio System with Navigation System
• 331-watt premium audio system with 9 speakers
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• Siri Eyes Free compatibility
• Speed-sensitive Volume Control
• 3 12-volts power outlets
• 4 USB ports (2 front, 2 rear)
• Wifi tethering
• Panoramic moonroof
• Power tailgate wtih hands-free access
• Active shutter grill
• Folding door mirrors
• LED headlights (High and low beam)
• Adjustable cargo floor height (2 levels)
• Collision Mitigation Braking System
• Forward Collision Warning system
• Lane Departure Warning system
• Electronic Brake-force Distribution
• Hill Start Assist
• LED daytime running lights
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System                                                      
• Road Departure Mitigation system               
• Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow
• Blind Spot Information system with Rear Cross Traffic Monitor system
• Lane Keeping Assist System

Overall Impressions

The 2019 Honda CR-V is a very popular vehicle in Canada and in other markets around the world, it’s so popular that it’s produced in many different countries around the world, including Canada, United States, Japan, China, and a few other places.

It’s a practical vehicle that’s spacious, fuel efficient, and has a good starting price. The AWD adds the bonus of going through rough weather conditions, which are experienced by most of Canada in the winter.