Today compact crossover and SUV models are a common sight on the roads, but when Honda launched the CR-V it helped create a whole new class of vehicle. The mixture of car-like running costs and driving experience with rugged capability was an instant hit with buyers. Despite intense competition in the segment, it remains the best-selling model in its class.

The CR-V was the first sports utility vehicle that was fully Honda-designed and engineered from the ground-up. From the outset, it has been an innovator, showcasing the brand’s bold and thoughtful engineering.

The first-generation debuted clever technology such as a fully automatic ‘on-demand’ Real Time 4WD system, as well as iconic features like the removable floor that doubled as a picnic table (read our comparison with the Toyota RAV4).

Instantly popular with buyers, the CR-V set new standards in the SUV sector, becoming a benchmark vehicle for its impressive road manners and versatility. Rivals quickly followed the model’s example, and the compact SUV class became increasingly crowded. Undaunted, Honda continued to raise the bar, with each generation maintaining its advantage over the competition through constant improvement and innovation.

For example, Honda offered the second-generation CR-V in a unique 10-seater configuration for the Philippine market (3+4+3) (read our review of the 10-seater CR-V or a three-way comparo with the RAV4 and the Ford Escape). Towards the end of its lifecycle, it introduced a larger powertrain—a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (read our review) which was carried onto the third-generation model—the first that made do without the rear-mounted spare tire (read our review). It also introduced the novel “Double Deck” luggage area, which featured a substantial, removable shelf that sat above the load floor and allowed items to be stowed beneath without the need to unload any luggage to access it.

By the time the fourth-generation CR-V rolled in, it introduced an electronic control for the Real Time 4WD system, while also upping its quality, practicality, refinement, and efficiency (read our review). The fifth-generation model, meanwhile, introduced a diesel-powered variant for the first time. Along with the return of three-rows and the introduction of Honda Sensing system for the first time, it proved to be extremely popular. We named it one of our Top Picks of the Year in 2017.

Now in its sixth generation, Honda's most popular SUV continues to set the benchmark for its market segment, fusing agile, intuitive driving dynamics with incredible versatility. Launched with either a turbo or a hybrid powertrain (read our reviews here, here, and here), the CR-V is perfect for daily life or weekend escapes, with a rugged and sophisticated design inside and out, increased utility, enhanced safety and a more advanced hybrid system offering both a sportier driving experience and exceptional efficiency. We also named it one of our Top Picks of the Year in 2024.

Three decades on, the CR-V’s spirit of adventure remains as strong as ever.