2022 Honda CR-V Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

There is undoubtedly a lot to love about the new 2022 Honda CR-V. From its massive amount of interior and cargo space to its turbocharged inline-4 cylinder engine, the CR-V has a lot to offer buyers. And it does so at a rather reasonable price. As an overall package, the CR-V makes for some serious competition. It might not have the most striking exterior styling cues, but it more than makes up for it inside of the cabin. Even though nothing much has changed for the model year, there is still much to enjoy about the 2022 CR-V.

What's New for 2022?

The only significant difference from the 2021 line-up is that all-wheel drive is now standard issue on the line-topping Touring trim level. Otherwise, everything else carries over unchanged. And we really cannot complain about that.

 

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2022 Honda CR-V – The Pros

1. Quick Acceleration From the Turbo Inline 4-Cylinder Engine

One of the biggest reasons to buy the 2022 Honda CR-V is that, despite it being the sole engine available on the entire line-up, the turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine is a strong one for this segment. It has a 0 to 60 miles per hour showing of about 8.2 seconds, which is considerably good for a mid-size SUV. And that is just with the all-wheel drive equipped. Front-wheel drive might go slightly quicker. Either way, it is a good showing.

2. A Spacious Cabin

The CR-V's cabin is spacious fore and aft. Up front, taller folks can stretch out their legs and have plenty of headroom to go around. And the same is true for those riding in the rear seats. Front seat occupants will not have to slide their seats up to accommodate for taller back seat passengers. Shoulders have enough room, and elbows can find plenty of comfy resting spots that won't cause them to bump up against anyone else's elbows.

3. Plenty of Cargo Space

The cargo area is also quite generous on space. With the rear 60/40-split folding seats left in place, there is 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space available. You can max that out by folding the rear seats down - and they definitely fold down quite flatly - to get 75.8 cubes. For a mid-size SUV, that is rather spacious indeed. You can definitely fit several big, bulky items back there at once if needed. Load up your luggage or take your buddies to the golf course, as everyone's bags can fit.

4. A Comfortable and Compliant Ride Quality

The CR-V has that typical Honda ride comfort and compliance we have come to expect over the decades. Smooth and tranquil, the ride never comes off as being harsh, even while going across loose gravel. The only thing you might hear coming from the outside is some tire noise, but that is nothing exceptional. Even with the Touring trim level's 19-inch wheels with shorter tire sidewalls, uneven road surfaces are no match for the CR-V. It dispatches all bumps with ease.

5. An Abundance of Well-Crafted Storage Spaces

All throughout the cabin, you will find some versatile and sizable storage spaces for your small items. The seatback pockets are generously sized, and there are plenty of beverage holders to go around. The configurable center console is deep and has a sliding tray that can also cover up your valuables. It certainly comes in handy. There are plenty of places to leave your tablet, smartphone, or purse when you need to.

6. A CVT That Works Smoothly

CVTs are not normally the smoothest operators. But they are chosen for their fuel efficiency. However, the CR-V's CVT checks both boxes. It keeps the CR-V relatively fuel efficient while fluidly delivering power to either the front or all four wheels (depending on whether you have front- or all-wheel drive equipped, respectively). You won't feel any awkward shifts between gears or anything that comes across as intrusive.

7. Easy to Enter Into and Exit Out of the Cabin

The CR-V is a vehicle that people with limited mobility can ease into and out of. Whether you are kinda short, have kids who need to climb in, or just happen to be really tall, the CR-V makes for easy entering and exiting for just about everyone. The door sill openings are wide enough, and, for drivers, the tilting and telescoping steering column offers a lot of adjustability. On the higher trim levels, the 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat further lends to the vehicle's ease of accommodation. One size actually does fit all in this case.

8. The Standard Honda Sensing Suite of Driver Aids

Honda equips every vehicle with the Honda Sensing suite of driver aids. This bundles together forward collision warning, lane change assist, lane keep assist, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. It gives you just about every driver aid you could possibly want (save for blind spot monitoring, which comes starting on the EX trim) on any trim you choose. These features are also known for their functionality and user-friendly nature.

