2020 Honda CR-V Touring Review

by Mark Fulmer
The Auto Channel

The Honda CR-V, inroduced in 1995, is a charter member of the crossover club and continues to be one the top sellers in North America. The 2020 Touring model adds some exterior modifications, enhanced safety tech, and a turbo engine.

On the outside a redesigned grille and fascia for the front, and a freshened taillights and rear fashia. Under the hood a1.5-liter turbo engine puts out 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque. The gearbox sports, you guessed it, the legendary CTV ( the legendary Honda continuously variable transmission - for more useable power, better fuel economy and a smoother driving experience than a traditional automatic transmission).

On the inside, there is a bunch of good news for passengers. Riding in the second row seats enter and exit through nice wide doors and to enjoy generous headroom and legroom. There they also find their very own climate vents and two USB ports. Cargo space is more good news, the cargo floor and be adjusted to two different levels, and a powered liftgate.

On the tech side, Honda Sensing is a safety suite with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control. For freeway driving and long trips, these are very welcome safety and comfort systems. Some car writers complain about the lack of a radio tuning knob. I disagree. It's very easy to program the stations/channels you use into the presets, and then tap through the selections by using the arrow wheel on the left side of the steering wheel buttons. And that's less distracting than reaching over and using a knob.

On the ride dynamics, the CRV has always been a smooth and steady ride over rough surfaces. Add to that responsive steering for both quick and gradual moves. The iceing on the cake is the quiet within the cabin. If a well built and reliable crossover is in your crosshairs, the 2020 CRV is a mandatory test drive.