Currently America’s second-best-selling Crossover/SUV in 2020, the Honda CR-V, which debuted in 1995 as a “Comfortable Runabout Vehicle,” or CR-V, and evolved into an elegant and sporty crossover filled with state-of-the-art tech and entertainment, has built on its popularity and has refreshed this year with styling, power and safety modifications.

Last fully redesigned in 2017, CR-V jettisons last year’s 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and has promoted its once-optional 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder as its only power choice. The refreshed 2020 Honda CR-V, also gets a redesigned front bumper, headlights, and a new blackout grille; EX and EX-L trims see new 18-inch wheels with a dark gray finish, while the Touring grades get new 19-inch wheels and tires. Additionally, three new exterior colors join the lineup for 2020: Radiant Red Metallic, Sonic Gray Pearl, and Aegean Blue Pearl.

On the safety end, all Honda CR-V trims now come standard with the Honda Sensing suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies. Honda Sensing® includes Collision Mitigation Braking System™ with Forward Collision Warning and pedestrian sensing capability, Road Departure Mitigation with Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control with low-speed follow and Lane Keeping Assist. Additional driver-assistive technologies include the available blind spot information, Rear Cross Traffic Monitor and Auto High Beam headlights. CR-V also incorporates the latest generation of Honda's proprietary Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ body structure.

CR-V tweaks its popular design cues, refined demeanor and energetic character in a sporty package with broad new openings for the fog lights, dark-tinted taillight lenses, a dark chrome tailgate garnish and more darkly tinted rear glass. Its footprint gains 1.5 inches in length to 182.1 inches, remains 73.0 inches high and 66.5 inches wide, and keeps its 104.7-inch wheelbase for AWD. Curbweight for the EX trim I tested, was 3413 lbs. (about 60 lbs. lighter than last year), and other trims range from 3337 lbs. to 3569 lbs.

All gasoline-powered 2020 CR-Vs now feature a 1.5-liter turbocharged direct-injected powerplant rated at the same 190 horsepower and 179 lb.-ft. of torque it delivered as an option last year. The turbo delivers refined and responsive performance across the engine's full operating range. Available in front-wheel-drive or with Honda Real Time all-wheel drive, power transmits through a sporty continuously variable transmission (CVT) with smooth-shifting Honda G-Shift control logic.

CR-V’s power system limits towing capacity to 1,500 pounds, and in AWD, the 1.5 is EPA rated at 27mpg/city, 32mpg/highway and 29mpg/combined mpg. My test week in an AWD EX trim vehicle was mixed-use with in-town, highway and soft-road miles, for an average of  29.9 mpg. 

In tests, CR-V’s acceleration was dependable and adequate in all ranges on the highway; and on the track, my CR-V was purposeful and steady, with a zero-to-60mph dash accomplished in 7.6 seconds, during a 16-second-flat quarter-mile (hand-timed). Handling was niche-solid and the riding experience was family-oriented – smooth and stable, with less road feel than in a driver’s vehicle. The MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear, both with stabilizer bars, smoothed out rough surfaces. Steering was road responsive, but not auto-cross efficient, with some perceptible understeer, and acceptable top-wobble during quick hairpins.

Inside, all 2020 Honda CR-Vs get a redesigned center console that is easier to use, with more flexible storage options. In-vehicle technologies include a color TFT driver information interface center meter display, available 7-inch touchscreen Display Audio interface with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration, and an available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™. Additional available tech includes remote engine start, dual-zone climate control, an Electric Parking Brake, rear USB charging ports, front passenger seat with 4-way power adjustment and driver's seat with 8-way power adjustment and 4-way power lumbar support, and heated front seats.

The cabin remains sophisticated, quiet, comfortable and intuitively laid out. Interior accommodations remain the same as last year, and come in a bit low at 38.0 inches of front headroom and 39.1 in row two; legroom is 41.3 inches in front and 40.4 inches for the second row; and shoulder room measures 57.9 and 55.6 inches.

The 2020 Honda CR-V comes in four trim packages in both AWD and 2WD. The Base LX starts at $25,150 (an increase of $800 over last year) and the EX trim I tested starts at $27,660 (up $210) for the 2WD -- and you gain Honda Sensing™, Smart Entry and a 7-inch display audio touchscreen. EX-L starts at $30,150 (a gain of $400) adding leather inside, a power liftgate, power seats and auto-rearview mirror. The top-of-the-line Touring trim starts at $33,350 (an increase of $600) in 2WD and picks up a hand-free access power tailgate, full LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers and satellite-linked navigation. My EX in AWD (for $1500 more – $100 more than last year) based at $29,160. With a Sonic Gray Pearl exterior and a Black Cloth interior, my CR-V EX added Body side molding for $236, Door Visors for $193, a Gloss-Black front grille for $313, splash guards for $109, heated steering wheel for $523, and parking sensors for $538. With destination and handling fees of $1120, my sticker-as-tested was $31,652.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

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