9. A Superb Build Quality

Honda is known for their build quality and has been for quite some time now. But the CR-V really seems exceptional in this regard. The interior panels flow and fit together nicely with all of the chic trim inserts. There are no awkward panel gaps and no weird noises when the vehicle is cruising along on the open road. The ACE body structure is also known for its safety and ability to withstand heavy impacts during collisions, thereby keeping occupants secure.

10. Five Trim Levels to Choose From

With five trim levels to choose from, you can easily find something that fits your budget and meets your needs. If you need to keep it extra affordable, the base LX trim level is the way to go. But, for about $10,000 above the LX's starting MSRP, you can get the line-topping Touring trim level with all its bells and whistles. The Special Edition, EX, and EX-L all represent good middle grounds with their own selection of upgraded features. It is all about choosing whatever works best for you.

Reasons Not to Buy a 2022 Honda CR-V – The Cons

1. A Fussy Touchscreen With No Tuning Knob

The biggest drawback to owning the 2022 Honda CR-V is the fact that the infotainment touchscreen can be kind of finicky. Honda has been working to iron out its issues, but there are still a few that linger. Menus just seem kind of clunky, and the voice recognition system could do a better job of understanding natural speech patterns. Also, many drivers would love to get a tuning knob thrown back into the set-up for easier use.

2. Max Towing Capacity is Well Below Average

1,500 pounds is a significantly low max towing capacity for a mid-size SUV. Many of the CR-V's main competitors can tow up to 3,500 pounds when properly equipped. The CR-V just cannot handle anything big. If you plan on towing a lot of stuff, this simply is not the vehicle for you. Otherwise, it does a decent enough job handling smaller items on a little trailer.

3. Fuel Economy is Fairly Average

The CR-V's fuel economy is fairly average. Perhaps this is just a nitpicky complaint, but a few rivals do better. The AWD gets an EPA estimated 29 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving. FWD models only get 1 mpg more than that. This is efficient, and one of the better showings if you drive with a soft foot. The CR-V is really sensitive to driving styles, so anyone with a lead foot will lose some fuel economy.

4. Automatic Climate Control Does Not Always Maintain the Set Temperature

The automatic climate control system works pretty well most of the time. However, there are times when it seems to struggle to maintain a set temperature. It might drop a few degrees, which can certainly become an annoyance. At least the rear seat air ducts help even out the airflow distribution for everyone to remain comfortable.

 

How It Stacks Up to the Competition:

2022 Honda CR-V vs. 2022 Madza CX-5

Like the 2022 Honda CR-V, the 2022 Mazda CX-5 is characterized by capable handling and steering that make it pleasurable to drive. The cabin is also attractive and comfy, lending to a premium ownership experience. Tranquil even at highway speeds, noise never becomes a bother. Also, the CX-5 has an optional turbo engine that competes well with Honda's standard 4-cylinder turbo engine. On the downside, the CX-5 has a too-firm ride quality for its segment. Also, the base engine is seriously underpowered, nowhere near as much fun as the CR-V's turbo engine. You have to spend more on the CX-5 to get the turbo engine. It also falls behind when it comes to leg room in the rear seat.

2022 Honda CR-V vs. 2022 Nissan Rogue

Another top contender this year is the 2022 Nissan Rogue. The Rogue packs in a ton of features for the cost. It also crams in comfy seats and a pleasant ride quality to match the Honda CR-V. Its cargo space is likewise versatile and large in its design. Additionally, the Rogue equips some easy-to-use driver aids. However, the Rogue suffers from excessive amounts of wind and road noise when zipping along on the highway. The voice recognition system gets confused too easily, and the back seat just isn't as spacious as that in the CR-V.

Conclusion

The 2022 Honda CR-V shows that Honda knows how to appeal to a wide array of buyers. All five trim levels come with something for everyone and won't cost an arm and a leg. You can probably justify getting the Touring trim level unless you are on a rather strict budget. Overall, the Honda CR-V presents a strong line-up filled to the brim with standard safety and infotainment features. A few things still require refinement, but Honda is listening to its consumers' feedback.