carivo.co
Independent review & score by Carivo
| Seating Capacity | 5 passengers |
|---|---|
| Body Style | SUV |
| Base Price | $28,310–$35,112 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
Our scoring places the 2021 Honda CR-V at 8.0/10 overall, which translates to a Recommended rating for this suv. Its strongest dimension is Reliability at 8.7/10, while Performance at 6.6/10 is where it trails the competition most noticeably. It's a solid all-rounder that delivers across most dimensions without obvious deal-breakers.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. At 8.7/10, reliability is one of this suv's best cards — few vehicles in our database score higher on this dimension. The 8.7/10 safety score puts it near the top of the class on this dimension; the official trim-level results at nhtsa.gov are worth a final check.
Performance at 6.6/10 is a genuine liability and a score that should factor heavily into any buying decision. The powertrain and chassis dynamics trail class rivals by a meaningful margin — don't overlook it. Tech rates a reasonable 7.3/10: the essentials are covered and well executed, but rivals at the same price often include more as standard.
Priced from $28,310–$35,112, 27 MPG, seating 5, the Honda CR-V sits in the mid-market bracket of the suv segment. Value is where it presses its advantage — 8.2/10, meaning the feature set and quality outrun the asking price. At 5 years old, it's worth checking whether a newer generation or refresh has addressed any weaker dimensions — compare it to the current model year before buying.
Our take: The 2021 Honda CR-V is a solid, well-rounded suv that covers the essentials without obvious deal-breakers. The main caveat is performance — worth checking if those dimensions are priorities for you. For most buyers in this segment, it's a safe, dependable choice.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2021 Honda CR-V ranks #180 of 2454 suvs in the Carivo database — better than 93% of the segment. Its 8.0/10 overall score is 0.6 points above the segment average of 7.4/10. Its $28,310 starting price undercuts the segment's median of $36,079 by about 22%.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full SUV ranking →
Smart-money pick: the 2018 Honda CR-V scores 7.9/10 — within striking distance of the 2021's 8.0 — and starts roughly $3,000 lower. If you don't need the newest model year, that's money better spent on a higher trim or kept in your pocket.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8.2/10 | $32,043 | Read review → |
| 2025 | 8.2/10 | $32,043 | Read review → |
| 2024 | 8.1/10 | $31,110 | Read review → |
| 2023 | 8.1/10 | $30,176 | Read review → |
| 2022 | 8.2/10 | $29,243 | Read review → |
| 2021 (this review) | 8.0/10 | $28,310 | |
| 2020 | 8.0/10 | $27,376 | Read review → |
| 2019 | 7.8/10 | $26,443 | Read review → |
| 2018 | 7.9/10 | $25,510 | Read review → |
| 2017 | 7.8/10 | $24,576 | Read review → |
| 2016 | 7.7/10 | $23,643 | Read review → |
| 2015 | 7.7/10 | $22,710 | Read review → |
The following recall campaigns have been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Seat belts / Rear/other / Retractor 18/11/2021 · 21V900000 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which… |
|---|---|
| Air bags / Sensor / Occupant classification / Front passenger 01/02/2024 · 24V064000 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020… |
| Fuel system, gasoline / Delivery / Fuel pump 18/12/2023 · 23V858000 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda… |
| Air bags / Sensor / Occupant classification / Front passenger 21/05/2026 · 26V332000 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V,… |
Source: NHTSA recall database, fetched at page build time.
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