To claim that the CRV is a success would be an understatement. This compact crossover is Honda’s top-selling vehicle in North America and sits as number two overall, just behind the Toyota RAV4. Despite the name, the 2024 Honda CR-V Sport is neither sporty nor drop-dead gorgeous, yet it has all the goods to resonate with most Canadians year-after-year.
The CR-V Sport carries over unchanged from last year’s full redesign, so don’t expect any major changes or upgrades, but that’s not to say the CR-V is irrelevant in any way. Everyone knows that vanilla sells consistently, and that sums up the CR-V to a tee. Many owners are extremely satisfied with the CR-V’s ability to meet their needs, and although it isn’t too small that it struggles to comfortably accommodate five passengers or too large that parking becomes an issue, it’s the right size for most buyers.
Given the “Sport” badge, some may expect this trim may have upgrades under the hood, but that is not the case. All non-hybrid CR-Vs share the same 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that puts out 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque. For more power and torque, you may want to consider the optional hybrid powertrain, but in all honesty, the CR-V feels much peppier than these numbers indicate.
With the CR-V being a Honda, ride and handling are excellent for the segment. While some of its competitors like the Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester ride a touch softer, the CR-V feels a little firmer and livelier without compromising comfort too much, something we’ve come to associate with the Honda brand over the years. The CR-V inspires more confidence on twisty roads while also soaking up potholes well, and keeping road noise minimal.
Fuel efficiency during our test averaged 9.2 L/100 kilometres in mixed driving. This was disappointing, as Honda rates the CR-V with the 1.5L engine at 9.1 L/100 km city, 7.6 highway, and 8.4 combined, though the extremely cold winter weather and longer-than-normal idling thanks to the CR-V’s remote start no doubt played a role. The CR-V does take regular-grade fuel, and the hybrid powertrain is offered if fuel efficiency is high on your priority list.
Visually, the CR-V Sport distinguishes itself from the rest of the lineup with gloss black 18-inch wheels and more black accents and trim all around. Inside, if you’ve been inside a current-generation Civic, the CR-V’s interior will be instantly familiar. It’s not as plush inside as a Mazda CX-5, but materials otherwise feel quite good, and overall build quality feels tight, with no obvious squeaks or rattles.
However, I did have issues with the infotainment screen. While it seems reasonably sized at first, once turned there’s about two inches of unused space on either side of the screen. It doesn’t use all that screen real estate well, especially compared to how big smartphones are these days. Higher CR-V trim levels offer a larger nine-inch display, but that still lags behind the available 10.5- and 12-inch displays in the RAV4 and Hyundai Tucson, respectively. On top of that, the graphics also look somewhat dated by comparison, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a wireless phone charger, and even satellite radio aren’t available on the Sport.
Still, the CR-V Sport is roomy enough to comfortably fit four adults. Legroom and headroom are plentiful even with the sunroof, and cargo space is abundant. You get 1,113 litres with the seats up. Drop the seats and that grows to an impressive 2,166 litres.
The 2024 Honda CR-V doesn’t raise the bar when it comes to technology, performance, or design. However, the CR-V has a long history of providing a higher-quality compact crossover experience with the ability to move your family (and their cargo) with ease in a value-driven package; ringing in at $42,075 as-tested, this CR-V Sport certainly delivers on that. Add Honda’s legendary resale value and reputation for reliability, and it’s pretty much a no-brainer.
